diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/code/ng_deps_code.dart b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/code/ng_deps_code.dart
index c9bfa08ad4..b99c393f58 100644
--- a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/code/ng_deps_code.dart
+++ b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/code/ng_deps_code.dart
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ abstract class NgDepsWriterMixin
     }
 
     // We do not support `partUris`, so skip outputting them.
-    model.imports.forEach((importModel) {
+    for (var importModel in model.imports) {
       // Ignore deferred imports here so as to not load the deferred libraries
       // code in the current library causing much of the code to not be
       // deferred. Instead `DeferredRewriter` will rewrite the code as to load
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ abstract class NgDepsWriterMixin
       if (importModel.isDeferred) return;
 
       writeImportModel(importModel);
-    });
+    }
     model.exports.forEach(writeExportModel);
 
     buffer
@@ -162,6 +162,13 @@ abstract class NgDepsWriterMixin
       buffer.writeln(';');
     }
 
+    // Call the setup method for our imports that are `.ng_deps` imports.
+    for (var importModel in model.imports) {
+      if (importModel.isNgDeps) {
+        buffer.writeln('${importModel.prefix}.${SETUP_METHOD_NAME}();');
+      }
+    }
+
     buffer.writeln('}');
   }
 }
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/model/import_export_model.pb.dart b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/model/import_export_model.pb.dart
index a74303793e..bd59a7bbc5 100644
--- a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/model/import_export_model.pb.dart
+++ b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/model/import_export_model.pb.dart
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ class ImportModel extends GeneratedMessage {
     ..p(3, 'hideCombinators', PbFieldType.PS)
     ..a(4, 'prefix', PbFieldType.OS)
     ..a(5, 'isDeferred', PbFieldType.OB)
+    ..a(6, 'isNgDeps', PbFieldType.OB)
   ;
 
   ImportModel() : super();
@@ -48,6 +49,11 @@ class ImportModel extends GeneratedMessage {
   void set isDeferred(bool v) { setField(5, v); }
   bool hasIsDeferred() => hasField(5);
   void clearIsDeferred() => clearField(5);
+
+  bool get isNgDeps => getField(6);
+  void set isNgDeps(bool v) { setField(6, v); }
+  bool hasIsNgDeps() => hasField(6);
+  void clearIsNgDeps() => clearField(6);
 }
 
 class _ReadonlyImportModel extends ImportModel with ReadonlyMessageMixin {}
@@ -95,6 +101,7 @@ const ImportModel$json = const {
     const {'1': 'hide_combinators', '3': 3, '4': 3, '5': 9},
     const {'1': 'prefix', '3': 4, '4': 1, '5': 9},
     const {'1': 'is_deferred', '3': 5, '4': 1, '5': 8},
+    const {'1': 'is_ng_deps', '3': 6, '4': 1, '5': 8},
   ],
 };
 
@@ -109,7 +116,7 @@ const ExportModel$json = const {
 
 /**
  * Generated with:
- * import_export_model.proto (36a3a72d0884b84b451b7188ffa1fc93b44e7b62)
+ * import_export_model.proto (c018d2ad92db2d341631d813ace70925d1ccbb9b)
  * libprotoc 2.5.0
  * dart-protoc-plugin (cc35f743de982a4916588b9c505dd21c7fe87d17)
  */
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/model/import_export_model.proto b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/model/import_export_model.proto
index eb23a3b712..0635276485 100644
--- a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/model/import_export_model.proto
+++ b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/model/import_export_model.proto
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ message ImportModel {
   optional string prefix = 4;
 
   optional bool is_deferred = 5;
+
+  optional bool is_ng_deps = 6;
 }
 
 // See message above about wire-compatiblity with `ImportModel`.
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/names.dart b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/names.dart
index 300ab9eaa0..0d410f4198 100644
--- a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/names.dart
+++ b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/common/names.dart
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ const SETUP_METHOD_NAME = 'initReflector';
 const REFLECTOR_VAR_NAME = 'reflector';
 const TRANSFORM_DYNAMIC_MODE = 'transform_dynamic';
 const DEPS_EXTENSION = '.ng_deps.dart';
+const DEPS_JSON_EXTENSION = '.ng_deps.json';
 const META_EXTENSION = '.ng_meta.json';
 // TODO(sigmund): consider merging into .ng_meta by generating local metadata
 // upfront (rather than extracting it from ng_deps).
@@ -19,16 +20,19 @@ const REGISTER_METHODS_METHOD_NAME = 'registerMethods';
 
 /// Returns `uri` with its extension updated to [META_EXTENSION].
 String toMetaExtension(String uri) =>
-    _toExtension(uri, const [DEPS_EXTENSION, '.dart'], META_EXTENSION);
+    _toExtension(uri, const [DEPS_EXTENSION, DEPS_JSON_EXTENSION, '.dart'], META_EXTENSION);
 
 /// Returns `uri` with its extension updated to [DEPS_EXTENSION].
 String toDepsExtension(String uri) =>
-    _toExtension(uri, const [META_EXTENSION, '.dart'], DEPS_EXTENSION);
+    _toExtension(uri, const [META_EXTENSION, DEPS_JSON_EXTENSION, '.dart'], DEPS_EXTENSION);
 
 /// Returns `uri` with its extension updated to [ALIAS_EXTENSION].
 String toAliasExtension(String uri) =>
     _toExtension(uri, const [DEPS_EXTENSION, '.dart'], ALIAS_EXTENSION);
 
+String toJsonExtension(String uri) =>
+    _toExtension(uri, const [DEPS_EXTENSION, '.dart'], DEPS_JSON_EXTENSION);
+
 /// Returns `uri` with its extension updated to `toExtension` if its
 /// extension is currently in `fromExtension`.
 String _toExtension(
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_linker/linker.dart b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_linker/linker.dart
index 4c2c8d093e..e537c1edd0 100644
--- a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_linker/linker.dart
+++ b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_linker/linker.dart
@@ -2,118 +2,115 @@ library angular2.transform.directive_linker.linker;
 
 import 'dart:async';
 
-import 'package:analyzer/analyzer.dart';
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/asset_reader.dart';
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/logging.dart';
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/names.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/ng_deps.dart';
+import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/model/import_export_model.pb.dart';
+import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/model/ng_deps_model.pb.dart';
 import 'package:barback/barback.dart';
 import 'package:code_transformers/assets.dart';
 
-/// Checks the `.ng_deps.dart` file represented by `entryPoint` and
+/// Checks the `.ng_deps.json` file represented by `entryPoint` and
 /// determines whether it is necessary to the functioning of the Angular 2
 /// Dart app.
 ///
-/// An `.ng_deps.dart` file is not necessary if:
+/// An `.ng_deps.json` file is not necessary if:
 /// 1. It does not register any `@Injectable` types with the system.
-/// 2. It does not import any libraries whose `.ng_deps.dart` files register
+/// 2. It does not import any libraries whose `.ng_deps.json` files register
 ///    any `@Injectable` types with the system.
 ///
 /// Since `@Directive` and `@Component` inherit from `@Injectable`, we know
 /// we will not miss processing any classes annotated with those tags.
 Future<bool> isNecessary(AssetReader reader, AssetId entryPoint) async {
-  NgDeps ngDeps = await NgDeps.parse(reader, entryPoint);
+  if (!(await reader.hasInput(entryPoint))) return false;
+  var jsonString = await reader.readAsString(entryPoint);
+  if (jsonString == null || jsonString.isEmpty) return false;
+  var ngDepsModel = new NgDepsModel.fromJson(jsonString);
 
-  if (ngDeps.registeredTypes.isNotEmpty) return true;
+  if (ngDepsModel.reflectables != null &&
+      ngDepsModel.reflectables.isNotEmpty) return true;
 
   // We do not register any @Injectables, do we call any dependencies?
-  var linkedDepsMap =
-      await _processNgImports(reader, entryPoint, _getSortedDeps(ngDeps));
+  var linkedDepsMap = await _processNgImports(reader, entryPoint, ngDepsModel);
   return linkedDepsMap.isNotEmpty;
 }
 
-/// Modifies the `.ng_deps.dart` file represented by `entryPoint` to call its
-/// dependencies associated `initReflector` methods.
+/// Modifies the [NgDepsModel] represented by `entryPoint` to import its
+/// dependencies' associated `.ng_deps.dart` files.
 ///
 /// For example, if entry_point.ng_deps.dart imports dependency.dart, this
-/// will check if dependency.ng_deps.dart exists. If it does, we add:
-///
-/// ```
-/// import 'dependency.ng_deps.dart' as i0;
-/// ...
-/// void setupReflection(reflector) {
-///   ...
-///   i0.initReflector(reflector);
-/// }
-/// ```
-Future<String> linkNgDeps(AssetReader reader, AssetId entryPoint) async {
-  NgDeps ngDeps = await NgDeps.parse(reader, entryPoint);
+/// will check if dependency.ng_deps.json exists. If it does, we add an import
+/// to dependency.ng_deps.dart to the entry_point [NgDepsModel] and set
+/// `isNgDeps` to `true` to signify that it is a dependency on which we need to
+/// call `initReflector`.
+Future<NgDepsModel> linkNgDeps(AssetReader reader, AssetId entryPoint) async {
+  if (!(await reader.hasInput(entryPoint))) return null;
+  var jsonString = await reader.readAsString(entryPoint);
+  if (jsonString.isEmpty) return null;
+  var ngDepsModel = new NgDepsModel.fromJson(jsonString);
 
-  if (ngDeps == null) return null;
-
-  var allDeps = _getSortedDeps(ngDeps);
-  var linkedDepsMap = await _processNgImports(reader, entryPoint, allDeps);
+  var linkedDepsMap = await _processNgImports(reader, entryPoint, ngDepsModel);
 
   if (linkedDepsMap.isEmpty) {
-    // We are not calling `initReflector` on any other libraries.
-    return ngDeps.code;
+    // We are not calling `initReflector` on any other libraries, but we still
+    // return the model to ensure it is written to code.
+    // TODO(kegluneq): Continue using the protobuf format after this phase.
+    return ngDepsModel;
   }
 
-  var importBuf = new StringBuffer();
-  var declarationBuf = new StringBuffer();
-  var code = ngDeps.code;
-  var codeIdx = 0;
-  // Generate import statements for linked deps where necessary.
-  for (var i = 0, it = allDeps.iterator; it.moveNext();) {
-    if (linkedDepsMap.containsKey(it.current)) {
-      importBuf.write(code.substring(codeIdx, it.current.end));
-      codeIdx = it.current.end;
-      importBuf.write('''
-        import '${linkedDepsMap[it.current]}' as i${i};
-      ''');
-      declarationBuf.write('i${i}.${SETUP_METHOD_NAME}();');
-      ++i;
+  for (var i = ngDepsModel.imports.length - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
+    var import = ngDepsModel.imports[i];
+    if (linkedDepsMap.containsKey(import.uri)) {
+      var linkedModel = new ImportModel()
+        ..isNgDeps = true
+        ..uri = toDepsExtension(linkedDepsMap[import.uri])
+        ..prefix = 'i$i';
+      // TODO(kegluneq): Preserve combinators?
+      ngDepsModel.imports.insert(i + 1, linkedModel);
+    }
+  }
+  for (var i = 0, iLen = ngDepsModel.exports.length; i < iLen; ++i) {
+    var export = ngDepsModel.exports[i];
+    if (linkedDepsMap.containsKey(export.uri)) {
+      var linkedModel = new ImportModel()
+        ..isNgDeps = true
+        ..uri = toDepsExtension(linkedDepsMap[export.uri])
+        ..prefix = 'i${ngDepsModel.imports.length}';
+      // TODO(kegluneq): Preserve combinators?
+      ngDepsModel.imports.add(linkedModel);
     }
   }
 
-  var declarationSeamIdx = ngDeps.setupMethod.end - 1;
-  return '$importBuf'
-      '${code.substring(codeIdx, declarationSeamIdx)}'
-      '$declarationBuf'
-      '${code.substring(declarationSeamIdx)}';
+  return ngDepsModel;
 }
 
-/// All `import`s and `export`s in `ngDeps` sorted by order of appearance in
-/// the file.
-List<UriBasedDirective> _getSortedDeps(NgDeps ngDeps) {
-  return <UriBasedDirective>[]
-    ..addAll(ngDeps.imports)
-    ..addAll(ngDeps.exports)
-    ..sort((a, b) => a.end.compareTo(b.end));
+bool _isNotDartDirective(dynamic model) {
+  return !model.uri.startsWith('dart:');
 }
 
-bool _isNotDartDirective(UriBasedDirective directive) {
-  return !stringLiteralToString(directive.uri).startsWith('dart:');
-}
-
-/// Maps each input {@link UriBasedDirective} to its associated `.ng_deps.dart`
-/// file, if it exists.
-Future<Map<UriBasedDirective, String>> _processNgImports(AssetReader reader,
-    AssetId entryPoint, Iterable<UriBasedDirective> directives) {
+/// Maps the `uri` of each input [ImportModel] or [ExportModel] to its
+/// associated `.ng_deps.json` file, if one exists.
+Future<Map<String, String>> _processNgImports(
+    AssetReader reader, AssetId ngJsonAsset, NgDepsModel model) {
   final nullFuture = new Future.value(null);
-  final retVal = <UriBasedDirective, String>{};
+  final importsAndExports = new List.from(model.imports)..addAll(model.exports);
+  final retVal = <String, String>{};
+  final entryPoint =
+      new AssetId(ngJsonAsset.package, toDepsExtension(ngJsonAsset.path));
   return Future
-      .wait(directives
-          .where(_isNotDartDirective)
-          .map((UriBasedDirective directive) {
-    var ngDepsUri = toDepsExtension(stringLiteralToString(directive.uri));
+      .wait(
+          importsAndExports.where(_isNotDartDirective).map((dynamic directive) {
+    // The uri of the import or export with .dart replaced with .ng_deps.json.
+    // This is the json file containing Angular 2 codegen info, if one exists.
+    var linkedJsonUri = toJsonExtension(directive.uri);
     var spanArg = null;
-    var ngDepsAsset = uriToAssetId(entryPoint, ngDepsUri, logger, spanArg,
+    var linkedNgJsonAsset = uriToAssetId(
+        entryPoint, linkedJsonUri, logger, spanArg,
         errorOnAbsolute: false);
-    if (ngDepsAsset == entryPoint) return nullFuture;
-    return reader.hasInput(ngDepsAsset).then((hasInput) {
+    if (linkedNgJsonAsset == ngJsonAsset) return nullFuture;
+    return reader.hasInput(linkedNgJsonAsset).then((hasInput) {
       if (hasInput) {
-        retVal[directive] = ngDepsUri;
+        retVal[directive.uri] = linkedJsonUri;
       }
     }, onError: (_) => null);
   }))
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_linker/transformer.dart b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_linker/transformer.dart
index 1346140964..37a53ee366 100644
--- a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_linker/transformer.dart
+++ b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_linker/transformer.dart
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ library angular2.transform.directive_linker.transformer;
 import 'dart:async';
 
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/asset_reader.dart';
+import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/code/ng_deps_code.dart';
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/formatter.dart';
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/logging.dart' as log;
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/names.dart';
@@ -10,15 +11,14 @@ import 'package:barback/barback.dart';
 
 import 'linker.dart';
 
-/// Transformer responsible for processing .ng_deps.dart files created by
-/// {@link DirectiveProcessor} and ensuring that the generated calls to
-/// `setupReflection` call the necessary `setupReflection` method in all
-/// dependencies.
+/// Transformer responsible for processing `.ng_deps.json` files created by
+/// {@link DirectiveProcessor} and ensuring that each imports its dependencies'
+/// .ng_deps.dart files.
 class DirectiveLinker extends Transformer implements DeclaringTransformer {
   DirectiveLinker();
 
   @override
-  bool isPrimary(AssetId id) => id.path.endsWith(DEPS_EXTENSION);
+  bool isPrimary(AssetId id) => id.path.endsWith(DEPS_JSON_EXTENSION);
 
   @override
   declareOutputs(DeclaringTransform transform) {
@@ -31,22 +31,27 @@ class DirectiveLinker extends Transformer implements DeclaringTransformer {
       var reader = new AssetReader.fromTransform(transform);
       var assetId = transform.primaryInput.id;
       var assetPath = assetId.path;
-      var transformedCode = await linkNgDeps(reader, assetId);
-      if (transformedCode != null) {
-        var formattedCode = formatter.format(transformedCode, uri: assetPath);
-        transform.addOutput(new Asset.fromString(assetId, formattedCode));
+      var ngDepsModel = await linkNgDeps(reader, assetId);
+      if (ngDepsModel != null) {
+        var buf = new StringBuffer();
+        var writer = new NgDepsWriter(buf);
+        writer.writeNgDepsModel(ngDepsModel);
+        var formattedCode = formatter.format('$buf', uri: assetPath);
+        var ngDepsAssetId =
+            new AssetId(assetId.package, toDepsExtension(assetPath));
+        transform.addOutput(new Asset.fromString(ngDepsAssetId, formattedCode));
       }
     });
   }
 }
 
-/// Transformer responsible for removing unnecessary `.ng_deps.dart` files
+/// Transformer responsible for removing unnecessary `.ng_deps.json` files
 /// created by {@link DirectiveProcessor}.
 class EmptyNgDepsRemover extends Transformer implements DeclaringTransformer {
   EmptyNgDepsRemover();
 
   @override
-  bool isPrimary(AssetId id) => id.path.endsWith(DEPS_EXTENSION);
+  bool isPrimary(AssetId id) => id.path.endsWith(DEPS_JSON_EXTENSION);
 
   /// We occasionally consume the primary input, but that depends on the
   /// contents of the file, so we conservatively do not declare any outputs nor
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_processor/rewriter.dart b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_processor/rewriter.dart
index 9d77a88d0a..b98641e6b1 100644
--- a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_processor/rewriter.dart
+++ b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_processor/rewriter.dart
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ Future<NgDepsModel> createNgDeps(AssetReader reader, AssetId assetId,
   parsedCode.accept(ngDepsVisitor);
   var ngDepsModel = ngDepsVisitor.model;
 
+  var ngMetaVisitor = new _NgMetaVisitor(ngMeta);
+  parsedCode.accept(ngMetaVisitor);
+
   // If this file imports only dart: libraries and does not define any
   // reflectables of its own, it doesn't need a .ng_deps.dart file.
   if (!directivesVisitor.usesNonLangLibs &&
@@ -58,9 +61,6 @@ Future<NgDepsModel> createNgDeps(AssetReader reader, AssetId assetId,
     return null;
   }
 
-  var ngMetaVisitor = new _NgMetaVisitor(ngMeta);
-  parsedCode.accept(ngMetaVisitor);
-
   if (inlineViews) {
     await inlineViewProps(new XhrImpl(reader, assetId), ngDepsModel);
   }
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_processor/transformer.dart b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_processor/transformer.dart
index 17ba15a4c5..6ec3e953cd 100644
--- a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_processor/transformer.dart
+++ b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/directive_processor/transformer.dart
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import 'dart:async';
 import 'dart:convert';
 
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/asset_reader.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/code/ng_deps_code.dart';
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/logging.dart' as log;
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/names.dart';
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/options.dart';
@@ -52,15 +51,12 @@ class DirectiveProcessor extends Transformer implements DeclaringTransformer {
           inlineViews: options.inlineViews);
       if (ngDepsModel != null) {
         var ngDepsAssetId =
-            transform.primaryInput.id.changeExtension(DEPS_EXTENSION);
+            transform.primaryInput.id.changeExtension(DEPS_JSON_EXTENSION);
         if (await transform.hasInput(ngDepsAssetId)) {
           log.logger.error('Clobbering ${ngDepsAssetId}. '
               'This probably will not end well');
         }
-        var buf = new StringBuffer();
-        var writer = new NgDepsWriter(buf);
-        writer.writeNgDepsModel(ngDepsModel);
-        transform.addOutput(new Asset.fromString(ngDepsAssetId, '$buf'));
+        transform.addOutput(new Asset.fromString(ngDepsAssetId, ngDepsModel.writeToJson()));
       }
       if (!ngMeta.isEmpty) {
         var ngAliasesId =
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/transformer.dart b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/transformer.dart
index 4808905b8d..bcb55c478d 100644
--- a/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/transformer.dart
+++ b/modules_dart/transform/lib/src/transform/transformer.dart
@@ -32,11 +32,8 @@ class AngularTransformerGroup extends TransformerGroup {
     phases.addAll(new List.generate(
         options.optimizationPhases, (_) => [new EmptyNgDepsRemover()]));
     phases.addAll([
-      [
-        new DirectiveLinker(),
-        new DirectiveMetadataExtractor(),
-        new DeferredRewriter(options)
-      ],
+      [new DirectiveLinker(), new DeferredRewriter(options)],
+      [new DirectiveMetadataExtractor()],
       [new BindGenerator(options)],
       [new TemplateCompiler(options)]
     ]);
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/all_tests.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/all_tests.dart
index 14d6252356..b295098ed7 100644
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/all_tests.dart
+++ b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/all_tests.dart
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import 'package:barback/barback.dart';
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/model/annotation_model.pb.dart';
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/model/import_export_model.pb.dart';
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/model/ng_deps_model.pb.dart';
+import 'package:angular2/src/transform/common/model/reflection_info_model.pb.dart';
 import 'package:angular2/src/transform/directive_linker/linker.dart';
 import 'package:dart_style/dart_style.dart';
 import 'package:guinness/guinness.dart';
@@ -15,36 +16,122 @@ var formatter = new DartFormatter();
 main() => allTests();
 
 void allTests() {
-  var reader = new TestAssetReader();
+  var reader;
 
-  it('should ensure that dependencies are property chained.', () async {
-    for (var inputPath in [
-      'bar.ng_deps.dart',
-      'foo.ng_deps.dart',
-      'index.ng_deps.dart'
-    ]) {
-      var expected =
-          readFile('directive_linker/simple_files/expected/$inputPath');
-      inputPath = 'directive_linker/simple_files/$inputPath';
-      var actual = formatter
-          .format(await linkNgDeps(reader, new AssetId('a', inputPath)));
-      expect(actual).toEqual(formatter.format(expected));
-    }
+  beforeEach(() {
+    reader = new TestAssetReader();
   });
 
-  it('should ensure that exported dependencies are property chained.',
-      () async {
-    for (var inputPath in [
-      'bar.ng_deps.dart',
-      'foo.ng_deps.dart',
-      'index.ng_deps.dart'
-    ]) {
-      var expected =
-          readFile('directive_linker/simple_export_files/expected/$inputPath');
-      inputPath = 'directive_linker/simple_export_files/$inputPath';
-      var actual = formatter
-          .format(await linkNgDeps(reader, new AssetId('a', inputPath)));
-      expect(actual).toEqual(formatter.format(expected));
-    }
+  it('should chain imported dependencies.', () async {
+    var fooModel = new NgDepsModel()
+      ..libraryUri = 'test.foo'
+      ..imports.add(new ImportModel()
+        ..uri = 'bar.dart'
+        ..prefix = 'dep');
+    var barModel = new NgDepsModel()..libraryUri = 'test.bar';
+
+    var fooAssetId = new AssetId('a', 'lib/foo.ng_deps.json');
+    reader
+      ..addAsset(fooAssetId, fooModel.writeToJson())
+      ..addAsset(
+          new AssetId('a', 'lib/bar.ng_deps.json'), barModel.writeToJson());
+
+    var linked = await linkNgDeps(reader, fooAssetId);
+    expect(linked).toBeNotNull();
+    var linkedImport =
+        linked.imports.firstWhere((i) => i.uri.endsWith('bar.ng_deps.dart'));
+    expect(linkedImport).toBeNotNull();
+    expect(linkedImport.isNgDeps).toBeTrue();
+    expect(linkedImport.prefix.startsWith('i')).toBeTrue();
+  });
+
+  it('should chain exported dependencies.', () async {
+    var fooModel = new NgDepsModel()
+      ..libraryUri = 'test.foo'
+      ..exports.add(new ExportModel()..uri = 'bar.dart');
+    var barModel = new NgDepsModel()..libraryUri = 'test.bar';
+
+    var fooAssetId = new AssetId('a', 'lib/foo.ng_deps.json');
+    reader
+      ..addAsset(fooAssetId, fooModel.writeToJson())
+      ..addAsset(
+          new AssetId('a', 'lib/bar.ng_deps.json'), barModel.writeToJson());
+
+    var linked = await linkNgDeps(reader, fooAssetId);
+    expect(linked).toBeNotNull();
+    var linkedImport =
+        linked.imports.firstWhere((i) => i.uri.endsWith('bar.ng_deps.dart'));
+    expect(linkedImport).toBeNotNull();
+    expect(linkedImport.isNgDeps).toBeTrue();
+    expect(linkedImport.prefix.startsWith('i')).toBeTrue();
+  });
+
+  describe('isNecessary', () {
+    it('should drop deps that do no registration and do not import.', () async {
+      var fooModel = new NgDepsModel()..libraryUri = 'test.foo';
+
+      var fooAssetId = new AssetId('a', 'lib/foo.ng_deps.json');
+      reader.addAsset(fooAssetId, fooModel.writeToJson());
+      expect(await isNecessary(reader, fooAssetId)).toBeFalse();
+    });
+
+    it('should retain deps that import other deps.', () async {
+      var fooModel = new NgDepsModel()
+        ..libraryUri = 'test.foo'
+        ..imports.add(new ImportModel()..uri = 'bar.dart');
+      var barModel = new NgDepsModel()..libraryUri = 'test.bar';
+
+      var fooAssetId = new AssetId('a', 'lib/foo.ng_deps.json');
+      reader
+        ..addAsset(fooAssetId, fooModel.writeToJson())
+        ..addAsset(
+            new AssetId('a', 'lib/bar.ng_deps.json'), barModel.writeToJson());
+
+      expect(await isNecessary(reader, fooAssetId)).toBeTrue();
+    });
+
+    it('should retain deps that export other deps.', () async {
+      var fooModel = new NgDepsModel()
+        ..libraryUri = 'test.foo'
+        ..exports.add(new ExportModel()..uri = 'bar.dart');
+      var barModel = new NgDepsModel()..libraryUri = 'test.bar';
+
+      var fooAssetId = new AssetId('a', 'lib/foo.ng_deps.json');
+      reader
+        ..addAsset(fooAssetId, fooModel.writeToJson())
+        ..addAsset(
+            new AssetId('a', 'lib/bar.ng_deps.json'), barModel.writeToJson());
+
+      expect(await isNecessary(reader, fooAssetId)).toBeTrue();
+    });
+
+    it('should retain deps that register injectable types.', () async {
+      var fooModel = new NgDepsModel()
+        ..libraryUri = 'test.foo'
+        ..reflectables.add(new ReflectionInfoModel()
+          ..name = 'MyInjectable'
+          ..annotations.add(new AnnotationModel()
+            ..name = 'Injectable'
+            ..isInjectable = true));
+
+      var fooAssetId = new AssetId('a', 'lib/foo.ng_deps.json');
+      reader.addAsset(fooAssetId, fooModel.writeToJson());
+      expect(await isNecessary(reader, fooAssetId)).toBeTrue();
+    });
+
+    it('should retain deps that register injectable functions.', () async {
+      var fooModel = new NgDepsModel()
+        ..libraryUri = 'test.foo'
+        ..reflectables.add(new ReflectionInfoModel()
+          ..name = 'injectableFunction'
+          ..isFunction = true
+          ..annotations.add(new AnnotationModel()
+            ..name = 'Injectable'
+            ..isInjectable = true));
+
+      var fooAssetId = new AssetId('a', 'lib/foo.ng_deps.json');
+      reader.addAsset(fooAssetId, fooModel.writeToJson());
+      expect(await isNecessary(reader, fooAssetId)).toBeTrue();
+    });
   });
 }
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/bar.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/bar.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 2012465d9a..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/bar.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-library bar.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'bar.dart';
-export 'bar.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/metadata.dart';
-export 'foo.dart';
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-  _ngRef.reflector
-    ..registerType(
-        MyComponent,
-        new _ngRef.ReflectionInfo(const [const Component(selector: '[soup]')],
-            const [], () => new MyComponent()));
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/expected/bar.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/expected/bar.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 2ef4869c97..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/expected/bar.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-library bar.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'bar.dart';
-export 'bar.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/metadata.dart';
-export 'foo.dart';
-import 'foo.ng_deps.dart' as i0;
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-  _ngRef.reflector
-    ..registerType(
-        MyComponent,
-        new _ngRef.ReflectionInfo(const [const Component(selector: '[soup]')],
-            const [], () => new MyComponent()));
-  i0.initReflector();
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/expected/foo.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/expected/foo.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index b7831829a3..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/expected/foo.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-library foo.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'foo.dart';
-export 'foo.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/metadata.dart';
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-  _ngRef.reflector
-    ..registerType(
-        DependencyComponent,
-        new _ngRef.ReflectionInfo(const [const Component(selector: '[salad]')],
-            const [], () => new DependencyComponent()));
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/expected/index.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/expected/index.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 39d81e09b9..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/expected/index.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-library web_foo.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/bootstrap_static.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection_capabilities.dart';
-import 'bar.dart';
-import 'bar.ng_deps.dart' as i0;
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-  i0.initReflector();
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/foo.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/foo.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index b7831829a3..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/foo.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-library foo.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'foo.dart';
-export 'foo.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/metadata.dart';
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-  _ngRef.reflector
-    ..registerType(
-        DependencyComponent,
-        new _ngRef.ReflectionInfo(const [const Component(selector: '[salad]')],
-            const [], () => new DependencyComponent()));
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/index.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/index.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 5bdb4ad284..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_export_files/index.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-library web_foo.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/bootstrap_static.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection_capabilities.dart';
-import 'bar.dart';
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/bar.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/bar.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 96cd3be310..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/bar.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-library bar.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'bar.dart';
-export 'bar.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/metadata.dart';
-import 'foo.dart' as dep;
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-  _ngRef.reflector
-    ..registerType(
-        MyComponent,
-        new ReflectionInfo(const [
-          const Component(
-              selector: '[soup]', viewBindings: const [dep.DependencyComponent])
-        ], const [], () => new MyComponent()));
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/expected/bar.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/expected/bar.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index c9ef1973bf..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/expected/bar.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-library bar.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'bar.dart';
-export 'bar.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/metadata.dart';
-import 'foo.dart' as dep;
-import 'foo.ng_deps.dart' as i0;
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-  _ngRef.reflector
-    ..registerType(
-        MyComponent,
-        new ReflectionInfo(const [
-          const Component(
-              selector: '[soup]', viewBindings: const [dep.DependencyComponent])
-        ], const [], () => new MyComponent()));
-  i0.initReflector();
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/expected/foo.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/expected/foo.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index b7831829a3..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/expected/foo.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-library foo.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'foo.dart';
-export 'foo.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/metadata.dart';
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-  _ngRef.reflector
-    ..registerType(
-        DependencyComponent,
-        new _ngRef.ReflectionInfo(const [const Component(selector: '[salad]')],
-            const [], () => new DependencyComponent()));
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/expected/index.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/expected/index.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 39d81e09b9..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/expected/index.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-library web_foo.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/bootstrap_static.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection_capabilities.dart';
-import 'bar.dart';
-import 'bar.ng_deps.dart' as i0;
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-  i0.initReflector();
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/foo.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/foo.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index b7831829a3..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/foo.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-library foo.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'foo.dart';
-export 'foo.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/metadata.dart';
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-  _ngRef.reflector
-    ..registerType(
-        DependencyComponent,
-        new _ngRef.ReflectionInfo(const [const Component(selector: '[salad]')],
-            const [], () => new DependencyComponent()));
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/index.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/index.ng_deps.dart
deleted file mode 100644
index 5bdb4ad284..0000000000
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/directive_linker/simple_files/index.ng_deps.dart
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-library web_foo.ng_deps.dart;
-
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart' as _ngRef;
-import 'package:angular2/bootstrap_static.dart';
-import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection_capabilities.dart';
-import 'bar.dart';
-
-var _visited = false;
-void initReflector() {
-  if (_visited) return;
-  _visited = true;
-}
diff --git a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/integration/simple_annotation_files/expected/index.ng_deps.dart b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/integration/simple_annotation_files/expected/index.ng_deps.dart
index 1ba4fe342a..8571b732f1 100644
--- a/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/integration/simple_annotation_files/expected/index.ng_deps.dart
+++ b/modules_dart/transform/test/transform/integration/simple_annotation_files/expected/index.ng_deps.dart
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ import 'package:angular2/bootstrap_static.dart';
 import 'index.ng_deps.dart' as ngStaticInit;
 import 'package:angular2/src/core/reflection/reflection.dart';
 import 'bar.dart';
-import 'bar.ng_deps.dart' as i0;
+import 'bar.ng_deps.dart' as i5;
 export 'index.dart';
 
 var _visited = false;
 void initReflector() {
   if (_visited) return;
   _visited = true;
-  i0.initReflector();
+  i5.initReflector();
 }