The topics in this section describe the overall structure of Visual Studio and the integrated development environment (IDE). Other topics explain VSPackages and services, and how to create and use them.
In This Section
Visual Studio Development Environment Model
Discusses the extensibility architecture, whose command-handling and routing scheme gives users an open framework to make easy access to both existing and installed command sets possible.Implementation Strategies
Describes the extension of Visual Studio by using add-ins, macros, VSPackages, or a combination.Experimental Instance of Visual Studio
Explains the experimental build of Visual Studio. When you develop an application that might change Visual Studio, the Visual Studio SDK provides the experimental build for you to use instead of the released build.Visual Studio Shell
Describes the Visual Studio IDE, which is the primary agent of integration in Visual Studio.Visual Studio SDK and Automation
Discusses using automation, VSPackages, or a combination to create Visual Studio extensibility applications.Visual Studio SDK and Managed Code
Compares the different ways to write a VSPackage in managed code.
Related Sections
- Visual Studio Integration Architecture
Describes Visual Studio and its IDE, and introduces strategies and techniques for extending the IDE.