diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index afacc50006..aac26fff09 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@
     "nightwatch_local_fileExplorer": "nightwatch ./test-browser/tests/fileExplorer.test.js --config nightwatch.js --env chrome ",
     "nightwatch_local_debugger": "nightwatch ./test-browser/tests/debugger.test.js --config nightwatch.js --env chrome ",
     "nightwatch_local_editor": "nightwatch ./test-browser/tests/editor.test.js --config nightwatch.js --env chrome ",
+    "nightwatch_local_compiler": "nightwatch ./test-browser/tests/compiler_api.test.js --config nightwatch.js --env chrome ",
     "nightwatch_local_runAndDeploy": "nightwatch ./test-browser/tests/runAndDeploy.js --config nightwatch.js --env chrome-runAndDeploy ",
     "onchange": "onchange build/app.js -- npm-run-all lint",
     "prepublish": "mkdirp build; npm-run-all -ls downloadsolc_root build",
diff --git a/src/app/compiler/compiler-helpers.js b/src/app/compiler/compiler-helpers.js
index 820e5c298f..c4ca22c001 100644
--- a/src/app/compiler/compiler-helpers.js
+++ b/src/app/compiler/compiler-helpers.js
@@ -9,8 +9,10 @@ export const compile = async (compilationTargets, settings) => {
       const compiler = new Compiler(() => {})
       compiler.set('evmVersion', settings.evmVersion)
       compiler.set('optimize', settings.optimize)
+      compiler.set('language', settings.language)
       compiler.loadVersion(canUseWorker(settings.version), urlFromVersion(settings.version))
       compiler.event.register('compilationFinished', (success, compilationData, source) => {
+        console.log(success, compilationData)
         if (!success) return reject(compilationData)
         resolve(new CompilerAbstract(settings.version, compilationData, source))
       })
diff --git a/src/app/compiler/compiler-sourceVerifier-fetchAndCompile.js b/src/app/compiler/compiler-sourceVerifier-fetchAndCompile.js
index 5df4e66390..d608a8d061 100644
--- a/src/app/compiler/compiler-sourceVerifier-fetchAndCompile.js
+++ b/src/app/compiler/compiler-sourceVerifier-fetchAndCompile.js
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ export default class FetchAndCompile extends Plugin {
     // compile
     const settings = {
       version: data.metadata.compiler.version,
-      languageName: data.metadata.language,
+      language: data.metadata.language,
       evmVersion: data.metadata.settings.evmVersion,
       optimize: data.metadata.settings.optimizer.enabled
     }
diff --git a/src/app/tabs/compile-tab.js b/src/app/tabs/compile-tab.js
index 52de47dd7e..e027e1e5ce 100644
--- a/src/app/tabs/compile-tab.js
+++ b/src/app/tabs/compile-tab.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const CompilerContainer = require('./compileTab/compilerContainer.js')
 import { ViewPlugin } from '@remixproject/engine'
 import * as packageJson from '../../../package.json'
 import publishToStorage from '../../publishToStorage'
+import { compile } from '../compiler/compiler-helpers'
 
 const profile = {
   name: 'solidity',
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ const profile = {
   location: 'sidePanel',
   documentation: 'https://remix-ide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/solidity_editor.html',
   version: packageJson.version,
-  methods: ['getCompilationResult', 'compile']
+  methods: ['getCompilationResult', 'compile', 'compileWithParameters', 'setCompilerConfig']
 
 }
 
@@ -60,7 +61,8 @@ class CompileTab extends ViewPlugin {
 
     this.data = {
       contractsDetails: {},
-      eventHandlers: {}
+      eventHandlers: {},
+      loading: false
     }
   }
 
@@ -88,11 +90,13 @@ class CompileTab extends ViewPlugin {
     this.editor.event.register('contentChanged', this.data.eventHandlers.onContentChanged)
 
     this.data.eventHandlers.onLoadingCompiler = () => {
+      this.data.loading = true
       this.emit('statusChanged', {key: 'loading', title: 'loading compiler...', type: 'info'})
     }
     this.compiler.event.register('loadingCompiler', this.data.eventHandlers.onLoadingCompiler)
 
     this.data.eventHandlers.onCompilerLoaded = () => {
+      this.data.loading = false
       this.emit('statusChanged', {key: 'none'})
     }
     this.compiler.event.register('compilerLoaded', this.data.eventHandlers.onCompilerLoaded)
@@ -198,11 +202,28 @@ class CompileTab extends ViewPlugin {
     return this.compileTabLogic.compiler.state.lastCompilationResult
   }
 
-  // This function is used by remix-plugin
+  /**
+   * compile using @arg fileName.
+   * The module UI will be updated accordingly to the new compilation result.
+   * This function is used by remix-plugin compiler API.
+   * @param {string} fileName to compile
+   */
   compile (fileName) {
+    addTooltip(yo`<div><b>${this.currentRequest.from}</b> is requiring to compile <b>${fileName}</b></div>`)
     return this.compileTabLogic.compileFile(fileName)
   }
 
+   /**
+   * compile using @arg compilationTargets and @arg settings
+   * The module UI will *not* be updated, the compilation result is returned
+   * This function is used by remix-plugin compiler API.
+   * @param {object} map of source files.
+   * @param {object} settings {evmVersion, optimize, compilerUrl, version, language}
+   */
+  async compileWithParameters (compilationTargets, settings) {
+    return await compile(compilationTargets, settings)
+  }
+
   // This function is used for passing the compiler remix-tests
   getCurrentVersion () {
     return this.compilerContainer.data.selectedVersion
@@ -217,6 +238,31 @@ class CompileTab extends ViewPlugin {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * set the compiler configuration
+   * This function is used by remix-plugin compiler API.
+   * @param {object} settings {evmVersion, optimize, compilerUrl, version, language}
+   */
+  setCompilerConfig (settings) {
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      addTooltip(yo`<div><b>${this.currentRequest.from}</b> is updating the <b>Solidity compiler configuration</b>.<pre class="text-left">${JSON.stringify(settings, null, '\t')}</pre></div>`)
+      this.compilerContainer.setLanguage(settings.language)
+      this.compilerContainer.setEvmVersion(settings.evmVersion)
+      this.compilerContainer.setOptimize(settings.optimize)
+      this.compilerContainer.setVersion(settings.version)
+      // @todo(#2875) should use loading compiler return value to check whether the compiler is loaded instead of "setInterval"
+      let timeout = 0
+      const id = setInterval(() => {
+        timeout++
+        console.log(this.data.loading)
+        if (!this.data.loading || timeout > 10) {
+          resolve()
+          clearInterval(id)
+        }
+      }, 200)
+    })
+  }
+
   /*********
    * SUB-COMPONENTS
    */
@@ -261,7 +307,7 @@ class CompileTab extends ViewPlugin {
         <span>Publish on Ipfs</span>
         <img id="ipfsLogo" class="${css.storageLogo} ml-2" src="assets/img/ipfs.webp">
       </button>
-        <button class="btn btn-secondary btn-block" title="Display Contract Details" onclick="${() => { this.details() }}">
+        <button data-id="compilation-details" class="btn btn-secondary btn-block" title="Display Contract Details" onclick="${() => { this.details() }}">
           Compilation Details
         </button>
         <!-- Copy to Clipboard -->
diff --git a/src/app/tabs/compileTab/compilerContainer.js b/src/app/tabs/compileTab/compilerContainer.js
index b91f933bf3..9c3fbfb50a 100644
--- a/src/app/tabs/compileTab/compilerContainer.js
+++ b/src/app/tabs/compileTab/compilerContainer.js
@@ -318,17 +318,21 @@ class CompilerContainer {
     this.compileIfAutoCompileOn()
   }
 
+  /*
+    The following functions are handlers for internal events.
+  */
+
   onchangeOptimize () {
     this.compileTabLogic.setOptimize(!!this._view.optimize.checked)
     this.compileIfAutoCompileOn()
   }
 
-  onchangeLanguage (event) {
-    this.compileTabLogic.setLanguage(event.target.value)
+  onchangeLanguage () {
+    this.compileTabLogic.setLanguage(this._view.languageSelector.value)
     this.compileIfAutoCompileOn()
   }
 
-  onchangeEvmVersion (_) {
+  onchangeEvmVersion () {
     let s = this._view.evmVersionSelector
     let v = s.value
     if (v === 'default') {
@@ -338,12 +342,37 @@ class CompilerContainer {
     this.compileIfAutoCompileOn()
   }
 
-  onchangeLoadVersion (event) {
+  onchangeLoadVersion () {
     this.data.selectedVersion = this._view.versionSelector.value
     this._updateVersionSelector()
     this._updateLanguageSelector()
   }
 
+  /*
+    The following functions map with the above event handlers.
+    They are an external API for modifying the compiler configuration.
+  */
+
+  setOptimize (enabled) {
+    this._view.optimize.checked = enabled
+    this.onchangeOptimize()
+  }
+
+  setLanguage (lang) {
+    this._view.languageSelector.value = lang
+    this.onchangeLanguage()
+  }
+
+  setEvmVersion (version) {
+    this._view.evmVersionSelector.value = version || 'default'
+    this.onchangeEvmVersion()
+  }
+
+  setVersion (version) {
+    this._view.versionSelector.value = `soljson-v${version}.js`
+    this.onchangeLoadVersion()
+  }
+
   _shouldBeAdded (version) {
     return !version.includes('nightly') ||
            (version.includes('nightly') && this._view.includeNightlies.checked)
diff --git a/test-browser/commands/verifyContracts.js b/test-browser/commands/verifyContracts.js
index 14f006504e..3275cfb65a 100644
--- a/test-browser/commands/verifyContracts.js
+++ b/test-browser/commands/verifyContracts.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 const EventEmitter = require('events')
 
 class VerifyContracts extends EventEmitter {
-  command (compiledContractNames, opts = { wait: 1000 }) {
+  command (compiledContractNames, opts = { wait: 1000, version: null }) {
     this.api.perform((done) => {
       verifyContracts(this.api, compiledContractNames, opts, () => {
         done()
@@ -17,6 +17,17 @@ function getCompiledContracts (browser, opts, callback) {
   .clickLaunchIcon('solidity')
   .pause(opts.wait)
   .waitForElementPresent('*[data-id="compiledContracts"] option')
+  .perform((done) => {
+    if (opts.version) {
+      browser
+      .click('*[data-id="compilation-details"]')
+      .waitForElementPresent('*[data-id="treeViewLicompiler"]')
+      .click('*[data-id="treeViewLicompiler"]')
+      .waitForElementPresent('*[data-id="treeViewTogglecompiler/version"]')
+      .assert.containsText('*[data-id="treeViewLicompiler/version"]', `version: ${opts.version}`)
+      .perform(done)
+    } else done()
+  })
   .execute(function () {
     var contracts = document.querySelectorAll('*[data-id="compiledContracts"] option')
     if (!contracts) {
diff --git a/test-browser/tests/compiler_api.test.js b/test-browser/tests/compiler_api.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2c267b8177
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test-browser/tests/compiler_api.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+'use strict'
+var examples = require('../../src/app/editor/example-contracts')
+var init = require('../helpers/init')
+var sauce = require('./sauce')
+
+var sources = [
+  {'browser/Untitled.sol': {content: examples.ballot.content}}
+]
+
+module.exports = {
+  before: function (browser, done) {
+    init(browser, done)
+  },
+  '@sources': function () {
+    return sources
+  },
+
+  'Should compile using "compileWithParamaters" API': function (browser) {
+    browser
+    .addFile('test_jsCompile.js', { content: jsCompile })
+    .executeScript('remix.exeCurrent()')
+    .pause(5000)
+    .journalChildIncludes('"languageversion": "0.6.8+commit.0bbfe453"')
+  },
+
+  'Should update the compiler configuration with "setCompilerConfig" API': function (browser) {
+    browser
+    .addFile('test_updateConfiguration.js', { content: updateConfiguration })
+    .executeScript('remix.exeCurrent()')
+    .pause(5000)
+    .addFile('test_updateConfiguration.sol', { content: simpleContract })
+    .verifyContracts(['StorageTestUpdateConfiguration'], {wait: 5000, version: '0.6.8+commit.0bbfe453'})
+    .end()
+  },
+
+  tearDown: sauce
+}
+
+const simpleContract = `pragma solidity >=0.4.22 <0.7.0;
+
+/**
+* @title Storage
+* @dev Store & retreive value in a variable
+*/
+contract StorageTestUpdateConfiguration {
+
+  uint256 number;
+
+  /**
+   * @dev Store value in variable
+   * @param num value to store
+   */
+  function store(uint256 num) public {
+      number = num;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @dev Return value 
+   * @return value of 'number'
+   */
+  function retreive() public view returns (uint256){
+      return number;
+  }
+}
+          
+          `
+
+const jsCompile = `(async () => {
+    
+  try {
+      const contract = {
+          "storage.sol": {content : \`${simpleContract}\` }
+      }
+      console.log('compile')
+      const params = {
+          optimize: false,
+          evmVersion: null,
+          language: 'Solidity',
+          version: '0.6.8+commit.0bbfe453',
+          compilerUrl: 'https://solc-bin.ethereum.org/bin/soljson-v0.6.8+commit.0bbfe453.js'
+      }
+      const result = await remix.call('solidity', 'compileWithParameters', contract, params)
+      console.log('result ', result)
+  } catch (e) {
+      console.log(e.message)   
+  }
+})()`
+
+const updateConfiguration = `(async () => {
+  try {    
+      const params = {
+          optimize: false,
+          evmVersion: null,
+          language: 'Solidity',
+          version: '0.6.8+commit.0bbfe453'
+      }
+      await remix.call('solidity', 'setCompilerConfig', params)
+  } catch (e) {
+      console.log(e.message)   
+  }
+})()`