diff --git a/Gulpfile.js b/Gulpfile.js
index be2c4f06a38..df9b13e971b 100644
--- a/Gulpfile.js
+++ b/Gulpfile.js
@@ -94,18 +94,74 @@ const localize = async () => {
 const lkgPreBuild = parallel(generateLibs, series(buildScripts, generateDiagnostics));
 
 const buildTsc = () => buildProject("src/tsc");
+
 task("tsc", series(lkgPreBuild, buildTsc));
 task("tsc").description = "Builds the command-line compiler";
 
 const cleanTsc = () => cleanProject("src/tsc");
 cleanTasks.push(cleanTsc);
-task("clean-tsc", cleanTsc);
+task("clean-tsc", parallel(cleanTsc));
 task("clean-tsc").description = "Cleans outputs for the command-line compiler";
 
 const watchTsc = () => watchProject("src/tsc");
 task("watch-tsc", series(lkgPreBuild, parallel(watchLib, watchDiagnostics, watchTsc)));
 task("watch-tsc").description = "Watch for changes and rebuild the command-line compiler only.";
 
+const buildApi = (() => {
+    const flattenCompiler = async () => flatten("src/compiler/tsconfig.json", "built/local/api.tsconfig.json", {
+        compilerOptions: {
+            removeComments: false,
+            stripInternal: true,
+            emitDeclarationOnly: true,
+            declaration: true,
+            declarationMap: false,
+            outFile: "api.out.js"
+        }
+    });
+
+    const buildApiOut = () => buildProject("built/local/api.tsconfig.json");
+
+    const generateApiDts = () => src("built/local/api.out.d.ts", { base: "built/local" })
+        .pipe(newer("built/local/api.d.ts"))
+        .pipe(sourcemaps.init({ loadMaps: true }))
+        .pipe(transform(content => content.replace(/^(\s*)(export )?const enum (\S+) {(\s*)$/gm, "$1$2enum $3 {$4")))
+        .pipe(transform(content => `${content}\nexport = typeof ts;\n`))
+        .pipe(prependFile(copyright))
+        .pipe(rename("api.d.ts"))
+        .pipe(dest("built/local"));
+
+    const generateApiJs = () => src(copyright)
+        .pipe(newer("built/local/api.js"))
+        .pipe(transform(content => `${content}// NOTE: 'api' only exports types used by plugins. You can access the actual api from the context\n// provided to a plugin hook.\nmodule.exports = {};`))
+        .pipe(rename("api.js"))
+        .pipe(dest("built/local"));
+
+    return series(flattenCompiler, buildApiOut, generateApiDts, generateApiJs);
+})();
+task("api", series(lkgPreBuild, buildApi));
+task("api").description = "Build the compiler plugin API";
+
+const cleanApi = async () => {
+    if (fs.existsSync("built/local/api.tsconfig.json")) {
+        await cleanProject("built/local/api.tsconfig.json");
+    }
+    await del([
+        "built/local/api.tsconfig.json",
+        "built/local/api.out.js",
+        "built/local/api.out.d.ts",
+        "built/local/tsc.d.ts"
+    ]);
+}
+cleanTasks.push(cleanApi);
+task("clean-api", cleanApi);
+task("clean-api").description = "Clean the outputs of the compiler plugin API.";
+
+const watchApi = () => watch([
+    "src/compiler/tsconfig.json",
+    "src/compiler/**/*.ts",
+], series(lkgPreBuild, buildApi));
+task("watch-api", series(lkgPreBuild, parallel(watchDiagnostics, watchApi)));
+
 // Pre-build steps when targeting the built/local compiler.
 const localPreBuild = parallel(generateLibs, series(buildScripts, generateDiagnostics, buildTsc));
 
@@ -377,13 +433,13 @@ task("other-outputs").description = "Builds miscelaneous scripts and documents d
 
 const buildFoldStart = async () => { if (fold.isTravis()) console.log(fold.start("build")); };
 const buildFoldEnd = async () => { if (fold.isTravis()) console.log(fold.end("build")); };
-task("local", series(buildFoldStart, preBuild, parallel(localize, buildTsc, buildServer, buildServices, buildLssl, buildOtherOutputs), buildFoldEnd));
+task("local", series(buildFoldStart, preBuild, parallel(localize, buildTsc, buildServer, buildServices, buildLssl, buildOtherOutputs, buildApi), buildFoldEnd));
 task("local").description = "Builds the full compiler and services";
 task("local").flags = {
     "   --built": "Compile using the built version of the compiler."
 };
 
-task("watch-local", series(preBuild, parallel(watchLib, watchDiagnostics, watchTsc, watchServices, watchServer, watchLssl)));
+task("watch-local", series(preBuild, parallel(watchLib, watchDiagnostics, watchTsc, watchServices, watchServer, watchLssl, watchApi)));
 task("watch-local").description = "Watches for changes to projects in src/ (but does not execute tests).";
 task("watch-local").flags = {
     "   --built": "Compile using the built version of the compiler."
diff --git a/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts b/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts
index 9ba03842cec..e80f1c320a0 100644
--- a/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts
@@ -2022,7 +2022,8 @@ namespace ts {
         }
     }
 
-    function isNullOrUndefined(x: any): x is null | undefined {
+    /*@internal*/
+    export function isNullOrUndefined(x: any): x is null | undefined {
         // tslint:disable-next-line:no-null-keyword
         return x === undefined || x === null;
     }
@@ -2063,6 +2064,7 @@ namespace ts {
         setConfigFileInOptions(options, sourceFile);
         let projectReferences: ProjectReference[] | undefined;
         const { fileNames, wildcardDirectories, spec } = getFileNames();
+        const plugins = getPlugins();
         return {
             options,
             fileNames,
@@ -2072,7 +2074,8 @@ namespace ts {
             errors,
             wildcardDirectories,
             compileOnSave: !!raw.compileOnSave,
-            configFileSpecs: spec
+            configFileSpecs: spec,
+            plugins
         };
 
         function getFileNames(): ExpandResult {
@@ -2164,6 +2167,36 @@ namespace ts {
             return result;
         }
 
+        function getPlugins() {
+            let plugins: (string | [string, any?])[] | undefined;
+            if (hasProperty(raw, "plugins") && !isNullOrUndefined(raw.plugins)) {
+                if (isArray(raw.plugins)) {
+                    for (const plugin of raw.plugins) {
+                        if (isPlugin(plugin)) {
+                            if (!plugins) {
+                                plugins = [plugin];
+                            }
+                            else {
+                                plugins.push(plugin);
+                            }
+                        }
+                        else {
+                            // TODO(rbuckton): report diagnostic
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+                else {
+                    // TODO(rbuckton): report diagnostic
+                }
+            }
+            return plugins;
+        }
+
+        function isPlugin(plugin: any): plugin is string | [string, any] {
+            return typeof plugin === "string" ||
+                isArray(plugin) && plugin.length >= 1 && plugin.length <= 2 && typeof plugin[0] === "string";
+        }
+
         function createCompilerDiagnosticOnlyIfJson(message: DiagnosticMessage, arg0?: string, arg1?: string) {
             if (!sourceFile) {
                 errors.push(createCompilerDiagnostic(message, arg0, arg1));
diff --git a/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json b/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
index 3c282ca092f..b9254a2bdff 100644
--- a/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
+++ b/src/compiler/diagnosticMessages.json
@@ -3180,6 +3180,22 @@
         "category": "Error",
         "code": 5075
     },
+    "'package.json' field '{0}' requires a value of type {1}.": {
+        "category": "Error",
+        "code": 5076
+    },
+    "Plugin '{0}' could not be found: {1}.": {
+        "category": "Error",
+        "code": 5077
+    },
+    "Plugin dependencies for '{0}' could not resolved.": {
+        "category": "Error",
+        "code": 5078
+    },
+    "Plugin '{0}' failed while executing the '{1}' hook: {2}": {
+        "category": "Error",
+        "code": 5079
+    },
 
     "Generates a sourcemap for each corresponding '.d.ts' file.": {
         "category": "Message",
diff --git a/src/compiler/plugin.ts b/src/compiler/plugin.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..78469239aa8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/compiler/plugin.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,289 @@
+namespace ts {
+    type Hook = "activate" | "deactivate" | "preEmit";
+    type HookFunction<K extends Hook> = NonNullable<CompilerPluginModule[K]>;
+
+    type ExecuteUserCodeResult<T> =
+        | { error: Diagnostic, result: undefined }
+        | { error: undefined, result: T | undefined };
+
+    interface PluginEntry {
+        active: boolean; // Tracks whether the plugin has been activated.
+        compilerPlugin: CompilerPlugin;
+    }
+
+    /*@internal*/
+    export interface GetPluginsResult {
+        plugins: CompilerPlugin[];
+        diagnostics?: Diagnostic[];
+    }
+
+    interface PackageJson {
+        typescriptPlugin?: PluginPackageSettings;
+    }
+
+    interface PluginPackageSettings {
+        activationEvents?: string[];
+        pluginDependencies?: string[];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Resolves the supplied plugins (and their dependencies) relative to an initial directory.
+     */
+    /*@internal*/
+    export function getPlugins(host: ModuleLoaderHost, initialDir: string, plugins: ReadonlyArray<string | [string, any?]>) {
+        debugger;
+        interface ResolvedModule {
+            module: {};
+            moduleName: string;
+            modulePath: string | undefined;
+            packageJsonPath?: string;
+        }
+
+        const compilerPlugins: CompilerPlugin[] = [];
+        const compilerPluginMap = createMap<CompilerPlugin>();
+        const diagnostics: Diagnostic[] = [];
+        for (const plugin of plugins) {
+            processPlugin(initialDir, plugin);
+        }
+
+        return { plugins: compilerPlugins, diagnostics };
+
+        function processPlugin(initialDir: string, plugin: string | [string, any?]) {
+            const originalName = isArray(plugin) ? plugin[0] : <string>plugin;
+            const options = isArray(plugin) && plugin.length > 0 ? plugin[1] : undefined;
+
+            let candidates: string[];
+            if (isExternalModuleNameRelative(originalName) || isTypeScriptPlugin(originalName)) {
+                candidates = [originalName];
+            }
+            else {
+                candidates = [addTypeScriptPluginPrefix(originalName), originalName];
+            }
+
+            let compilerPlugin: CompilerPlugin | undefined;
+            for (const candidate of candidates) {
+                compilerPlugin = compilerPluginMap.get(candidate);
+                if (compilerPlugin) {
+                    if (!isNullOrUndefined(options) && compilerPlugin.options === undefined) {
+                        compilerPlugin.options = options;
+                    }
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+
+            let resolvedModule: ResolvedModule | undefined;
+            let firstError: { stack?: string, message?: string } | undefined;
+            for (const candidate of candidates) {
+                const result = host.require(initialDir, candidate);
+                if (result.module) {
+                    resolvedModule = {
+                        module: result.module,
+                        moduleName: candidate,
+                        modulePath: result.modulePath,
+                        packageJsonPath: !isExternalModuleNameRelative(candidate) && result.modulePath
+                            ? findPackageJsonPath(host, result.modulePath)
+                            : undefined
+                    };
+                    break;
+                }
+                if (!firstError) firstError = result.error;
+            }
+
+            if (!resolvedModule) {
+                const error = Debug.assertDefined(firstError);
+                reportError(Diagnostics.Plugin_0_could_not_be_found_Colon_1, originalName, error.message);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            const packageJson = resolvedModule.packageJsonPath
+                ? readJson(resolvedModule.packageJsonPath, host) as PackageJson
+                : undefined;
+
+            let activationEvents: string[] | undefined;
+            let pluginDependencies: string[] | undefined;
+            if (!isNullOrUndefined(packageJson) && typeof packageJson === "object") {
+                if (hasProperty(packageJson, "typescriptPlugin") && !isNullOrUndefined(packageJson.typescriptPlugin)) {
+                    const typescriptPlugin = packageJson.typescriptPlugin;
+                    if (typeof typescriptPlugin === "object") {
+                        if (hasProperty(typescriptPlugin, "activationEvents") && !isNullOrUndefined(typescriptPlugin.activationEvents)) {
+                            if (isArray(typescriptPlugin.activationEvents)) {
+                                for (const event of typescriptPlugin.activationEvents) {
+                                    if (typeof event !== "string") {
+                                        reportError(Diagnostics.package_json_field_0_requires_a_value_of_type_1, "typescriptPlugin.activationEvents[]", "string");
+                                    }
+                                    else {
+                                        activationEvents = append(activationEvents, event);
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+                            else {
+                                reportError(Diagnostics.package_json_field_0_requires_a_value_of_type_1, "typescriptPlugin.activationEvents", "Array");
+                            }
+                        }
+                        if (hasProperty(typescriptPlugin, "pluginDependencies") && !isNullOrUndefined(typescriptPlugin.pluginDependencies)) {
+                            if (isArray(typescriptPlugin.pluginDependencies)) {
+                                for (const dependency of typescriptPlugin.pluginDependencies) {
+                                    if (typeof dependency !== "string") {
+                                        reportError(Diagnostics.package_json_field_0_requires_a_value_of_type_1, "typescriptPlugin.pluginDependencies[]", "string");
+                                    }
+                                    else {
+                                        pluginDependencies = append(pluginDependencies, dependency);
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+                            else {
+                                reportError(Diagnostics.package_json_field_0_requires_a_value_of_type_1, "typescriptPlugin.pluginDependencies", "Array");
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    else {
+                        reportError(Diagnostics.package_json_field_0_requires_a_value_of_type_1, "typescriptPlugin", "object");
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            compilerPlugin = {
+                originalName,
+                name: resolvedModule.moduleName,
+                path: resolvedModule.modulePath,
+                plugin: resolvedModule.module,
+                pluginDependencies,
+                activationEvents,
+                options
+            };
+
+            compilerPluginMap.set(compilerPlugin.name, compilerPlugin);
+            if (compilerPlugin.pluginDependencies) {
+                if (compilerPlugin.path) {
+                    const initialDir = getDirectoryPath(compilerPlugin.path);
+                    for (const plugin of compilerPlugin.pluginDependencies) {
+                        processPlugin(initialDir, plugin);
+                    }
+                }
+                else {
+                    reportError(Diagnostics.Plugin_dependencies_for_0_could_not_resolved, compilerPlugin.name);
+                }
+            }
+            compilerPlugins.push(compilerPlugin);
+        }
+
+        function reportError(message: DiagnosticMessage, arg0?: string, arg1?: string) {
+            diagnostics.push(createCompilerDiagnostic(message, arg0, arg1));
+        }
+    }
+
+    function findPackageJsonPath(host: ModuleResolutionHost, modulePath: string) {
+        while (true) {
+            const candidate = combinePaths(modulePath, "package.json");
+            if (host.fileExists(candidate)) {
+                return candidate;
+            }
+            const parentPath = getDirectoryPath(modulePath);
+            if (modulePath === parentPath || !parentPath) {
+                return undefined;
+            }
+            modulePath = parentPath;
+        }
+    }
+
+    function isTypeScriptPlugin(moduleName: string) {
+        return /^(?:@[^\\/]+[\\/])?typescript-plugin-\w/.test(moduleName);
+    }
+
+    function addTypeScriptPluginPrefix(moduleName: string) {
+        // a module name like 'foo', 'foo/bar', or '@foo/bar`
+        return moduleName.replace(/^(@[^\\/]+[\\/])?/, "$1typescript-plugin-");
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a `CompilerPluginHost` used to manage plugin lifetime.
+     */
+    /*@internal*/
+    export function createPluginHost(plugins: ReadonlyArray<CompilerPlugin>): CompilerPluginHost {
+        const entries: PluginEntry[] = plugins.map(compilerPlugin => ({ compilerPlugin, active: false }));
+        return {
+            preEmit,
+            deactivate
+        };
+
+        function executeUserCode<K extends Hook>(compilerPlugin: CompilerPlugin, hook: K, ...args: Parameters<HookFunction<K>>): ExecuteUserCodeResult<ReturnType<HookFunction<K>>> {
+            const hookFunction: HookFunction<K> | undefined = compilerPlugin.plugin[hook]!;
+            if (typeof hookFunction === "function") {
+                try {
+                    const result = hookFunction.apply(compilerPlugin.plugin, args);
+                    return { result, error: undefined };
+                }
+                catch (error) {
+                    if (error instanceof OperationCanceledException) {
+                        throw error;
+                    }
+                    return { result: undefined, error: createUserCodeDiagnostic(compilerPlugin, hook, error) };
+                }
+            }
+            return { result: undefined, error: undefined };
+        }
+
+        function createContext(compilerHost: CompilerHost, { options }: CompilerPlugin): CompilerPluginContext {
+            return { ts, compilerHost, options };
+        }
+
+        function createUserCodeDiagnostic(compilerPlugin: CompilerPlugin, hook: Hook, error: { message?: string, stack?: string }) {
+            return createCompilerDiagnostic(Diagnostics.Plugin_0_failed_while_executing_the_1_hook_Colon_2, compilerPlugin.name, hook, error.stack || error.message || error.toString());
+        }
+
+        function activate(host: CompilerHost, activationEventName: string) {
+            const activeCompilerPlugins: CompilerPlugin[] = [];
+            let diagnostics: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic> | undefined;
+            for (const entry of entries) {
+                if (!entry.active && contains(entry.compilerPlugin.activationEvents, activationEventName)) {
+                    const { error, result: activationResult } = executeUserCode(entry.compilerPlugin, "activate", createContext(host, entry.compilerPlugin));
+                    if (error) {
+                        diagnostics = concatenate(diagnostics, [error]);
+                    }
+                    else {
+                        if (activationResult) diagnostics = concatenate(diagnostics, activationResult.diagnostics);
+                        entry.active = true;
+                    }
+                }
+                if (entry.active) {
+                    activeCompilerPlugins.push(entry.compilerPlugin);
+                }
+            }
+            return { activeCompilerPlugins, diagnostics };
+        }
+
+        function preEmit(host: CompilerHost, program: Program, targetSourceFile?: SourceFile, cancellationToken?: CancellationToken): CompilerPluginPreEmitResult {
+            debugger;
+            const activationResult = activate(host, /*activationEventName*/ "preEmit");
+            const activeCompilerPlugins = activationResult.activeCompilerPlugins;
+            let diagnostics = activationResult.diagnostics;
+            let customTransformers: CustomTransformers | undefined;
+            for (const plugin of activeCompilerPlugins) {
+                const { error, result: preEmitResult } = executeUserCode(plugin, "preEmit", createContext(host, plugin), program, targetSourceFile, cancellationToken);
+                if (error) {
+                    diagnostics = concatenate(diagnostics, [error]);
+                }
+                else if (preEmitResult) {
+                    diagnostics = concatenate(diagnostics, preEmitResult.diagnostics);
+                    customTransformers = combineCustomTransformers(customTransformers, preEmitResult.customTransformers);
+                }
+            }
+            return { diagnostics, customTransformers };
+        }
+
+        function deactivate(host: CompilerHost): CompilerPluginDeactivationResult {
+            debugger;
+            let diagnostics: Diagnostic[] | undefined;
+            for (const entry of entries) {
+                if (entry.active) {
+                    entry.active = false;
+                    const { error } = executeUserCode(entry.compilerPlugin, "deactivate", createContext(host, entry.compilerPlugin));
+                    if (error) {
+                        diagnostics = append(diagnostics, error);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            return { diagnostics };
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/compiler/program.ts b/src/compiler/program.ts
index 1c7cb0ca2c4..3ffb94fce91 100644
--- a/src/compiler/program.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/program.ts
@@ -725,6 +725,7 @@ namespace ts {
         const ambientModuleNameToUnmodifiedFileName = createMap<string>();
         // Todo:: Use this to report why file was included in --extendedDiagnostics
         let refFileMap: MultiMap<ts.RefFile> | undefined;
+        const pluginHost = createProgramOptions.plugins && createPluginHost(createProgramOptions.plugins);
 
         const cachedSemanticDiagnosticsForFile: DiagnosticCache<Diagnostic> = {};
         const cachedDeclarationDiagnosticsForFile: DiagnosticCache<DiagnosticWithLocation> = {};
@@ -910,6 +911,8 @@ namespace ts {
                     host.onReleaseOldSourceFile!(resolvedProjectReference.sourceFile, oldProgram!.getCompilerOptions(), /*hasSourceFileByPath*/ false);
                 }
             });
+
+            oldProgram.dispose();
         }
 
         // unconditionally set oldProgram to undefined to prevent it from being captured in closure
@@ -958,7 +961,8 @@ namespace ts {
             getResolvedProjectReferenceToRedirect,
             getResolvedProjectReferenceByPath,
             forEachResolvedProjectReference,
-            emitBuildInfo
+            emitBuildInfo,
+            dispose
         };
 
         verifyCompilerOptions();
@@ -967,6 +971,12 @@ namespace ts {
 
         return program;
 
+        function dispose() {
+            if (pluginHost) {
+                pluginHost.deactivate(host);
+            }
+        }
+
         function compareDefaultLibFiles(a: SourceFile, b: SourceFile) {
             return compareValues(getDefaultLibFilePriority(a), getDefaultLibFilePriority(b));
         }
@@ -1544,11 +1554,18 @@ namespace ts {
         function emitWorker(program: Program, sourceFile: SourceFile | undefined, writeFileCallback: WriteFileCallback | undefined, cancellationToken: CancellationToken | undefined, emitOnlyDtsFiles?: boolean, customTransformers?: CustomTransformers): EmitResult {
             let declarationDiagnostics: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic> = [];
 
-            if (!emitOnlyDtsFiles) {
-                if (options.noEmit) {
-                    return { diagnostics: declarationDiagnostics, sourceMaps: undefined, emittedFiles: undefined, emitSkipped: true };
-                }
+            if (!emitOnlyDtsFiles && options.noEmit) {
+                return { diagnostics: declarationDiagnostics, sourceMaps: undefined, emittedFiles: undefined, emitSkipped: true };
+            }
 
+            let pluginDiagnostics: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic> | undefined;
+            if (pluginHost) {
+                const result = pluginHost.preEmit(host, program, sourceFile, cancellationToken);
+                pluginDiagnostics = result.diagnostics;
+                customTransformers = combineCustomTransformers(customTransformers, result.customTransformers);
+            }
+
+            if (!emitOnlyDtsFiles) {
                 // If the noEmitOnError flag is set, then check if we have any errors so far.  If so,
                 // immediately bail out.  Note that we pass 'undefined' for 'sourceFile' so that we
                 // get any preEmit diagnostics, not just the ones
@@ -1557,7 +1574,8 @@ namespace ts {
                         ...program.getOptionsDiagnostics(cancellationToken),
                         ...program.getSyntacticDiagnostics(sourceFile, cancellationToken),
                         ...program.getGlobalDiagnostics(cancellationToken),
-                        ...program.getSemanticDiagnostics(sourceFile, cancellationToken)
+                        ...program.getSemanticDiagnostics(sourceFile, cancellationToken),
+                        ...(pluginDiagnostics || [])
                     ];
 
                     if (diagnostics.length === 0 && getEmitDeclarations(program.getCompilerOptions())) {
diff --git a/src/compiler/sys.ts b/src/compiler/sys.ts
index b49446dd33e..16e2604abeb 100644
--- a/src/compiler/sys.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/sys.ts
@@ -651,6 +651,7 @@ namespace ts {
         base64decode?(input: string): string;
         base64encode?(input: string): string;
         /*@internal*/ bufferFrom?(input: string, encoding?: string): Buffer;
+        /*@internal*/ require?(baseDir: string, moduleName: string): RequireResult;
     }
 
     export interface FileWatcher {
@@ -838,6 +839,15 @@ namespace ts {
                 bufferFrom,
                 base64decode: input => bufferFrom(input, "base64").toString("utf8"),
                 base64encode: input => bufferFrom(input).toString("base64"),
+                require: (baseDir, moduleName) => {
+                    try {
+                        const modulePath = resolveJSModule(moduleName, baseDir, nodeSystem);
+                        return { module: require(modulePath), modulePath, error: undefined };
+                    }
+                    catch (error) {
+                        return { module: undefined, modulePath: undefined, error };
+                    }
+                }
             };
             return nodeSystem;
 
diff --git a/src/compiler/tsconfig.json b/src/compiler/tsconfig.json
index c90c6f35b34..68e557a746e 100644
--- a/src/compiler/tsconfig.json
+++ b/src/compiler/tsconfig.json
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
         "transformer.ts",
         "emitter.ts",
         "watchUtilities.ts",
+        "plugin.ts",
         "program.ts",
         "builderState.ts",
         "builder.ts",
diff --git a/src/compiler/types.ts b/src/compiler/types.ts
index ec9ed32b822..3561861c7f3 100644
--- a/src/compiler/types.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/types.ts
@@ -2947,6 +2947,27 @@ namespace ts {
         file: Path;
     }
 
+    /* @internal */
+    export interface CompilerPluginDeactivationResult {
+        diagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * The CompilerPluginHost provides an interface for interacting with the compiler plugin model.
+     */
+    /*@internal*/
+    export interface CompilerPluginHost {
+        /**
+         * Trigger the `preEmit` hooks for plugins.
+         */
+        preEmit(host: CompilerHost, program: Program, targetSourceFile?: SourceFile, cancellationToken?: CancellationToken): CompilerPluginPreEmitResult;
+
+        /**
+         * Deactivate any active plugins.
+         */
+        deactivate(host: CompilerHost): CompilerPluginDeactivationResult;
+    }
+
     // TODO: This should implement TypeCheckerHost but that's an internal type.
     export interface Program extends ScriptReferenceHost {
 
@@ -3038,6 +3059,10 @@ namespace ts {
         /*@internal*/ getResolvedProjectReferenceByPath(projectReferencePath: Path): ResolvedProjectReference | undefined;
         /*@internal*/ getProgramBuildInfo?(): ProgramBuildInfo | undefined;
         /*@internal*/ emitBuildInfo(writeFile?: WriteFileCallback, cancellationToken?: CancellationToken): EmitResult;
+        /**
+         * Dispose of any resources held by the program and deactivate any active plugins.
+         */
+        /*@internal*/ dispose(): void;
     }
 
     /* @internal */
@@ -4871,6 +4896,7 @@ namespace ts {
         errors: Diagnostic[];
         wildcardDirectories?: MapLike<WatchDirectoryFlags>;
         compileOnSave?: boolean;
+        plugins?: (string | [string, any?])[];
         /* @internal */ configFileSpecs?: ConfigFileSpecs;
     }
 
@@ -4901,11 +4927,98 @@ namespace ts {
         /* @internal */ spec: ConfigFileSpecs;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * A context object passed to a plugin during activation.
+     */
+    export interface CompilerPluginContext {
+        /**
+         * The running instance of the TypeScript compiler.
+         */
+        readonly ts: typeof ts;
+
+        /**
+         * The current CompilerHost.
+         */
+        readonly compilerHost: CompilerHost;
+
+        /**
+         * Configuration options for the plugin.
+         */
+        readonly options: MapLike<any>;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * An optional result that can be returned from the `CompilerPluginModule.activate` hook.
+     */
+    export interface CompilerPluginActivationResult {
+        diagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * An optional result that can be returned from the `CompilerPluginModule.preEmit` hook.
+     */
+    export interface CompilerPluginPreEmitResult {
+        diagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>;
+        customTransformers?: CustomTransformers;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Describes the supported shape of the main module for a compiler plugin.
+     */
+    export interface CompilerPluginModule {
+        /**
+         * The `activate` hook is invoked when a plugin is activated for the first time within a `Program`.
+         * @param context The current plugin context.
+         */
+        activate?(context: CompilerPluginContext): CompilerPluginActivationResult | void;
+        /**
+         * The `preEmit` hook is invoked after type check has completed and immediately before emit.
+         * @param context The current plugin context.
+         * @param program The current `Program`.
+         * @param targetSourceFile The `SourceFile` that is about to be emitted, or `undefined` when emitting all outputs.
+         * @param cancellationToken A `CancellationToken` that can be used to abort an operation when running in the language service.
+         */
+        preEmit?(context: CompilerPluginContext, program: Program, targetSourceFile?: SourceFile, cancellationToken?: CancellationToken): CompilerPluginPreEmitResult | void;
+        /**
+         * The `deactivate` hook is invoked when a plugin should be deactivated so that it can free up any shared resources.
+         * @param context The current plugin context.
+         */
+        deactivate?(context: CompilerPluginContext): void;
+    }
+
+    export interface CompilerPlugin {
+        /** The rsolved package name for the plugin. */
+        name: string;
+        /** The path to the plugin. */
+        path: string | undefined;
+        /** The originally-specified package name for the plugin */
+        originalName?: string;
+        /** Any configuration options provided to the plugin. */
+        options?: any;
+        /** The hooks supported by the plugin. */
+        activationEvents?: string[];
+        /** Plugin dependencies that should be loaded before this plugin. */
+        pluginDependencies?: string[];
+        /** The resolved module object for the plugin. */
+        plugin: CompilerPluginModule;
+    }
+
+    /* @internal */
+    export interface ModuleLoaderHost extends ModuleResolutionHost {
+        require(initialDir: string, moduleName: string): RequireResult;
+    }
+
+    /* @internal */
+    export type RequireResult =
+        | { module: {}, modulePath?: string, error: undefined }
+        | { module: undefined, modulePath?: undefined, error: { stack?: string, message?: string } };
+
     export interface CreateProgramOptions {
         rootNames: ReadonlyArray<string>;
         options: CompilerOptions;
         projectReferences?: ReadonlyArray<ProjectReference>;
         host?: CompilerHost;
+        plugins?: ReadonlyArray<CompilerPlugin>;
         oldProgram?: Program;
         configFileParsingDiagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>;
     }
diff --git a/src/compiler/utilities.ts b/src/compiler/utilities.ts
index b3a23f031d4..51260a69123 100644
--- a/src/compiler/utilities.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/utilities.ts
@@ -4712,6 +4712,16 @@ namespace ts {
                 return false;
         }
     }
+
+    export function combineCustomTransformers(left: CustomTransformers | undefined, right: CustomTransformers | undefined): CustomTransformers | undefined {
+        if (!left) return right;
+        if (!right) return left;
+        return {
+            before: concatenate(left.before, right.before),
+            after: concatenate(left.after, right.after),
+            afterDeclarations: concatenate(left.afterDeclarations, right.afterDeclarations)
+        };
+    }
 }
 
 namespace ts {
diff --git a/src/harness/compiler.ts b/src/harness/compiler.ts
index 70bda90ef32..e0b8051bd48 100644
--- a/src/harness/compiler.ts
+++ b/src/harness/compiler.ts
@@ -238,20 +238,43 @@ namespace compiler {
                     return new CompilationResult(host, compilerOptions, /*program*/ undefined, /*result*/ undefined, project.errors);
                 }
                 if (project.config) {
-                    rootFiles = project.config.fileNames;
-                    compilerOptions = project.config.options;
+                    return compileProject(host, project.config, project.file);
                 }
             }
             delete compilerOptions.project;
         }
 
+        return compileProject(host, { options: compilerOptions, fileNames: rootFiles || [], errors: [], });
+    }
+
+    export function compileProject(host: fakes.CompilerHost, project: ts.ParsedCommandLine, configFileName?: string) {
+        const compilerOptions = { ...project.options };
+
+        let plugins: ts.CreateProgramOptions["plugins"];
+        if (project.plugins) {
+            if (!configFileName) throw new Error("Cannot load plugins without a config file.");
+            if (!host.sys.require) throw new Error("Plugins cannot be loaded if provided System does not support `require()`.");
+
+            const result = ts.getPlugins(host.sys as ts.ModuleLoaderHost, ts.getDirectoryPath(configFileName), project.plugins);
+            if (ts.some(result.diagnostics)) {
+                return new CompilationResult(host, compilerOptions, /*program*/ undefined, /*result*/ undefined, result.diagnostics);
+            }
+
+            plugins = result.plugins;
+        }
+
         // establish defaults (aligns with old harness)
         if (compilerOptions.target === undefined) compilerOptions.target = ts.ScriptTarget.ES3;
         if (compilerOptions.newLine === undefined) compilerOptions.newLine = ts.NewLineKind.CarriageReturnLineFeed;
         if (compilerOptions.skipDefaultLibCheck === undefined) compilerOptions.skipDefaultLibCheck = true;
         if (compilerOptions.noErrorTruncation === undefined) compilerOptions.noErrorTruncation = true;
 
-        const program = ts.createProgram(rootFiles || [], compilerOptions, host);
+        const program = ts.createProgram({
+            rootNames: project.fileNames || [],
+            options: compilerOptions,
+            host,
+            plugins
+        });
         const emitResult = program.emit();
         const errors = ts.getPreEmitDiagnostics(program);
         return new CompilationResult(host, compilerOptions, program, emitResult, errors);
diff --git a/src/harness/fakes.ts b/src/harness/fakes.ts
index 522cac95f30..374b64d77ca 100644
--- a/src/harness/fakes.ts
+++ b/src/harness/fakes.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ namespace fakes {
         executingFilePath?: string;
         newLine?: "\r\n" | "\n";
         env?: Record<string, string>;
+        useFakeLoader?: boolean;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -20,16 +21,29 @@ namespace fakes {
         public readonly newLine: string;
         public readonly useCaseSensitiveFileNames: boolean;
         public exitCode: number | undefined;
+        public require?: ts.System["require"];
 
         private readonly _executingFilePath: string | undefined;
         private readonly _env: Record<string, string> | undefined;
 
-        constructor(vfs: vfs.FileSystem, { executingFilePath, newLine = "\r\n", env }: SystemOptions = {}) {
+        constructor(vfs: vfs.FileSystem, { executingFilePath, newLine = "\r\n", env, useFakeLoader }: SystemOptions = {}) {
             this.vfs = vfs.isReadonly ? vfs.shadow() : vfs;
             this.useCaseSensitiveFileNames = !this.vfs.ignoreCase;
             this.newLine = newLine;
             this._executingFilePath = executingFilePath;
             this._env = env;
+            if (useFakeLoader) {
+                const loader = new ModuleLoader(this.vfs);
+                this.require = (baseDir: string, moduleName: string): ts.RequireResult => {
+                    try {
+                        const modulePath = ts.resolveJSModule(moduleName, baseDir, this);
+                        return { module: loader.require(modulePath), modulePath, error: undefined };
+                    }
+                    catch (error) {
+                        return { module: undefined, modulePath: undefined, error };
+                    }
+                };
+            }
         }
 
         public write(message: string) {
@@ -375,6 +389,55 @@ namespace fakes {
         }
     }
 
+    type ModuleWrapper = (require: Function, module: any, exports: any, dirname: string, filename: string) => void;
+
+    interface ModuleObject {
+        exports: any;
+    }
+
+    class ModuleLoader {
+        readonly vfs: vfs.FileSystem;
+        private _modules = ts.createMap<ModuleObject>();
+
+        constructor(vfs: vfs.FileSystem) {
+            this.vfs = vfs;
+        }
+
+        require(modulePath: string) {
+            // this is a very basic loader that is only intended to load a single file for now.
+            let module = this._modules.get(modulePath);
+            if (!module) {
+                module = { exports: {} };
+                this._modules.set(modulePath, module);
+                const moduleContent = this.vfs.readFileSync(modulePath, "utf8");
+                const linkedModule = this.link(modulePath, moduleContent);
+                linkedModule(ts.notImplemented, module, module.exports, ts.getDirectoryPath(modulePath), modulePath);
+            }
+            return module.exports;
+        }
+
+        private link(modulePath: string, moduleContent: string) {
+            let vm: typeof import("vm") | undefined;
+            try {
+                vm = require("vm");
+            }
+            catch {
+                // ignore
+            }
+            return vm ? this.linkUsingNodeVM(vm, modulePath, moduleContent) :
+                this.linkUsingFunction(modulePath, moduleContent);
+        }
+
+        private linkUsingNodeVM(vm: typeof import("vm"), modulePath: string, moduleContent: string): ModuleWrapper {
+            return vm.runInThisContext(`(function (require, module, exports, __dirname, __filename) {${moduleContent}\n})`, { filename: modulePath });
+        }
+
+        private linkUsingFunction(modulePath: string, moduleContent: string): ModuleWrapper {
+            const indirectEval = eval;
+            return indirectEval(`(function (require, module, exports, __dirname, __filename) {${moduleContent}\n//# sourceURL=${modulePath}\n})`);
+        }
+    }
+
     export type ExpectedDiagnosticMessage = [ts.DiagnosticMessage, ...(string | number)[]];
     export interface ExpectedDiagnosticMessageChain {
         message: ExpectedDiagnosticMessage;
diff --git a/src/harness/harness.ts b/src/harness/harness.ts
index 03d03ba010f..d578f6f81d0 100644
--- a/src/harness/harness.ts
+++ b/src/harness/harness.ts
@@ -816,7 +816,9 @@ namespace Harness {
             compilerOptions: ts.CompilerOptions | undefined,
             // Current directory is needed for rwcRunner to be able to use currentDirectory defined in json file
             currentDirectory: string | undefined,
-            symlinks?: vfs.FileSet
+            symlinks?: vfs.FileSet,
+            plugins?: ts.ParsedCommandLine["plugins"],
+            configFileName?: string
         ): compiler.CompilationResult {
             const options: ts.CompilerOptions & HarnessOptions = compilerOptions ? ts.cloneCompilerOptions(compilerOptions) : { noResolve: false };
             options.target = options.target || ts.ScriptTarget.ES3;
@@ -857,8 +859,12 @@ namespace Harness {
             if (symlinks) {
                 fs.apply(symlinks);
             }
-            const host = new fakes.CompilerHost(fs, options);
-            const result = compiler.compileFiles(host, programFileNames, options);
+
+            const sys = new fakes.System(fs, { useFakeLoader: !!(plugins && configFileName) });
+            const host = new fakes.CompilerHost(sys, options);
+            const result = plugins && configFileName
+                ? compiler.compileProject(host, { options, fileNames: programFileNames, errors: [], plugins }, configFileName)
+                : compiler.compileFiles(host, programFileNames, options);
             result.symlinks = symlinks;
             return result;
         }
diff --git a/src/harness/harnessLanguageService.ts b/src/harness/harnessLanguageService.ts
index 03ccbb5d6de..46abd3af329 100644
--- a/src/harness/harnessLanguageService.ts
+++ b/src/harness/harnessLanguageService.ts
@@ -789,7 +789,7 @@ namespace Harness.LanguageService {
             return mockHash(s);
         }
 
-        require(_initialDir: string, _moduleName: string): ts.server.RequireResult {
+        require(_initialDir: string, _moduleName: string): ts.RequireResult {
             switch (_moduleName) {
                 // Adds to the Quick Info a fixed string and a string from the config file
                 // and replaces the first display part
diff --git a/src/harness/virtualFileSystemWithWatch.ts b/src/harness/virtualFileSystemWithWatch.ts
index ffb1e19f653..22a0fb5d474 100644
--- a/src/harness/virtualFileSystemWithWatch.ts
+++ b/src/harness/virtualFileSystemWithWatch.ts
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ interface Array<T> { length: number; [n: number]: T; }`
         private readonly currentDirectory: string;
         private readonly customWatchFile: HostWatchFile | undefined;
         private readonly customRecursiveWatchDirectory: HostWatchDirectory | undefined;
-        public require: ((initialPath: string, moduleName: string) => server.RequireResult) | undefined;
+        public require: ((initialPath: string, moduleName: string) => RequireResult) | undefined;
 
         constructor(public withSafeList: boolean, public useCaseSensitiveFileNames: boolean, executingFilePath: string, currentDirectory: string, fileOrFolderorSymLinkList: ReadonlyArray<FileOrFolderOrSymLink>, public readonly newLine = "\n", public readonly useWindowsStylePath?: boolean, private readonly environmentVariables?: Map<string>) {
             this.getCanonicalFileName = createGetCanonicalFileName(useCaseSensitiveFileNames);
diff --git a/src/server/types.ts b/src/server/types.ts
index ce68a33d3b7..2618ad57f19 100644
--- a/src/server/types.ts
+++ b/src/server/types.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ declare namespace ts.server {
         data: any;
     }
 
-    type RequireResult = { module: {}, error: undefined } | { module: undefined, error: { stack?: string, message?: string } };
     export interface ServerHost extends System {
         watchFile(path: string, callback: FileWatcherCallback, pollingInterval?: number): FileWatcher;
         watchDirectory(path: string, callback: DirectoryWatcherCallback, recursive?: boolean): FileWatcher;
@@ -15,6 +14,5 @@ declare namespace ts.server {
         clearImmediate(timeoutId: any): void;
         gc?(): void;
         trace?(s: string): void;
-        require?(initialPath: string, moduleName: string): RequireResult;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/testRunner/compilerRunner.ts b/src/testRunner/compilerRunner.ts
index c007d5409ea..73d9e002989 100644
--- a/src/testRunner/compilerRunner.ts
+++ b/src/testRunner/compilerRunner.ts
@@ -162,13 +162,17 @@ class CompilerTest {
         const units = testCaseContent.testUnitData;
         this.harnessSettings = testCaseContent.settings;
         let tsConfigOptions: ts.CompilerOptions | undefined;
+        let plugins: ts.ParsedCommandLine["plugins"];
+        let tsConfigFileName: string | undefined;
         this.tsConfigFiles = [];
         if (testCaseContent.tsConfig) {
             assert.equal(testCaseContent.tsConfig.fileNames.length, 0, `list of files in tsconfig is not currently supported`);
             assert.equal(testCaseContent.tsConfig.raw.exclude, undefined, `exclude in tsconfig is not currently supported`);
 
             tsConfigOptions = ts.cloneCompilerOptions(testCaseContent.tsConfig.options);
-            this.tsConfigFiles.push(this.createHarnessTestFile(testCaseContent.tsConfigFileUnitData!, rootDir, ts.combinePaths(rootDir, tsConfigOptions.configFilePath!)));
+            plugins = testCaseContent.tsConfig.plugins;
+            tsConfigFileName = ts.combinePaths(rootDir, tsConfigOptions.configFilePath!);
+            this.tsConfigFiles.push(this.createHarnessTestFile(testCaseContent.tsConfigFileUnitData!, rootDir, tsConfigFileName));
         }
         else {
             const baseUrl = this.harnessSettings.baseUrl;
@@ -210,7 +214,9 @@ class CompilerTest {
             this.harnessSettings,
             /*options*/ tsConfigOptions,
             /*currentDirectory*/ this.harnessSettings.currentDirectory,
-            testCaseContent.symlinks
+            testCaseContent.symlinks,
+            plugins,
+            tsConfigFileName
         );
 
         this.options = this.result.options;
diff --git a/src/tsc/tsc.ts b/src/tsc/tsc.ts
index d27c1aace4e..c402b22b37a 100644
--- a/src/tsc/tsc.ts
+++ b/src/tsc/tsc.ts
@@ -142,16 +142,30 @@ namespace ts {
                 sys.write(JSON.stringify(convertToTSConfig(configParseResult, configFileName, sys), null, 4) + sys.newLine);
                 return sys.exit(ExitStatus.Success);
             }
+            let plugins: ReadonlyArray<CompilerPlugin> | undefined;
+            if (configParseResult.plugins) {
+                if (sys.require) {
+                    const result = getPlugins(sys as ModuleLoaderHost, getDirectoryPath(configFileName), configParseResult.plugins);
+                    plugins = result.plugins;
+                    if (some(result.diagnostics)) {
+                        // TODO(rbuckton): report diagnostics
+                    }
+                }
+                else {
+                    // TODO(rbuckton): report diagnostic
+                }
+            }
             updateReportDiagnostic(configParseResult.options);
             if (isWatchSet(configParseResult.options)) {
                 reportWatchModeWithoutSysSupport();
+                // TODO(rbuckton): watch mode support
                 createWatchOfConfigFile(configParseResult, commandLineOptions);
             }
             else if (isIncrementalCompilation(configParseResult.options)) {
                 performIncrementalCompilation(configParseResult);
             }
             else {
-                performCompilation(configParseResult.fileNames, configParseResult.projectReferences, configParseResult.options, getConfigFileParsingDiagnostics(configParseResult));
+                performCompilation(configParseResult.fileNames, configParseResult.projectReferences, configParseResult.options, plugins, getConfigFileParsingDiagnostics(configParseResult));
             }
         }
         else {
@@ -169,7 +183,7 @@ namespace ts {
                 performIncrementalCompilation(commandLine);
             }
             else {
-                performCompilation(commandLine.fileNames, /*references*/ undefined, commandLineOptions);
+                performCompilation(commandLine.fileNames, /*references*/ undefined, commandLineOptions, /*plugins*/ undefined);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -235,7 +249,7 @@ namespace ts {
             undefined;
     }
 
-    function performCompilation(rootNames: string[], projectReferences: ReadonlyArray<ProjectReference> | undefined, options: CompilerOptions, configFileParsingDiagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>) {
+    function performCompilation(rootNames: string[], projectReferences: ReadonlyArray<ProjectReference> | undefined, options: CompilerOptions, plugins: ReadonlyArray<CompilerPlugin> | undefined, configFileParsingDiagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>) {
         const host = createCompilerHost(options);
         const currentDirectory = host.getCurrentDirectory();
         const getCanonicalFileName = createGetCanonicalFileName(host.useCaseSensitiveFileNames());
@@ -247,7 +261,8 @@ namespace ts {
             options,
             projectReferences,
             host,
-            configFileParsingDiagnostics
+            configFileParsingDiagnostics,
+            plugins
         };
         const program = createProgram(programOptions);
         const exitStatus = emitFilesAndReportErrorsAndGetExitStatus(
@@ -257,6 +272,7 @@ namespace ts {
             createReportErrorSummary(options)
         );
         reportStatistics(program);
+        program.dispose();
         return sys.exit(exitStatus);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/tsserver/server.ts b/src/tsserver/server.ts
index b9a5792d838..66b189daf4c 100644
--- a/src/tsserver/server.ts
+++ b/src/tsserver/server.ts
@@ -903,10 +903,11 @@ namespace ts.server {
 
     sys.require = (initialDir: string, moduleName: string): RequireResult => {
         try {
-            return { module: require(resolveJSModule(moduleName, initialDir, sys)), error: undefined };
+            const modulePath = resolveJSModule(moduleName, initialDir, sys);
+            return { module: require(modulePath), modulePath, error: undefined };
         }
         catch (error) {
-            return { module: undefined, error };
+            return { module: undefined, modulePath: undefined, error };
         }
     };
 
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/api/tsserverlibrary.d.ts b/tests/baselines/reference/api/tsserverlibrary.d.ts
index 3c660bbc6db..196912acde4 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/api/tsserverlibrary.d.ts
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/api/tsserverlibrary.d.ts
@@ -2668,6 +2668,7 @@ declare namespace ts {
         errors: Diagnostic[];
         wildcardDirectories?: MapLike<WatchDirectoryFlags>;
         compileOnSave?: boolean;
+        plugins?: (string | [string, any?])[];
     }
     export enum WatchDirectoryFlags {
         None = 0,
@@ -2677,11 +2678,81 @@ declare namespace ts {
         fileNames: string[];
         wildcardDirectories: MapLike<WatchDirectoryFlags>;
     }
+    /**
+     * A context object passed to a plugin during activation.
+     */
+    interface CompilerPluginContext {
+        /**
+         * The running instance of the TypeScript compiler.
+         */
+        readonly ts: typeof ts;
+        /**
+         * The current CompilerHost.
+         */
+        readonly compilerHost: CompilerHost;
+        /**
+         * Configuration options for the plugin.
+         */
+        readonly options: MapLike<any>;
+    }
+    /**
+     * An optional result that can be returned from the `CompilerPluginModule.activate` hook.
+     */
+    interface CompilerPluginActivationResult {
+        diagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>;
+    }
+    /**
+     * An optional result that can be returned from the `CompilerPluginModule.preEmit` hook.
+     */
+    interface CompilerPluginPreEmitResult {
+        diagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>;
+        customTransformers?: CustomTransformers;
+    }
+    /**
+     * Describes the supported shape of the main module for a compiler plugin.
+     */
+    interface CompilerPluginModule {
+        /**
+         * The `activate` hook is invoked when a plugin is activated for the first time within a `Program`.
+         * @param context The current plugin context.
+         */
+        activate?(context: CompilerPluginContext): CompilerPluginActivationResult | void;
+        /**
+         * The `preEmit` hook is invoked after type check has completed and immediately before emit.
+         * @param context The current plugin context.
+         * @param program The current `Program`.
+         * @param targetSourceFile The `SourceFile` that is about to be emitted, or `undefined` when emitting all outputs.
+         * @param cancellationToken A `CancellationToken` that can be used to abort an operation when running in the language service.
+         */
+        preEmit?(context: CompilerPluginContext, program: Program, targetSourceFile?: SourceFile, cancellationToken?: CancellationToken): CompilerPluginPreEmitResult | void;
+        /**
+         * The `deactivate` hook is invoked when a plugin should be deactivated so that it can free up any shared resources.
+         * @param context The current plugin context.
+         */
+        deactivate?(context: CompilerPluginContext): void;
+    }
+    interface CompilerPlugin {
+        /** The rsolved package name for the plugin. */
+        name: string;
+        /** The path to the plugin. */
+        path: string | undefined;
+        /** The originally-specified package name for the plugin */
+        originalName?: string;
+        /** Any configuration options provided to the plugin. */
+        options?: any;
+        /** The hooks supported by the plugin. */
+        activationEvents?: string[];
+        /** Plugin dependencies that should be loaded before this plugin. */
+        pluginDependencies?: string[];
+        /** The resolved module object for the plugin. */
+        plugin: CompilerPluginModule;
+    }
     export interface CreateProgramOptions {
         rootNames: ReadonlyArray<string>;
         options: CompilerOptions;
         projectReferences?: ReadonlyArray<ProjectReference>;
         host?: CompilerHost;
+        plugins?: ReadonlyArray<CompilerPlugin>;
         oldProgram?: Program;
         configFileParsingDiagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>;
     }
@@ -4280,6 +4351,8 @@ declare namespace ts {
 declare namespace ts {
     function createPrinter(printerOptions?: PrinterOptions, handlers?: PrintHandlers): Printer;
 }
+declare namespace ts {
+}
 declare namespace ts {
     export function findConfigFile(searchPath: string, fileExists: (fileName: string) => boolean, configName?: string): string | undefined;
     export function resolveTripleslashReference(moduleName: string, containingFile: string): string;
@@ -5803,16 +5876,6 @@ declare namespace ts.server {
         compressionKind: string;
         data: any;
     }
-    type RequireResult = {
-        module: {};
-        error: undefined;
-    } | {
-        module: undefined;
-        error: {
-            stack?: string;
-            message?: string;
-        };
-    };
     interface ServerHost extends System {
         watchFile(path: string, callback: FileWatcherCallback, pollingInterval?: number): FileWatcher;
         watchDirectory(path: string, callback: DirectoryWatcherCallback, recursive?: boolean): FileWatcher;
@@ -5822,7 +5885,6 @@ declare namespace ts.server {
         clearImmediate(timeoutId: any): void;
         gc?(): void;
         trace?(s: string): void;
-        require?(initialPath: string, moduleName: string): RequireResult;
     }
 }
 declare namespace ts.server {
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/api/typescript.d.ts b/tests/baselines/reference/api/typescript.d.ts
index 515cbd77d05..a4bc9bd1942 100644
--- a/tests/baselines/reference/api/typescript.d.ts
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/api/typescript.d.ts
@@ -2668,6 +2668,7 @@ declare namespace ts {
         errors: Diagnostic[];
         wildcardDirectories?: MapLike<WatchDirectoryFlags>;
         compileOnSave?: boolean;
+        plugins?: (string | [string, any?])[];
     }
     export enum WatchDirectoryFlags {
         None = 0,
@@ -2677,11 +2678,81 @@ declare namespace ts {
         fileNames: string[];
         wildcardDirectories: MapLike<WatchDirectoryFlags>;
     }
+    /**
+     * A context object passed to a plugin during activation.
+     */
+    interface CompilerPluginContext {
+        /**
+         * The running instance of the TypeScript compiler.
+         */
+        readonly ts: typeof ts;
+        /**
+         * The current CompilerHost.
+         */
+        readonly compilerHost: CompilerHost;
+        /**
+         * Configuration options for the plugin.
+         */
+        readonly options: MapLike<any>;
+    }
+    /**
+     * An optional result that can be returned from the `CompilerPluginModule.activate` hook.
+     */
+    interface CompilerPluginActivationResult {
+        diagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>;
+    }
+    /**
+     * An optional result that can be returned from the `CompilerPluginModule.preEmit` hook.
+     */
+    interface CompilerPluginPreEmitResult {
+        diagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>;
+        customTransformers?: CustomTransformers;
+    }
+    /**
+     * Describes the supported shape of the main module for a compiler plugin.
+     */
+    interface CompilerPluginModule {
+        /**
+         * The `activate` hook is invoked when a plugin is activated for the first time within a `Program`.
+         * @param context The current plugin context.
+         */
+        activate?(context: CompilerPluginContext): CompilerPluginActivationResult | void;
+        /**
+         * The `preEmit` hook is invoked after type check has completed and immediately before emit.
+         * @param context The current plugin context.
+         * @param program The current `Program`.
+         * @param targetSourceFile The `SourceFile` that is about to be emitted, or `undefined` when emitting all outputs.
+         * @param cancellationToken A `CancellationToken` that can be used to abort an operation when running in the language service.
+         */
+        preEmit?(context: CompilerPluginContext, program: Program, targetSourceFile?: SourceFile, cancellationToken?: CancellationToken): CompilerPluginPreEmitResult | void;
+        /**
+         * The `deactivate` hook is invoked when a plugin should be deactivated so that it can free up any shared resources.
+         * @param context The current plugin context.
+         */
+        deactivate?(context: CompilerPluginContext): void;
+    }
+    interface CompilerPlugin {
+        /** The rsolved package name for the plugin. */
+        name: string;
+        /** The path to the plugin. */
+        path: string | undefined;
+        /** The originally-specified package name for the plugin */
+        originalName?: string;
+        /** Any configuration options provided to the plugin. */
+        options?: any;
+        /** The hooks supported by the plugin. */
+        activationEvents?: string[];
+        /** Plugin dependencies that should be loaded before this plugin. */
+        pluginDependencies?: string[];
+        /** The resolved module object for the plugin. */
+        plugin: CompilerPluginModule;
+    }
     export interface CreateProgramOptions {
         rootNames: ReadonlyArray<string>;
         options: CompilerOptions;
         projectReferences?: ReadonlyArray<ProjectReference>;
         host?: CompilerHost;
+        plugins?: ReadonlyArray<CompilerPlugin>;
         oldProgram?: Program;
         configFileParsingDiagnostics?: ReadonlyArray<Diagnostic>;
     }
@@ -4280,6 +4351,8 @@ declare namespace ts {
 declare namespace ts {
     function createPrinter(printerOptions?: PrinterOptions, handlers?: PrintHandlers): Printer;
 }
+declare namespace ts {
+}
 declare namespace ts {
     export function findConfigFile(searchPath: string, fileExists: (fileName: string) => boolean, configName?: string): string | undefined;
     export function resolveTripleslashReference(moduleName: string, containingFile: string): string;
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/transformerPlugin.js b/tests/baselines/reference/transformerPlugin.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a9be8a8ab77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/transformerPlugin.js
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+//// [tests/cases/conformance/plugins/transformerPlugin.ts] ////
+
+//// [package.json]
+{
+    "name": "typescript-plugin-transform",
+    "version": "1.0.0",
+    "main": "index.js",
+    "typescriptPlugin": {
+        "activationEvents": ["preEmit"]
+    }
+}
+
+//// [index.js]
+exports.preEmit = function (context, program, targetSourceFile) {
+    const ts = context.ts;
+    return { customTransformers: { after: [replaceUndefinedWithVoid0] } };
+    function replaceUndefinedWithVoid0(context) {
+        const previousOnSubstituteNode = context.onSubstituteNode;
+        context.enableSubstitution(ts.SyntaxKind.Identifier);
+        context.onSubstituteNode = (hint, node) => {
+            node = previousOnSubstituteNode(hint, node);
+            if (hint === ts.EmitHint.Expression && ts.isIdentifier(node) && node.escapedText === "undefined") {
+                node = ts.createPartiallyEmittedExpression(
+                    ts.addSyntheticTrailingComment(
+                        ts.setTextRange(
+                            ts.createVoidZero(),
+                            node),
+                        ts.SyntaxKind.MultiLineCommentTrivia, "undefined"));
+            }
+            return node;
+        };
+        return (file) => file;
+    }
+};
+
+//// [main.ts]
+const a = undefined;
+
+//// [main.js]
+var a = void 0 /*undefined*/;
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/transformerPlugin.symbols b/tests/baselines/reference/transformerPlugin.symbols
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..17adf63ede4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/transformerPlugin.symbols
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+=== tests/cases/conformance/plugins/main.ts ===
+const a = undefined;
+>a : Symbol(a, Decl(main.ts, 0, 5))
+>undefined : Symbol(undefined)
+
diff --git a/tests/baselines/reference/transformerPlugin.types b/tests/baselines/reference/transformerPlugin.types
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e90d5444657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/baselines/reference/transformerPlugin.types
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+=== tests/cases/conformance/plugins/main.ts ===
+const a = undefined;
+>a : any
+>undefined : undefined
+
diff --git a/tests/cases/conformance/plugins/transformerPlugin.ts b/tests/cases/conformance/plugins/transformerPlugin.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8676f7b32d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/conformance/plugins/transformerPlugin.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+// @noImplicitReferences: true
+// @filename: node_modules/typescript-plugin-transform/package.json
+{
+    "name": "typescript-plugin-transform",
+    "version": "1.0.0",
+    "main": "index.js",
+    "typescriptPlugin": {
+        "activationEvents": ["preEmit"]
+    }
+}
+
+// @filename: node_modules/typescript-plugin-transform/index.js
+exports.preEmit = function (context, program, targetSourceFile) {
+    const ts = context.ts;
+    return { customTransformers: { after: [replaceUndefinedWithVoid0] } };
+    function replaceUndefinedWithVoid0(context) {
+        const previousOnSubstituteNode = context.onSubstituteNode;
+        context.enableSubstitution(ts.SyntaxKind.Identifier);
+        context.onSubstituteNode = (hint, node) => {
+            node = previousOnSubstituteNode(hint, node);
+            if (hint === ts.EmitHint.Expression && ts.isIdentifier(node) && node.escapedText === "undefined") {
+                node = ts.createPartiallyEmittedExpression(
+                    ts.addSyntheticTrailingComment(
+                        ts.setTextRange(
+                            ts.createVoidZero(),
+                            node),
+                        ts.SyntaxKind.MultiLineCommentTrivia, "undefined"));
+            }
+            return node;
+        };
+        return (file) => file;
+    }
+};
+
+// @filename: tsconfig.json
+{
+    "compilerOptions": {},
+    "plugins": [
+        "transform"
+    ]
+}
+
+// @filename: main.ts
+const a = undefined;
\ No newline at end of file