Extend Visual Studio 2010 Presented by Robert MacLean @rma
Oct 21, 2014
Extend Visual Studio 2010Presented by Robert MacLean @rmaclean
Assumptions of this talk
Level 200Assume you have used VSAssume you are a developer
Agenda
What extending means? Where it goes beyond configuration!
Start at level 100Snippets (little demo) & Templates (little demo)
Move to level 200MEF (little demo)
Finish off in level 300ishExtensions (big demo)Add-ins (little demo)
Not covered today
Diagram & Arch extensionsRequires UltimateUML - Just XML additionsArch tools - MEF
Problem
Often typing the same code over and over againComplex patterns hard to remember
Demo
Snippets: How to use and how they work
Shortcut fail
Snippet Summary
Simple reusable chunks of codeSnippet manager for sharing Designer exists
Problem
Often typing the same code over and over againSet up on new work is time consumingI wish everyone on my team did things correctly from the startComplex patterns hard to remember
Demo
Project Templates
Template Summary
Easy to build solutions to save some timeSimple, too simple, deployment modelMicrosoft extension for making VSIX easilyVERY extensible with the wizard interface
Problem
Need a way to loosely couple together components at runtime
Demo
Managed Extensibility Framework
MEF Summary
Way to compose parts, like plugins or addinsPARTS of Visual Studio support this
Problem
Need to enhance the Visual Studio IDESyntax highlighting for my new languageWant to do some visual cues to improve productivity
Extension Class Structure
Provider
Tells Visual Studio that this exists and what it is for (classifier)
Definition
Tells Visual Studio that we creating a custom definition
Formatter
How would we like our code to be formatted
Classifier
Tells Visual Studio what text this applies to
Demo
Visual Studio Extensions
Extensions Summary
Awesome for rich experiencesEasy to build – just need to navigate the complex documentationLimited scopeTHIS is the growth point for VS 11
Problem
Need to enhance the Visual Studio IDE beyond extensionsNeed menu items and/or custom tool windowsNeed my own editor
DemoVisual Studio Add-Ins
Add-ins & Packages Summary
FULL power experienceBetter documented (been around longer)
Summary
No CodeWhat you want likely already exists in the gallery!SnippetsTemplates
CodeExtensions powered by MEFAdd-ins are full power
Thank YOU!
Robert MacLeanwww.sadev.co.za (slides + demo scripts)@rmaclean