Overview

RASON Desktop enables users to create and solve optimization, simulation, stochastic, and data science models written in the RASON modeling language within Microsoft’s (free) Visual Studio Code, and export these models into Microsoft Power BI or Microsoft Excel, where they can be solved directly within a report or workbook. Implemented as a Visual Studio Code extension, RASON Desktop provides an environment for developing models, getting data from and exporting results to Power BI or Excel. This allows users to interact with models through familiar dashboards, filters, and visuals while continuing to leverage the full power of RASON. 

What is RASON?

RASON, which stands for RESTful Analytic Solver® Object Notation, is a multi-purpose modeling language and decision intelligence platform from Frontline Systems. It is used for building, analyzing, and solving mathematical optimization, simulation and risk analysis, data science and machine learning models, business decision rules, and multi-stage decision flows.

You can use RASON models on your desktop with VS Code, Power BI Desktop and Excel Desktop; in the Azure cloud with a REST API working with Excel for the Web, and soon Power BI Service and Microsoft Fabric; in Docker containers; and in your own app written in C/C++, C#, Java, Python, and R via Frontline's Solver SDK.

RASON comes with world-class solvers for mathematical optimization, advanced probability distributions and simulation, powerful machine learning algorithms, rich DMN business rule handling  and easy-to-build multi-stage decision flows with an in-memory SQL engine.

RASON Features

  • Rich editing — syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, signature help for hundreds of Excel-compatible built-in functions, and real-time validation for RASON models.
  • AI-assisted modeling and solving in GitHub Copilot, enriched by the RASON MCP Server.
  • Solvers included for every RASON model type — no extra tools required.
  • Local and cloud solving — just click to use either method.
  • Structural model diagnostics and a sidebar with analyzed model statistics.
  • Model templates for optimization, simulation, data science, decision tables, and multi-stage flows, inserted via quick pick.
  • Examples sidebar with a searchable library of ready-to-run RASON models, organized by category.
  • Live Power BI integration — browse open Power BI datasets, read and write data directly, and refresh charts automatically.
  • Live Excel integration — browse open Excel workbooks, pick ranges, read and write data directly, and refresh charts automatically.
  • Export results to Power BI, CSV, or Excel directly from the Solve Console.
  • License view for managing your RASON and Solver licenses.