Visual Studio Hacks

By James Avery

With start-up templates for projects ranging from Windows applications to web services, and extensive help and on-line documentation, Visual Studio .NET might be mistaken for a tool for unsophisticated users. It's true that most developers soon discover that the basic operation of Visual Studio is fairly self-explanatory; less obvious are some of the suite's more advanced built-in features. Visual Studio .Net includes a wealth of little-used capabilities, is very customizable, has a complete automation model, and much more. On top of its regular feature set, there are hosts of free add-ins, macros, and power toys that can further enhance the functionality of Visual Studio. This book is all about exploring these things, and in doing so, becoming a better and more efficient developer. Developers will learn how to: Get the most out of projects and solutions, including getting down and dirty with the undocumented format of project and solution files Use these editor features to the fullest, and add additional functionality to the editor through the use of third-party add-ins Learn smarter ways to navigate the application and your own source code Customize shortcut keys, toolbars, menus, the toolbox, and much more Use the debugger successfully not only on your source code, but with T-SQL and scripting languages as well Automatically generate code Learn how the server can be used to interface with databases, services, and performance counters, as well as WMI Use and create Visual Studio add-ins to extend its functionality Offering valuable tips, tools, and tricks, Visual Studio Hacks takes you far beyond the suite's usual capabilities. You can read this book from cover to cover or, because each hack stands its own, you can feel free to browse and jump to the different sections that interest you most. If there's a prerequisite you need to know about, a cross-reference will guide you to the right hack. If you want to experience the full spectrum of Visual Studio's functionality and flexibility, you'll find the perfect guide for exploration in Visual Studio Hacks. Once the final page is turned, you can confidently say that you've been exposed to everything that Visual Studio .NET is capable of doing.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0596008473
• ISBN13: 9780596008475
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• Length: 478 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

A must have for any VS 2005 developer

If you want to remain a Junior Programmer forever, then don't get this book. But if you want to really excel as a VS 2005 programmer, then you need to get this book. There is no fluff in this book at all. It is densly packed with a ton of useful details on the VS 2005 IDE. Not only do you learn the ins and outs of the IDE but it also guides you through several very useful 3rd party add-ins to VS. This book is a terrific read and a great reference. I can't say that about too many books.

Great collection of tips, tricks, and info to improve your VS experience

I've been using Visual Studio .NET for a couple of years now, and while I've always managed to get the things done that I needed, it was not always done in the most efficient way. However, it was not until I read this book that I realized that. The book is well organized, divided into 13 logical chapters, each focusing on a particular area. My favorite was "Customizing Visual Studio" which shows you many ways to setup VS to work best for you and your particular needs. The book also has tons of screenshots and very clear instructions, which I have found that many computer books lack these days, especially some of the other O'Reilly books. In addition, there are lots of code samples, where applicable. Another great thing that book included was info about a bunch of VS add-ins. There are literally hundreds of them out there, so it was nice to have someone else spend all the time sorting through them and letting the reader know which ones are worth their time. Overall, it's a great book for anybody who uses Visual Studio .NET

What a way to impress your boss.

Visual Studio Hacks offers the reader 100 tips related to the Microsoft Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE). This book covers topics on versions of the software including Visual Studio 2005. Mr. Avery has selected a good compliment of topics. While not all of the hacks will be of interest to all developers, I think there is enough content in here for all levels of Visual Studio users. The typical items such as IDE setup, keyboard shortcuts, macros, and enhancing the tool are covered. However, this book also provides guidance on how to use and integrate the necessary tools to support a complete developer build cycle. Topics such as unit testing, debugging, profiling, code analysis, automating builds, and documenting source code are covered. Visual Studio is one of the most productive development IDEs that I have worked with, in my experience. There are so many features that it takes a text like this to make you appreciate it. It is much more interesting to read a format such as this, instead of stepping through the product documentation, page by page, looking for nuggets of value. I highly recommend this book. I believe that it is a must-have companion for Visual Studio. Anyone that is establishing their project's IDE guidelines for their development team would be well-served by the material covered in this book. What a way to impress your boss.

Very Useful Information

This is a great resource for making the Visual Studio IDE even better than it already is. Highly recommended.

Productivity++

If you spend a fair amount of time writing code in Visual Studio.NET, then Visual Studio Hacks will definitely improve your productivity in writing, debugging, and maintaining code. You'll find everything from using (and the practical uses of) built-in features (such as the Clipboard ring) to in-depth explanations of downloadable add-ins. One thing I love about the book is how easy the hacks are to implement. For example I've always been annoyed at the output from the build results window but never took the time to even think about changing it. It seemed to be just easier to deal with it than fix it. After reading Hack #35 (Modify the Build Output and Navigate the Results), I'm confident I can take a few minutes to write a macro and customize it as needed. Worried about difficulty in writing a macro? Hack #51 explains it step-by-step. Although I don't consider myself to be an Über-user of VS.NET, I do use the development environment quite a bit and know my way around fairly well. That said, Visual Studio Hacks has definitely augmented my knowledge of not only what VS.NET does, but what *good* 3rd party add-ins are available. I've had too many bad experiences with *bad* add-ins killing half-a-day of work after requiring a reinstall of VS.NET. The ones listed here work well and are documented well. By the way, I have to say that I liked Hack #7 (Make Pasting into Visual Studio Easier) the most. But then again, it's pretty hard *not* like a hack that you contributed to the book ;-).