diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/compiler.js b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/compiler.js
index 6b7f57800e..bfc06422ad 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/compiler.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/compiler.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {Template} from '../annotations/template';
 import {ShadowDomStrategy} from './shadow_dom_strategy';
 import {CompileStep} from './pipeline/compile_step';
 
+
 /**
  * Cache that stores the ProtoView of the template of a component.
  * Used to prevent duplicate work and resolve cyclic dependencies.
@@ -134,7 +135,15 @@ export class Compiler {
   // TODO(vicb): union type return ProtoView or Promise<ProtoView>
   _compileTemplate(template: Template, tplElement: Element, component: Type) {
     var pipeline = new CompilePipeline(this.createSteps(component, template));
-    var compileElements = pipeline.process(tplElement);
+    var compilationCtxtDescription = stringify(this._reader.read(component).type);
+    var compileElements;
+
+    try {
+      compileElements = pipeline.process(tplElement, compilationCtxtDescription);
+    } catch(ex) {
+      return PromiseWrapper.reject(ex);
+    }
+
     var protoView = compileElements[0].inheritedProtoView;
 
     // Populate the cache before compiling the nested components,
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/compile_element.js b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/compile_element.js
index ed0003b475..1939b192fd 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/compile_element.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/compile_element.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import {List, Map, ListWrapper, MapWrapper} from 'angular2/src/facade/collection';
 import {Element, DOM} from 'angular2/src/facade/dom';
-import {int, isBlank, isPresent, Type} from 'angular2/src/facade/lang';
+import {int, isBlank, isPresent, Type, StringJoiner, assertionsEnabled} from 'angular2/src/facade/lang';
 import {DirectiveMetadata} from '../directive_metadata';
 import {Decorator, Component, Viewport} from '../../annotations/annotations';
 import {ElementBinder} from '../element_binder';
@@ -38,8 +38,9 @@ export class CompileElement {
   distanceToParentInjector:number;
   compileChildren: boolean;
   ignoreBindings: boolean;
+  elementDescription: string; // e.g. '<div [class]="foo">' : used to provide context in case of error
 
-  constructor(element:Element) {
+  constructor(element:Element, compilationUnit = '') {
     this.element = element;
     this._attrs = null;
     this._classList = null;
@@ -66,6 +67,14 @@ export class CompileElement {
     this.compileChildren = true;
     // set to true to ignore all the bindings on the element
     this.ignoreBindings = false;
+    // description is calculated here as compilation steps may change the element
+    var tplDesc = assertionsEnabled()? getElementDescription(element) : null;
+    if (compilationUnit !== '') {
+      this.elementDescription = compilationUnit;
+      if (isPresent(tplDesc)) this.elementDescription += ": " + tplDesc;
+    } else {
+      this.elementDescription = tplDesc;
+    }
   }
 
   refreshAttrs() {
@@ -165,3 +174,36 @@ export class CompileElement {
     return this._allDirectives;
   }
 }
+
+// return an HTML representation of an element start tag - without its content
+// this is used to give contextual information in case of errors
+function getElementDescription(domElement:Element):string {
+  var buf = new StringJoiner();
+  var atts = DOM.attributeMap(domElement);
+
+  buf.add("<");
+  buf.add(DOM.tagName(domElement).toLowerCase());
+  
+  // show id and class first to ease element identification
+  addDescriptionAttribute(buf, "id", MapWrapper.get(atts, "id"));
+  addDescriptionAttribute(buf, "class", MapWrapper.get(atts, "class"));
+  MapWrapper.forEach(atts, (attValue, attName) => {
+      if (attName !== "id" && attName !== "class") {
+          addDescriptionAttribute(buf, attName, attValue);
+      }
+  });
+
+  buf.add(">");
+  return buf.toString();
+}
+
+
+function addDescriptionAttribute(buffer:StringJoiner, attName:string, attValue) {
+  if (isPresent(attValue)) {
+      if (attValue.length === 0) {
+          buffer.add(' ' + attName);
+      } else {
+          buffer.add(' ' + attName + '="' + attValue + '"');
+      }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/compile_pipeline.js b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/compile_pipeline.js
index e995be1ac7..bbe0442336 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/compile_pipeline.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/compile_pipeline.js
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ export class CompilePipeline {
     this._control = new CompileControl(steps);
   }
 
-  process(rootElement:Element):List {
+  process(rootElement:Element, compilationCtxtDescription:string = ''):List {
     var results = ListWrapper.create();
-    this._process(results, null, new CompileElement(rootElement));
+    this._process(results, null, new CompileElement(rootElement, compilationCtxtDescription), compilationCtxtDescription);
     return results;
   }
 
-  _process(results, parent:CompileElement, current:CompileElement) {
+  _process(results, parent:CompileElement, current:CompileElement, compilationCtxtDescription:string = '') {
     var additionalChildren = this._control.internalProcess(results, 0, parent, current);
 
     if (current.compileChildren) {
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export class CompilePipeline {
         // next sibling before recursing.
         var nextNode = DOM.nextSibling(node);
         if (DOM.isElementNode(node)) {
-          this._process(results, current, new CompileElement(node));
+          this._process(results, current, new CompileElement(node, compilationCtxtDescription));
         }
         node = nextNode;
       }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/default_steps.js b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/default_steps.js
index 16b180d07c..20cba05ce3 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/default_steps.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/default_steps.js
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import {ShimShadowCss} from './shim_shadow_css';
 import {ShimShadowDom} from './shim_shadow_dom';
 import {DirectiveMetadata} from 'angular2/src/core/compiler/directive_metadata';
 import {ShadowDomStrategy, EmulatedShadowDomStrategy} from 'angular2/src/core/compiler/shadow_dom_strategy';
-import {stringify} from 'angular2/src/facade/lang';
 import {DOM} from 'angular2/src/facade/dom';
 
 /**
@@ -28,9 +27,7 @@ export function createDefaultSteps(
     directives: List<DirectiveMetadata>,
     shadowDomStrategy: ShadowDomStrategy) {
 
-  var compilationUnit = stringify(compiledComponent.type);
-
-  var steps = [new ViewSplitter(parser, compilationUnit)];
+  var steps = [new ViewSplitter(parser)];
 
   if (shadowDomStrategy instanceof EmulatedShadowDomStrategy) {
     var step = new ShimShadowCss(compiledComponent, shadowDomStrategy, DOM.defaultDoc().head);
@@ -38,13 +35,13 @@ export function createDefaultSteps(
   }
 
   steps = ListWrapper.concat(steps,[
-    new PropertyBindingParser(parser, compilationUnit),
+    new PropertyBindingParser(parser),
     new DirectiveParser(directives),
-    new TextInterpolationParser(parser, compilationUnit),
+    new TextInterpolationParser(parser),
     new ElementBindingMarker(),
     new ProtoViewBuilder(changeDetection, shadowDomStrategy),
     new ProtoElementInjectorBuilder(),
-    new ElementBinderBuilder(parser, compilationUnit)
+    new ElementBinderBuilder(parser)
   ]);
 
   if (shadowDomStrategy instanceof EmulatedShadowDomStrategy) {
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser.js b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser.js
index 0aedf261d1..f27c9c650b 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import {isPresent, isBlank, BaseException} from 'angular2/src/facade/lang';
-import {List, MapWrapper} from 'angular2/src/facade/collection';
+import {isPresent, isBlank, BaseException, assertionsEnabled, RegExpWrapper} from 'angular2/src/facade/lang';
+import {List, MapWrapper, StringMapWrapper} from 'angular2/src/facade/collection';
 import {DOM} from 'angular2/src/facade/dom';
 import {SelectorMatcher} from '../selector';
 import {CssSelector} from '../selector';
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ import {CompileStep} from './compile_step';
 import {CompileElement} from './compile_element';
 import {CompileControl} from './compile_control';
 
+import {isSpecialProperty} from './element_binder_builder';;
+
+var PROPERTY_BINDING_REGEXP = RegExpWrapper.create('^ *([^\\s\\|]+)');
+
 /**
  * Parses the directives on a single element. Assumes ViewSplitter has already created
  * <template> elements for template directives.
@@ -29,13 +33,13 @@ export class DirectiveParser extends CompileStep {
   _selectorMatcher:SelectorMatcher;
   constructor(directives:List<DirectiveMetadata>) {
     super();
+    var selector;
+
     this._selectorMatcher = new SelectorMatcher();
     for (var i=0; i<directives.length; i++) {
       var directiveMetadata = directives[i];
-      this._selectorMatcher.addSelectable(
-        CssSelector.parse(directiveMetadata.annotation.selector),
-        directiveMetadata
-      );
+      selector=CssSelector.parse(directiveMetadata.annotation.selector);
+      this._selectorMatcher.addSelectable(selector, directiveMetadata);
     }
   }
 
@@ -67,19 +71,85 @@ export class DirectiveParser extends CompileStep {
     // Note: We assume that the ViewSplitter already did its work, i.e. template directive should
     // only be present on <template> elements any more!
     var isTemplateElement = DOM.isTemplateElement(current.element);
-    this._selectorMatcher.match(cssSelector, (directive) => {
-      if (directive.annotation instanceof Viewport) {
-        if (!isTemplateElement) {
-          throw new BaseException('Viewport directives need to be placed on <template> elements or elements with template attribute!');
-        } else if (isPresent(current.viewportDirective)) {
-          throw new BaseException('Only one template directive per element is allowed!');
-        }
-      } else if (isTemplateElement) {
-        throw new BaseException('Only template directives are allowed on <template> elements!');
-      } else if ((directive.annotation instanceof Component) && isPresent(current.componentDirective)) {
-        throw new BaseException('Only one component directive per element is allowed!');
-      }
+    var matchedProperties; // StringMap - used in dev mode to store all properties that have been matched
+    
+    this._selectorMatcher.match(cssSelector, (selector, directive) => {
+      matchedProperties = updateMatchedProperties(matchedProperties, selector, directive);
+      checkDirectiveValidity(directive, current, isTemplateElement);
       current.addDirective(directive);
     });
+
+    // raise error if some directives are missing
+    checkMissingDirectives(current, matchedProperties, isTemplateElement);
+  }
+}
+
+// calculate all the properties that are used or interpreted by all directives
+// those properties correspond to the directive selectors and the directive bindings
+function updateMatchedProperties(matchedProperties, selector, directive) {
+  if (assertionsEnabled()) {
+    var attrs = selector.attrs;
+    if (!isPresent(matchedProperties)) {
+      matchedProperties = StringMapWrapper.create();
+    }
+    if (isPresent(attrs)) {
+      for (var idx = 0; idx<attrs.length; idx+=2) {
+        // attribute name is stored on even indexes
+        StringMapWrapper.set(matchedProperties, attrs[idx], true);
+      }
+    }
+    // some properties can be used by the directive, so we need to register them
+    if (isPresent(directive.annotation) && isPresent(directive.annotation.bind)) {
+      var bindMap = directive.annotation.bind;
+      StringMapWrapper.forEach(bindMap, (value, key) => {
+        // value is the name of the property that is intepreted
+        // e.g. 'myprop' or 'myprop | double' when a pipe is used to transform the property
+
+        // keep the property name and remove the pipe
+        var bindProp = RegExpWrapper.firstMatch(PROPERTY_BINDING_REGEXP, value);
+        if (isPresent(bindProp) && isPresent(bindProp[1])) {
+          StringMapWrapper.set(matchedProperties, bindProp[1], true);
+        }
+      });
+    }
+  }
+  return matchedProperties;
+}
+
+// check if the directive is compatible with the current element
+function checkDirectiveValidity(directive, current, isTemplateElement) {
+  if (directive.annotation instanceof Viewport) {
+    if (!isTemplateElement) {
+      throw new BaseException(`Viewport directives need to be placed on <template> elements or elements ` +
+         `with template attribute - check ${current.elementDescription}`);
+    } else if (isPresent(current.viewportDirective)) {
+      throw new BaseException(`Only one viewport directive can be used per element - check ${current.elementDescription}`);
+    }
+  } else if (isTemplateElement) {
+    throw new BaseException(`Only template directives are allowed on template elements - check ${current.elementDescription}`);
+  } else if ((directive.annotation instanceof Component) && isPresent(current.componentDirective)) {
+    throw new BaseException(`Multiple component directives not allowed on the same element - check ${current.elementDescription}`);
+  }
+}
+
+// validates that there is no missing directive - dev mode only
+function checkMissingDirectives(current, matchedProperties, isTemplateElement) {
+  if (assertionsEnabled()) {
+    var ppBindings=current.propertyBindings;
+    if (isPresent(ppBindings)) {
+      // check that each property corresponds to a real property or has been matched by a directive
+      MapWrapper.forEach(ppBindings, (expression, prop) => {
+        if (!DOM.hasProperty(current.element, prop) && !isSpecialProperty(prop)) {
+          if (!isPresent(matchedProperties) || !isPresent(StringMapWrapper.get(matchedProperties, prop))) {
+            throw new BaseException(`Missing directive to handle '${prop}' in ${current.elementDescription}`);
+          } 
+        }
+      });
+    }
+    // template only store directives as attribute when they are not bound to expressions
+    // so we have to validate the expression case too (e.g. !if="condition")
+    if (isTemplateElement && !current.isViewRoot && !isPresent(current.viewportDirective)) {
+      throw new BaseException(`Missing directive to handle: ${current.elementDescription}`);
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder.js b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder.js
index 49ed59dac0..71dc650b04 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder.js
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ function ariaSetterFactory(attrName:string) {
   return setterFn;
 }
 
+const CLASS_ATTR = 'class';
 const CLASS_PREFIX = 'class.';
 var classSettersCache = StringMapWrapper.create();
 
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ function classSetterFactory(className:string) {
   return setterFn;
 }
 
+const STYLE_ATTR = 'style';
 const STYLE_PREFIX = 'style.';
 var styleSettersCache = StringMapWrapper.create();
 
@@ -89,6 +91,13 @@ function roleSetter(element:Element, value) {
   }
 }
 
+// tells if an attribute is handled by the ElementBinderBuilder step
+export function isSpecialProperty(propName:string) {
+  return StringWrapper.startsWith(propName, ARIA_PREFIX) 
+        || StringWrapper.startsWith(propName, CLASS_PREFIX) 
+        || StringWrapper.startsWith(propName, STYLE_PREFIX);
+}
+
 /**
  * Creates the ElementBinders and adds watches to the
  * ProtoChangeDetector.
@@ -115,11 +124,9 @@ function roleSetter(element:Element, value) {
  */
 export class ElementBinderBuilder extends CompileStep {
   _parser:Parser;
-  _compilationUnit:any;
-  constructor(parser:Parser, compilationUnit:any) {
+  constructor(parser:Parser) {
     super();
     this._parser = parser;
-    this._compilationUnit = compilationUnit;
   }
 
   process(parent:CompileElement, current:CompileElement, control:CompileControl) {
@@ -207,7 +214,7 @@ export class ElementBinderBuilder extends CompileStep {
         if (isBlank(bindingAst)) {
           var attributeValue = MapWrapper.get(compileElement.attrs(), elProp);
           if (isPresent(attributeValue)) {
-            bindingAst = this._parser.wrapLiteralPrimitive(attributeValue, this._compilationUnit);
+            bindingAst = this._parser.wrapLiteralPrimitive(attributeValue, compileElement.elementDescription);
           }
         }
 
@@ -229,4 +236,4 @@ export class ElementBinderBuilder extends CompileStep {
     var parts = StringWrapper.split(bindConfig, RegExpWrapper.create("\\|"));
     return ListWrapper.map(parts, (s) => s.trim());
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/property_binding_parser.js b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/property_binding_parser.js
index 377a33ee58..2a60a1248d 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/property_binding_parser.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/property_binding_parser.js
@@ -29,11 +29,9 @@ var BIND_NAME_REGEXP = RegExpWrapper.create(
  */
 export class PropertyBindingParser extends CompileStep {
   _parser:Parser;
-  _compilationUnit:any;
-  constructor(parser:Parser, compilationUnit:any) {
+  constructor(parser:Parser) {
     super();
     this._parser = parser;
-    this._compilationUnit = compilationUnit;
   }
 
   process(parent:CompileElement, current:CompileElement, control:CompileControl) {
@@ -42,12 +40,13 @@ export class PropertyBindingParser extends CompileStep {
     }
 
     var attrs = current.attrs();
+    var desc = current.elementDescription;
     MapWrapper.forEach(attrs, (attrValue, attrName) => {
       var bindParts = RegExpWrapper.firstMatch(BIND_NAME_REGEXP, attrName);
       if (isPresent(bindParts)) {
         if (isPresent(bindParts[1])) {
           // match: bind-prop
-          current.addPropertyBinding(bindParts[4], this._parseBinding(attrValue));
+          current.addPropertyBinding(bindParts[4], this._parseBinding(attrValue, desc));
         } else if (isPresent(bindParts[2]) || isPresent(bindParts[7])) {
           // match: var-name / var-name="iden" / #name / #name="iden"
           var identifier = (isPresent(bindParts[4]) && bindParts[4] !== '') ?
@@ -56,16 +55,16 @@ export class PropertyBindingParser extends CompileStep {
           current.addVariableBinding(identifier, value);
         } else if (isPresent(bindParts[3])) {
           // match: on-prop
-          current.addEventBinding(bindParts[4], this._parseAction(attrValue));
+          current.addEventBinding(bindParts[4], this._parseAction(attrValue, desc));
         } else if (isPresent(bindParts[5])) {
           // match: [prop]
-          current.addPropertyBinding(bindParts[5], this._parseBinding(attrValue));
+          current.addPropertyBinding(bindParts[5], this._parseBinding(attrValue, desc));
         } else if (isPresent(bindParts[6])) {
           // match: (prop)
-          current.addEventBinding(bindParts[6], this._parseBinding(attrValue));
+          current.addEventBinding(bindParts[6], this._parseBinding(attrValue, desc));
         }
       } else {
-        var ast = this._parseInterpolation(attrValue);
+        var ast = this._parseInterpolation(attrValue, desc);
         if (isPresent(ast)) {
           current.addPropertyBinding(attrName, ast);
         }
@@ -73,15 +72,15 @@ export class PropertyBindingParser extends CompileStep {
     });
   }
 
-  _parseInterpolation(input:string):AST {
-    return this._parser.parseInterpolation(input, this._compilationUnit);
+  _parseInterpolation(input:string, location:string):AST {
+    return this._parser.parseInterpolation(input, location);
   }
 
-  _parseBinding(input:string):AST {
-    return this._parser.parseBinding(input, this._compilationUnit);
+  _parseBinding(input:string, location:string):AST {
+    return this._parser.parseBinding(input, location);
   }
 
-  _parseAction(input:string):AST {
-    return this._parser.parseAction(input, this._compilationUnit);
+  _parseAction(input:string, location:string):AST {
+    return this._parser.parseAction(input, location);
   }
 }
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/text_interpolation_parser.js b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/text_interpolation_parser.js
index b4c5bf59cb..9d2f6a0ba4 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/text_interpolation_parser.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/text_interpolation_parser.js
@@ -15,11 +15,9 @@ import {CompileControl} from './compile_control';
  */
 export class TextInterpolationParser extends CompileStep {
   _parser:Parser;
-  _compilationUnit:any;
-  constructor(parser:Parser, compilationUnit:any) {
+  constructor(parser:Parser) {
     super();
     this._parser = parser;
-    this._compilationUnit = compilationUnit;
   }
 
   process(parent:CompileElement, current:CompileElement, control:CompileControl) {
@@ -37,7 +35,7 @@ export class TextInterpolationParser extends CompileStep {
   }
 
   _parseTextNode(pipelineElement, node, nodeIndex) {
-    var ast = this._parser.parseInterpolation(DOM.nodeValue(node), this._compilationUnit);
+    var ast = this._parser.parseInterpolation(DOM.nodeValue(node), pipelineElement.elementDescription);
     if (isPresent(ast)) {
       DOM.setText(node, ' ');
       pipelineElement.addTextNodeBinding(nodeIndex, ast);
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/view_splitter.js b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/view_splitter.js
index 17132f3b40..013dfec519 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/view_splitter.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/view_splitter.js
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import {CompileElement} from './compile_element';
 import {CompileControl} from './compile_control';
 import {StringWrapper} from 'angular2/src/facade/lang';
 
+import {$BANG} from 'angular2/src/change_detection/parser/lexer';
+
 /**
  * Splits views at `<template>` elements or elements with `template` attribute:
  * For `<template>` elements:
@@ -32,14 +34,35 @@ import {StringWrapper} from 'angular2/src/facade/lang';
  */
 export class ViewSplitter extends CompileStep {
   _parser:Parser;
-  _compilationUnit:any;
-  constructor(parser:Parser, compilationUnit:any) {
+  constructor(parser:Parser) {
     super();
     this._parser = parser;
-    this._compilationUnit = compilationUnit;
   }
 
   process(parent:CompileElement, current:CompileElement, control:CompileControl) {
+    var attrs = current.attrs();
+    var templateBindings = MapWrapper.get(attrs, 'template');
+    var hasTemplateBinding = isPresent(templateBindings);
+
+    // look for template shortcuts such as !if="condition" and treat them as template="if condition"
+    MapWrapper.forEach(attrs, (attrValue, attrName) => {
+      if (StringWrapper.charCodeAt(attrName, 0) == $BANG) {
+        var key = StringWrapper.substring(attrName, 1);  // remove the bang
+        if (hasTemplateBinding) {
+          // 2nd template binding detected
+          throw new BaseException(`Only one template directive per element is allowed: ` +
+              `${templateBindings} and ${key} cannot be used simultaneously ` +
+              `in ${current.elementDescription}`);
+        } else {
+          if (isBlank(parent)) {
+            throw new BaseException(`Template directives cannot be used on root components in ${current.elementDescription}`);
+          }
+          templateBindings = (attrValue.length == 0) ? key : key + ' ' + attrValue;
+          hasTemplateBinding = true;
+        }
+      }
+    });
+
     if (isBlank(parent)) {
       current.isViewRoot = true;
     } else {
@@ -49,6 +72,9 @@ export class ViewSplitter extends CompileStep {
           var currentElement:TemplateElement = current.element;
           var viewRootElement:TemplateElement = viewRoot.element;
           this._moveChildNodes(DOM.content(currentElement), DOM.content(viewRootElement));
+          // viewRoot is a doesn't appear in the original template, so we associate
+          // the current element description to get a more meaninful message in case of error
+          viewRoot.elementDescription = current.elementDescription;
           viewRoot.isViewRoot = true;
           control.addChild(viewRoot);
         }
@@ -64,7 +90,8 @@ export class ViewSplitter extends CompileStep {
             if (hasTemplateBinding) {
               // 2nd template binding detected
               throw new BaseException(`Only one template directive per element is allowed: ` +
-                  `${templateBindings} and ${key} cannot be used simultaneously!`);
+                `${templateBindings} and ${key} cannot be used simultaneously ` +
+                `in ${current.elementDescription}`);
             } else {
               templateBindings = (attrValue.length == 0) ? key : key + ' ' + attrValue;
               hasTemplateBinding = true;
@@ -74,6 +101,9 @@ export class ViewSplitter extends CompileStep {
 
         if (hasTemplateBinding) {
           var newParent = new CompileElement(DOM.createTemplate(''));
+          // newParent doesn't appear in the original template, so we associate
+          // the current element description to get a more meaninful message in case of error
+          newParent.elementDescription = current.elementDescription;
           current.isViewRoot = true;
           this._parseTemplateBindings(templateBindings, newParent);
           this._addParentElement(current.element, newParent.element);
@@ -99,7 +129,7 @@ export class ViewSplitter extends CompileStep {
   }
 
   _parseTemplateBindings(templateBindings:string, compileElement:CompileElement) {
-    var bindings = this._parser.parseTemplateBindings(templateBindings, this._compilationUnit);
+    var bindings = this._parser.parseTemplateBindings(templateBindings, compileElement.elementDescription);
     for (var i=0; i<bindings.length; i++) {
       var binding = bindings[i];
       if (binding.keyIsVar) {
diff --git a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/selector.js b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/selector.js
index 85c5a96a76..ab86faf228 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/selector.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/src/core/compiler/selector.js
@@ -114,13 +114,15 @@ export class SelectorMatcher {
   /**
    * Add an object that can be found later on by calling `match`.
    * @param cssSelector A css selector
-   * @param selectable An opaque object that will be given to the callback of the `match` function
+   * @param callbackCtxt An opaque object that will be given to the callback of the `match` function
    */
-  addSelectable(cssSelector:CssSelector, selectable) {
+  addSelectable(cssSelector:CssSelector, callbackCtxt) {
     var matcher = this;
     var element = cssSelector.element;
     var classNames = cssSelector.classNames;
     var attrs = cssSelector.attrs;
+    var selectable = new SelectorContext(cssSelector, callbackCtxt);
+
 
     if (isPresent(element)) {
       var isTerminal = attrs.length === 0 && classNames.length === 0;
@@ -228,8 +230,10 @@ export class SelectorMatcher {
     if (isBlank(selectables)) {
       return;
     }
+    var selectable;
     for (var index=0; index<selectables.length; index++) {
-      matchedCallback(selectables[index]);
+      selectable = selectables[index];
+      matchedCallback(selectable.selector, selectable.cbContext);
     }
   }
 
@@ -247,3 +251,15 @@ export class SelectorMatcher {
     nestedSelector.match(cssSelector, matchedCallback);
   }
 }
+
+
+// Store context to pass back selector and context when a selector is matched
+class SelectorContext {
+  selector:CssSelector;
+  cbContext; // callback context
+
+  constructor(selector:CssSelector, cbContext) {
+    this.selector = selector;
+    this.cbContext = cbContext;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/integration_spec.js b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/integration_spec.js
index d9da188f17..f38ce164af 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/integration_spec.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/integration_spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import {describe, xit, it, expect, beforeEach, ddescribe, iit, el} from 'angular2/test_lib';
 
 import {DOM} from 'angular2/src/facade/dom';
+import {Type, isPresent, BaseException} from 'angular2/src/facade/lang';
+import {assertionsEnabled, isJsObject} from 'angular2/src/facade/lang';
 
 import {Injector} from 'angular2/di';
 import {Lexer, Parser, ChangeDetector, dynamicChangeDetection,
@@ -50,7 +52,6 @@ export function main() {
 
       it('should consume text node changes', (done) => {
         tplResolver.setTemplate(MyComp, new Template({inline: '<div>{{ctxProp}}</div>'}));
-
         compiler.compile(MyComp).then((pv) => {
           createView(pv);
           ctx.ctxProp = 'Hello World!';
@@ -365,6 +366,60 @@ export function main() {
         })
       });
     });
+
+    // TODO support these tests with DART e.g. with Promise.catch (JS) transpiled to Future.catchError (DART)
+    if (assertionsEnabled() && isJsObject({})) {
+
+      function expectCompileError(inlineTpl, errMessage, done) {
+        tplResolver.setTemplate(MyComp, new Template({inline: inlineTpl}));
+        compiler.compile(MyComp).then(() => {
+          throw new BaseException("Test failure: should not have come here as an exception was expected");
+        },(err) => {
+          expect(err.message).toBe(errMessage);
+          done();
+        });
+      }
+
+      it('should raise an error if no directive is registered for an unsupported DOM property', (done) => {
+        expectCompileError(
+          '<div [some-prop]="foo"></div>',
+          'Missing directive to handle \'some-prop\' in MyComp: <div [some-prop]="foo">',
+          done
+        );
+      });
+
+      it('should raise an error if no directive is registered for a template with template bindings', (done) => {
+        expectCompileError(
+          '<div><div template="if: foo"></div></div>',
+          'Missing directive to handle \'if\' in <div template="if: foo">',
+          done
+        );
+      });
+
+      it('should raise an error for missing template directive (1)', (done) => {
+        expectCompileError(
+          '<div><template foo></template></div>',
+          'Missing directive to handle: <template foo>',
+          done
+        );
+      });
+
+      it('should raise an error for missing template directive (2)', (done) => {
+        expectCompileError(
+          '<div><template *if="condition"></template></div>',
+          'Missing directive to handle: <template *if="condition">',
+          done
+        );
+      });
+
+      it('should raise an error for missing template directive (3)', (done) => {
+        expectCompileError(
+          '<div *if="condition"></div>',
+          'Missing directive to handle \'if\' in MyComp: <div *if="condition">',
+          done
+        );
+      });
+    }
   });
 }
 
@@ -473,6 +528,19 @@ class CompWithAncestor {
   }
 }
 
+@Component({
+  selector: '[child-cmp2]',
+  componentServices: [MyService]
+})
+class ChildComp2 {
+  ctxProp:string;
+  dirProp:string;
+  constructor(service: MyService) {
+    this.ctxProp = service.greeting;
+    this.dirProp = null;
+  }
+}
+
 @Viewport({
   selector: '[some-viewport]'
 })
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser_spec.js b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser_spec.js
index 921a8a501d..3f03669b23 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser_spec.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser_spec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import {describe, beforeEach, it, expect, iit, ddescribe, el} from 'angular2/test_lib';
-import {isPresent} from 'angular2/src/facade/lang';
+import {isPresent, assertionsEnabled} from 'angular2/src/facade/lang';
 import {ListWrapper, MapWrapper, StringMapWrapper} from 'angular2/src/facade/collection';
 import {DirectiveParser} from 'angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/directive_parser';
 import {CompilePipeline} from 'angular2/src/core/compiler/pipeline/compile_pipeline';
@@ -85,20 +85,20 @@ export function main() {
       });
 
       it('should not allow multiple component directives on the same element', () => {
-        expect( () => {
-          createPipeline().process(
-            el('<div some-comp some-comp2></div>')
-          );
-        }).toThrowError('Only one component directive per element is allowed!');
+         expect( () => {
+           createPipeline().process(
+             el('<div some-comp some-comp2></div>')
+           );
+         }).toThrowError('Multiple component directives not allowed on the same element - check <div some-comp some-comp2>'); 
       });
 
       it('should not allow component directives on <template> elements', () => {
-        expect( () => {
-          createPipeline().process(
-            el('<template some-comp></template>')
-          );
-        }).toThrowError('Only template directives are allowed on <template> elements!');
-      });
+         expect( () => {
+           createPipeline().process(
+             el('<template some-comp></template>')
+           );
+         }).toThrowError('Only template directives are allowed on template elements - check <template some-comp>');
+       });
     });
 
     describe('viewport directives', () => {
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ export function main() {
           createPipeline().process(
             el('<template some-templ some-templ2></template>')
           );
-        }).toThrowError('Only one template directive per element is allowed!');
+        }).toThrowError('Only one viewport directive can be used per element - check <template some-templ some-templ2>');
       });
 
       it('should not allow viewport directives on non <template> elements', () => {
@@ -136,7 +136,8 @@ export function main() {
           createPipeline().process(
             el('<div some-templ></div>')
           );
-        }).toThrowError('Viewport directives need to be placed on <template> elements or elements with template attribute!');
+
+        }).toThrowError('Viewport directives need to be placed on <template> elements or elements with template attribute - check <div some-templ>');
       });
     });
 
@@ -172,14 +173,6 @@ export function main() {
         expect(results[0].decoratorDirectives).toEqual([reader.read(SomeDecorator)]);
       });
 
-      it('should not allow decorator directives on <template> elements', () => {
-        expect( () => {
-          createPipeline().process(
-            el('<template some-decor></template>')
-          );
-        }).toThrowError('Only template directives are allowed on <template> elements!');
-      });
-
       it('should not instantiate decorator directive twice', () => {
         var pipeline = createPipeline({propertyBindings: {
           'some-decor-with-binding': 'someExpr'
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder_spec.js b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder_spec.js
index b57d9540f9..ca00382b26 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder_spec.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/element_binder_builder_spec.js
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export function main() {
             } else if (isPresent(parent)) {
               current.inheritedProtoView = parent.inheritedProtoView;
             }
-          }), new ElementBinderBuilder(parser, null)
+          }), new ElementBinderBuilder(parser)
       ]);
     }
 
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/property_binding_parser_spec.js b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/property_binding_parser_spec.js
index 217df16752..f74ec0707a 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/property_binding_parser_spec.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/property_binding_parser_spec.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ export function main() {
     function createPipeline(ignoreBindings = false) {
       return new CompilePipeline([
         new MockStep((parent, current, control) => { current.ignoreBindings = ignoreBindings; }),
-        new PropertyBindingParser(new Parser(new Lexer()), null)]);
+        new PropertyBindingParser(new Parser(new Lexer()))]);
     }
 
     it('should not parse bindings when ignoreBindings is true', () => {
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/text_interpolation_parser_spec.js b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/text_interpolation_parser_spec.js
index 2e67a996b0..64cbfc8923 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/text_interpolation_parser_spec.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/text_interpolation_parser_spec.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export function main() {
       return new CompilePipeline([
         new MockStep((parent, current, control) => { current.ignoreBindings = ignoreBindings; }),
         new IgnoreChildrenStep(),
-        new TextInterpolationParser(new Parser(new Lexer()), null)
+        new TextInterpolationParser(new Parser(new Lexer()))
       ]);
     }
 
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/view_splitter_spec.js b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/view_splitter_spec.js
index 66afe167b0..e4872899f0 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/view_splitter_spec.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/pipeline/view_splitter_spec.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export function main() {
   describe('ViewSplitter', () => {
 
     function createPipeline() {
-      return new CompilePipeline([new ViewSplitter(new Parser(new Lexer()), null)]);
+      return new CompilePipeline([new ViewSplitter(new Parser(new Lexer()))]);
     }
 
     it('should mark root elements as viewRoot', () => {
@@ -160,14 +160,14 @@ export function main() {
         expect( () => {
           var rootElement = el('<div><div *foo *bar="blah"></div></div>');
           createPipeline().process(rootElement);
-        }).toThrowError('Only one template directive per element is allowed: foo and bar cannot be used simultaneously!');
+        }).toThrowError('Only one template directive per element is allowed: foo and bar cannot be used simultaneously in <div *foo *bar="blah">');
       });
 
-      it('should not allow template and bang directives on the same element', () => {
+      it('should not allow template and star directives on the same element', () => {
         expect( () => {
-          var rootElement = el('<div><div *foo template="blah"></div></div>');
+          var rootElement = el('<div><div *foo template="bar"></div></div>');
           createPipeline().process(rootElement);
-        }).toThrowError('Only one template directive per element is allowed: blah and foo cannot be used simultaneously!');
+        }).toThrowError('Only one template directive per element is allowed: bar and foo cannot be used simultaneously in <div *foo template="bar">');
       });
 
     });
diff --git a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/selector_spec.js b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/selector_spec.js
index d385b02b53..1bc27d4049 100644
--- a/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/selector_spec.js
+++ b/modules/angular2/test/core/compiler/selector_spec.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import {List, ListWrapper, MapWrapper} from 'angular2/src/facade/collection';
 
 export function main() {
   describe('SelectorMatcher', () => {
-    var matcher, matched, selectableCollector;
+    var matcher, matched, selectableCollector, s1, s2, s3, s4;
 
     function reset() {
       matched = ListWrapper.create();
@@ -13,79 +13,81 @@ export function main() {
 
     beforeEach(() => {
       reset();
-      selectableCollector = (selectable) => {
-        ListWrapper.push(matched, selectable);
+      s1 = s2 = s3 = s4 = null;
+      selectableCollector = (selector, context) => {
+        ListWrapper.push(matched, selector);
+        ListWrapper.push(matched, context);
       }
       matcher = new SelectorMatcher();
     });
 
     it('should select by element name case insensitive', () => {
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('someTag'), 1);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s1 = CssSelector.parse('someTag'), 1);
 
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('SOMEOTHERTAG'), selectableCollector);
       expect(matched).toEqual([]);
 
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('SOMETAG'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([1]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s1,1]);
     });
 
     it('should select by class name case insensitive', () => {
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('.someClass'), 1);
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('.someClass.class2'), 2);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s1 = CssSelector.parse('.someClass'), 1);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s2 = CssSelector.parse('.someClass.class2'), 2);
 
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('.SOMEOTHERCLASS'), selectableCollector);
       expect(matched).toEqual([]);
 
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('.SOMECLASS'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([1]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s1,1]);
 
       reset();
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('.someClass.class2'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([1,2]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s1,1,s2,2]);
     });
 
     it('should select by attr name case insensitive independent of the value', () => {
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('[someAttr]'), 1);
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('[someAttr][someAttr2]'), 2);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s1 = CssSelector.parse('[someAttr]'), 1);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s2 = CssSelector.parse('[someAttr][someAttr2]'), 2);
 
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('[SOMEOTHERATTR]'), selectableCollector);
       expect(matched).toEqual([]);
 
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('[SOMEATTR]'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([1]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s1,1]);
 
       reset();
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('[SOMEATTR=someValue]'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([1]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s1,1]);
 
       reset();
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('[someAttr][someAttr2]'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([1,2]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s1,1,s2,2]);
     });
 
     it('should select by attr name only once if the value is from the DOM', () => {
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('[some-decor]'), 1);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s1 = CssSelector.parse('[some-decor]'), 1);
 
       var elementSelector = new CssSelector();
       var element = el('<div attr></div>');
       var empty = element.getAttribute('attr');
       elementSelector.addAttribute('some-decor', empty);
       matcher.match(elementSelector, selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([1]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s1,1]);
     });
 
     it('should select by attr name and value case insensitive', () => {
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('[someAttr=someValue]'), 1);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s1 = CssSelector.parse('[someAttr=someValue]'), 1);
 
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('[SOMEATTR=SOMEOTHERATTR]'), selectableCollector);
       expect(matched).toEqual([]);
 
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('[SOMEATTR=SOMEVALUE]'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([1]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s1,1]);
     });
 
     it('should select by element name, class name and attribute name with value', () => {
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('someTag.someClass[someAttr=someValue]'), 1);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s1 = CssSelector.parse('someTag.someClass[someAttr=someValue]'), 1);
 
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('someOtherTag.someOtherClass[someOtherAttr]'), selectableCollector);
       expect(matched).toEqual([]);
@@ -100,29 +102,29 @@ export function main() {
       expect(matched).toEqual([]);
 
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('someTag.someClass[someAttr=someValue]'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([1]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s1,1]);
     });
 
     it('should select independent of the order in the css selector', () => {
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('[someAttr].someClass'), 1);
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('.someClass[someAttr]'), 2);
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('.class1.class2'), 3);
-      matcher.addSelectable(CssSelector.parse('.class2.class1'), 4);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s1 = CssSelector.parse('[someAttr].someClass'), 1);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s2 = CssSelector.parse('.someClass[someAttr]'), 2);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s3 = CssSelector.parse('.class1.class2'), 3);
+      matcher.addSelectable(s4 = CssSelector.parse('.class2.class1'), 4);
 
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('[someAttr].someClass'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([1,2]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s1,1,s2,2]);
 
       reset();
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('.someClass[someAttr]'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([1,2]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s1,1,s2,2]);
 
       reset();
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('.class1.class2'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([3,4]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s3,3,s4,4]);
 
       reset();
       matcher.match(CssSelector.parse('.class2.class1'), selectableCollector);
-      expect(matched).toEqual([4,3]);
+      expect(matched).toEqual([s4,4,s3,3]);
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/modules/benchmarks/src/compiler/selector_benchmark.js b/modules/benchmarks/src/compiler/selector_benchmark.js
index a40b612183..d97a97b8cf 100644
--- a/modules/benchmarks/src/compiler/selector_benchmark.js
+++ b/modules/benchmarks/src/compiler/selector_benchmark.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export function main() {
   function match() {
     var matchCount = 0;
     for (var i=0; i<count; i++) {
-      fixedMatcher.match(fixedSelectors[i], (selected) => {
+      fixedMatcher.match(fixedSelectors[i], (selector, selected) => {
         matchCount += selected;
       });
     }