# Getting Started

## Visual Studio Extensions

# Creating a Visual Studio Extension

This project enables developers to create an extension for Visual Studio. The solution contains a VSIX project that packages the extension into a VSIX file. This file is used to install an extension for Visual Studio.

## Add new features

1. Right-click the project node in Solution Explorer and select Add>New Item.
2. In the Add New Item dialog box, expand the Extensibility node under Visual C# or Visual Basic.
3. Choose from the available item templates: Visual Studio Package, Editor Items (Classifier, Margin, Text Adornment, Viewport Adornment), Command, Tool Window, Toolbox Control, and then click Add.

The files for the template that you selected are added to the project. You can start adding functionality to your item template, press F5 to run the project, or add additional item templates.

## Run and debug

To run the project, press F5. Visual Studio will:

- Build the extension from the VSIX project.
- Create a VSIX package from the VSIX project.
- When debugging, start an experimental instance of Visual Studio with the VSIX package installed.

In the experimental instance of Visual Studio you can test out the functionality of your extension without affecting your Visual Studio installation.

# Visual Studio Extensibility Resources

1. MSDN documentation
   Detailed documentation and API reference material for building extensions.
2. Extension samples on GitHub
   Use a sample project to kickstart your development.
3. Extensibility chat room on Gitter
   Meet other extension developers and exchange tips and tricks for extension development.
4. Channel 9 videos on extensibility
   Watch videos from the product team on Visual Studio extensibility.
5. Extensibility Tools 2015
   Install an optional helper tool that adds extra IDE support for extension authors.

# Give us feedback

- Submit a new feature idea or suggestion