What is the best version of the VS SDK to work with?

For developing new managed VsPackages what is the best version of Visual Studio
2005 Beta2 and the Visual Studio SDK to work with?

1) VS 2005 Beta 2 with the August VS SDK
Older version of VS 2005, newer VS SDK (format)

2) The June CTP of VS 2005 Beta2 with the matching June VS SDK.
Matching VS and VS SDK but older VS SDK (format)

Mark Cooper

[377 byte] By [MarkCooper] at [2007-12-16]

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# 1

As far as I understand, VS SDK is what will be finally released and VSIP SDK is meant to be deprecated.
But it' still work in progress and at the moment VS SDK only supports Beta2, while VSIP SDK - the latest Visual Studio CTP.
That's my undersatnding, but I may be wrong.

OlegTkachenko at 2007-9-9 >

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# 2

That’s my understanding of it also. I currently have two virtual PC images setup one for each configuration and was wondering which would be better to bring to the VSIP lab at the end of August?

My guess would be VS 2005 Beta 2 with the August VS SDK.

Mark Cooper

MarkCooper at 2007-9-9 >

# 3

The dev lab will show off the next CTP but it won't be finished by then. So the August CTP of the SDK will still be the latest one. If you need to work on a later VS/CTP drop, the old SDK is still the way to go -- for now.<g>

BobArnsonMSFT at 2007-9-9 >

# 4

You understanding is correct Mark. I would say right now it depends on your familiarity with Visual Studio Extensibility. If you're a long-time VSIP partner, and are relatively comfortable with things like CTC and the VSIP interfaces, you'd be best to stick with option #2.

However, if you're a newcomer to VS Extensibilty, I would recommend option #1 for now. The new samples we've included make it very easy for a newcomer. Old-time VSIP partners who already have a package up and running really won't see a huge benefit from the new SDK quite yet.

I'm not the one who influences decisions like this, but my guess is that "very soon now" you'll have the latest VS and VSSDK matching bits, so the question will become moot.

Hope that helps,
Aaron Marten [MSFT]

AaronMarten-MSFT at 2007-9-9 >

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