Visual Studio IDE Architecture

The topics in this section describe Visual Studio and its integrated development environment (IDE), and introduce strategies and techniques for extending the IDE.

In This Section

  • Visual Studio IDE Concepts
    Describes Visual Studio and the IDE, and how to create and use VSPackages and services.

  • VSPackages
    VSPackages extend the IDE by providing UI elements, services, projects, editors, and designers.

  • Services
    A service is a contract between two VSPackages. One VSPackage offers a specific set of interfaces for another VSPackage to consume.

  • Releasing a Visual Studio Integration Product
    Shows how to release a Visual Studio integration product.