diff --git a/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core.csproj b/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core.csproj
index 3d8b091db..de49b7c53 100644
--- a/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core.csproj
+++ b/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core.csproj
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@
     <Compile Include="TaskFailedException.cs" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\source\Cosmos.Assembler\Cosmos.Assembler.csproj">
+      <Project>{1116130E-28E0-428A-A597-F4B3B676C0CA}</Project>
+      <Name>Cosmos.Assembler</Name>
+    </ProjectReference>
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\source\Cosmos.Build.Common\Cosmos.Build.Common.csproj">
       <Project>{0462E82B-8C29-41A9-8265-9C89038ADB29}</Project>
       <Name>Cosmos.Build.Common</Name>
diff --git a/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/DefaultEngineConfiguration.cs b/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/DefaultEngineConfiguration.cs
index 967b30d3e..65d82b0f0 100644
--- a/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/DefaultEngineConfiguration.cs
+++ b/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/DefaultEngineConfiguration.cs
@@ -15,16 +15,16 @@ namespace Cosmos.TestRunner.Core
             engine.AllowedSecondsInKernel = 120;
 
             // If you want to test only specific platforms, add them to the list, like next line. By default, all platforms are ran.
-            // engine.RunTargets.Add(RunTargetEnum.Bochs);
+            engine.RunTargets.Add(RunTargetEnum.Bochs);
 
             // if you're working on the compiler (or other lower parts), you can choose to run the compiler in process
             // 1 thing to keep in mind though, is that this only works with 1 kernel at a time!
             engine.RunIL2CPUInProcess = false;
 
             engine.AddKernel(typeof(Cosmos.Compiler.Tests.SimpleWriteLine.Kernel.Kernel).Assembly.Location);
-            engine.AddKernel(typeof(SimpleStructsAndArraysTest.Kernel).Assembly.Location);
-            engine.AddKernel(typeof(VGACompilerCrash.Kernel).Assembly.Location);
-            engine.AddKernel(typeof(BoxingTests.Kernel).Assembly.Location);
+            //engine.AddKernel(typeof(SimpleStructsAndArraysTest.Kernel).Assembly.Location);
+            //engine.AddKernel(typeof(VGACompilerCrash.Kernel).Assembly.Location);
+            //engine.AddKernel(typeof(BoxingTests.Kernel).Assembly.Location);
             // known bugs, therefor disabled for now:
 
             // end of known bugs
diff --git a/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/Engine.Helpers.cs b/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/Engine.Helpers.cs
index 608ca627c..1e8e75c71 100644
--- a/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/Engine.Helpers.cs
+++ b/Tests/Cosmos.TestRunner.Core/Engine.Helpers.cs
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ namespace Cosmos.TestRunner.Core
                 {
                     throw new Exception("Cannot run multiple kernels with in-process compilation!");
                 }
+                // ensure we're using the referenced (= solution) version
+                Assembler.Assembler.ReadDebugStubFromDisk = false;
                 var xResult = Program.Run(xArguments, OutputHandler.LogMessage, OutputHandler.LogError);
                 if (xResult != 0)
                 {
diff --git a/source/Cosmos.Assembler/.editorconfig b/source/Cosmos.Assembler/.editorconfig
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7324c3aae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Cosmos.Assembler/.editorconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[Assembler.cs]
+indent_size=2
diff --git a/source/Cosmos.Assembler/Assembler.cs b/source/Cosmos.Assembler/Assembler.cs
index a0c69392e..e29f11f56 100644
--- a/source/Cosmos.Assembler/Assembler.cs
+++ b/source/Cosmos.Assembler/Assembler.cs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ using System.Reflection;
 using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 using System.Xml;
 using Cosmos.Assembler.x86;
+using Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub;
 
 namespace Cosmos.Assembler {
   public class Assembler {
@@ -511,13 +512,54 @@ namespace Cosmos.Assembler {
 
       if (mComPort > 0) {
         var xGen = new XSharp.Compiler.AsmGenerator();
-        foreach (var xFile in Directory.GetFiles(Cosmos.Build.Common.CosmosPaths.DebugStubSrc, "*.xs")) {
-          var xAsm = xGen.Generate(xFile);
-          foreach (var xData in xAsm.Data) {
-            Cosmos.Assembler.Assembler.CurrentInstance.DataMembers.Add(new DataMember() { RawAsm = xData });
+
+        var xGenerateAssembler =
+          new Action<object>(i =>
+                             {
+                               XSharp.Nasm.Assembler xAsm;
+                               if (i is StreamReader)
+                               {
+                                 xAsm = xGen.Generate((StreamReader)i);
+                               }
+                               else if (i is string)
+                               {
+                                 xAsm = xGen.Generate((string)i);
+                               }
+                               else
+                               {
+                                 throw new Exception("Object type '" + i.ToString() + "' not supported!");
+                               }
+                               foreach (var xData in xAsm.Data)
+                               {
+                                 Cosmos.Assembler.Assembler.CurrentInstance.DataMembers.Add(new DataMember() {RawAsm = xData});
+                               }
+                               foreach (var xCode in xAsm.Code)
+                               {
+                                 new LiteralAssemblerCode(xCode);
+                               }
+                             });
+        if (ReadDebugStubFromDisk)
+        {
+          foreach (var xFile in Directory.GetFiles(Cosmos.Build.Common.CosmosPaths.DebugStubSrc, "*.xs"))
+          {
+            xGenerateAssembler(xFile);
           }
-          foreach (var xCode in xAsm.Code) {
-            new LiteralAssemblerCode(xCode);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+          foreach (var xManifestName in typeof(ReferenceHelper).Assembly.GetManifestResourceNames())
+          {
+            if (!xManifestName.EndsWith(".xs", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            {
+              continue;
+            }
+            using (var xStream = typeof(ReferenceHelper).Assembly.GetManifestResourceStream(xManifestName))
+            {
+              using (var xReader = new StreamReader(xStream))
+              {
+                xGenerateAssembler(xReader);
+              }
+            }
           }
         }
         OnAfterEmitDebugStub();
@@ -529,6 +571,12 @@ namespace Cosmos.Assembler {
       Cosmos.Assembler.Assembler.CurrentInstance.EmitAsmLabels = true;
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Setting this field to false means the .xs files for the debug stub are read from the DebugStub assembly.
+    /// This allows the automated kernel tester to use the live ones, instead of the installed ones.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static bool ReadDebugStubFromDisk = true;
+
     protected virtual void OnAfterEmitDebugStub()
     {
       //
diff --git a/source/Cosmos.Assembler/Cosmos.Assembler.csproj b/source/Cosmos.Assembler/Cosmos.Assembler.csproj
index fe791cb4f..8877021a5 100644
--- a/source/Cosmos.Assembler/Cosmos.Assembler.csproj
+++ b/source/Cosmos.Assembler/Cosmos.Assembler.csproj
@@ -310,6 +310,7 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <None Include="Cosmos.snk" />
     <None Include="x86\Cosmos.snk" />
+    <None Include=".editorconfig" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\source\XSharp.Nasm\XSharp.Nasm.csproj">
@@ -324,6 +325,10 @@
       <Project>{A281A1B1-C718-4BCB-A7BE-ED840A70449A}</Project>
       <Name>XSharp.Compiler</Name>
     </ProjectReference>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub\Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub.csproj">
+      <Project>{A7F3F078-CF99-4018-9A35-2D6DC9517ADB}</Project>
+      <Name>Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub</Name>
+    </ProjectReference>
   </ItemGroup>
   <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
   <!-- To modify your build process, add your task inside one of the targets below and uncomment it. 
diff --git a/source/Cosmos.Build.MSBuild/Cosmos.Build.MSBuild.csproj b/source/Cosmos.Build.MSBuild/Cosmos.Build.MSBuild.csproj
index 986814bdf..6d909080b 100644
--- a/source/Cosmos.Build.MSBuild/Cosmos.Build.MSBuild.csproj
+++ b/source/Cosmos.Build.MSBuild/Cosmos.Build.MSBuild.csproj
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@
     </None>
     <None Include="packages.config" />
   </ItemGroup>
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Content Include="..\XSharp.Compiler\.editorconfig.txt">
+      <Link>.editorconfig.txt</Link>
+    </Content>
+  </ItemGroup>
   <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />
   <!-- To modify your build process, add your task inside one of the targets below and uncomment it. 
        Other similar extension points exist, see Microsoft.Common.targets.
diff --git a/source/Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub/Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub.csproj b/source/Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub/Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub.csproj
index 877bbbd75..cf2088e63 100644
--- a/source/Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub/Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub.csproj
+++ b/source/Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub/Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub.csproj
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="ReferenceHelper.cs" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <EmbeddedResource Include="AsmBreak.xs">
@@ -76,55 +77,55 @@
       <LastGenOutput>AsmBreak.asm</LastGenOutput>
     </EmbeddedResource>
     <None Include=".editorconfig" />
-    <None Include="CmdMisc.xs">
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="CmdMisc.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>CmdMisc.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
-    <None Include="CmdProcess.xs">
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="CmdProcess.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>CmdProcess.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
-    <None Include="CmdSend.xs">
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="CmdSend.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>CmdSend.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
-    <None Include="Consts.xs">
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="Consts.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>Consts.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
+    </EmbeddedResource>
     <None Include="Cosmos.snk" />
-    <None Include="DebugStub.xs">
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="DebugStub.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>DebugStub.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
-    <None Include="Init.xs">
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="Init.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>Init.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
-    <None Include="Screen.xs">
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="Screen.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>Screen.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
-    <None Include="SerialIO.xs">
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="SerialIO.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>SerialIO.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
-    <None Include="SerialHelpers.xs">
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="SerialHelpers.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>SerialHelpers.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
-    <None Include="Serial.xs">
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="Serial.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>Serial.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
-    <None Include="TracerEntry.xs">
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="TracerEntry.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>TracerEntry.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
-    <None Include="Utilities.xs">
+    </EmbeddedResource>
+    <EmbeddedResource Include="Utilities.xs">
       <Generator>CosmosXSharpGenerator</Generator>
       <LastGenOutput>Utilities.asm</LastGenOutput>
-    </None>
+    </EmbeddedResource>
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <Content Include="AsmBreak.asm">
diff --git a/source/Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub/ReferenceHelper.cs b/source/Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub/ReferenceHelper.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cd6566094
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub/ReferenceHelper.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+namespace Cosmos.Debug.DebugStub
+{
+  public static class ReferenceHelper
+  {
+    // dummy class to allow referencing this assembly
+  }
+}
diff --git a/source/XSharp.Compiler/.editorconfig b/source/XSharp.Compiler/.editorconfig
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d79adc04a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/XSharp.Compiler/.editorconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[*.cs]
+indent_size = 2
diff --git a/source/XSharp.Compiler/AsmGenerator.cs b/source/XSharp.Compiler/AsmGenerator.cs
index 3d664110b..b95525258 100644
--- a/source/XSharp.Compiler/AsmGenerator.cs
+++ b/source/XSharp.Compiler/AsmGenerator.cs
@@ -27,36 +27,51 @@ namespace XSharp.Compiler {
       throw new Exception("The last function or interrupt handler from source code file is missing a curly brace.");
     }
 
+    /// <summary>Parse the input X# source code file and generate the matching target assembly
+    /// language.</summary>
+    /// <param name="aReader">X# source code reader.</param>
+    /// <returns>The resulting target assembler content. The returned object contains
+    /// a code and a data block.</returns>
+    public Assembler Generate(StreamReader aReader)
+    {
+      if (aReader == null)
+      {
+        throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(aReader));
+      }
+      mPatterns.EmitUserComments = EmitUserComments;
+      mLineNo = 0;
+      var xResult = new Assembler();
+      // Read one X# source code line at a time and process it.
+      while (true)
+      {
+        mLineNo++;
+        string xLine = aReader.ReadLine();
+        if (xLine == null)
+        {
+          break;
+        }
+
+        var xAsm = ProcessLine(xLine, mLineNo);
+        xResult.Data.AddRange(xAsm.Data);
+        xResult.Code.AddRange(xAsm.Code);
+      }
+      AssertLastFunctionComplete();
+      return xResult;
+    }
+
     /// <summary>Parse the input X# source code file and generate the matching target assembly
     /// language.</summary>
     /// <param name="aSrcPathname">X# source code file.</param>
     /// <returns>The resulting target assembler content. The returned object contains
     /// a code and a data block.</returns>
-    public Assembler Generate(string aSrcPathname) {
+    public Assembler Generate(string aSrcPathname)
+    {
       try
       {
-        mPatterns.EmitUserComments = EmitUserComments;
-        mLineNo = 0;
-        var xResult = new Assembler();
         using (var xInput = new StreamReader(aSrcPathname))
         {
-          // Read one X# source code line at a time and process it.
-          while (true)
-          {
-            mLineNo++;
-            string xLine = xInput.ReadLine();
-            if (xLine == null)
-            {
-              break;
-            }
-
-            var xAsm = ProcessLine(xLine, mLineNo);
-            xResult.Data.AddRange(xAsm.Data);
-            xResult.Code.AddRange(xAsm.Code);
-          }
+          return Generate(xInput);
         }
-        AssertLastFunctionComplete();
-        return xResult;
       }
       catch (Exception E)
       {
diff --git a/source/XSharp.Compiler/XSharp.Compiler.csproj b/source/XSharp.Compiler/XSharp.Compiler.csproj
index 9857fe6fc..fc44fb8ab 100644
--- a/source/XSharp.Compiler/XSharp.Compiler.csproj
+++ b/source/XSharp.Compiler/XSharp.Compiler.csproj
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
     <Content Include="Docs\Old.html" />
     <Content Include="Docs\ToDo.html" />
     <Content Include="Docs\XSharp.htm" />
+    <None Include=".editorconfig" />
     <None Include="XSharp.ico" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <Import Project="$(MSBuildToolsPath)\Microsoft.CSharp.targets" />