NotesApp - Visual Studio Extension

A simple and lightweight Visual Studio extension that provides a dedicated Notes tool window for developers to quickly jot down thoughts, reminders, and code snippets directly within the IDE.

Features

• Integrated Notes Tool Window: Access your notes without leaving Visual Studio
• Easy Access: Notes window available from the Visual Studio Window menu
• Lightweight: Minimal resource usage with clean, simple interface
• Visual Studio Integration: Seamlessly integrated into the Visual Studio IDE experience

Requirements

• Visual Studio: 2014 or later
• .NET Framework: 4.5 or higher
• Operating System: Windows (Visual Studio supported versions)

Installation

From VSIX Package

1. Download the latest release from the Releases page
2. Close Visual Studio if it's running
3. Double-click the .vsix file to install
4. Restart Visual Studio
5. The Notes tool window will be available in the Window menu

From Source

1. Clone this repository
2. Open NotesApp.sln in Visual Studio
3. Build the solution (Build > Build Solution)
4. The compiled VSIX package will be in the bin\Debug or bin\Release folder
5. Install the generated .vsix file

Usage

1. Open Notes Window:

   • Go to Window menu in Visual Studio
   • Click on Notes to open the tool window

2. Using the Notes Window:

   • The Notes tool window will appear as a dockable panel
   • Currently features a simple interface for basic note functionality
   • Click the "Click Me!" button to test the functionality

Development

Prerequisites for Development

• Visual Studio 2014 or later with Visual Studio SDK installed
• .NET Framework 4.5 development tools

Project Structure

NotesApp/
├── NotesApp/               # Main extension project
│   ├── NotesAppPackage.cs  # Main package class
│   ├── MyToolWindow.cs     # Tool window implementation
│   ├── MyControl.xaml      # UI for the notes window
│   ├── NotesApp.vsct      # Visual Studio command table
│   └── Resources/          # Icons and resources
├── NotesApp.sln           # Solution file
└── README.md              # This file

Building the Extension

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/prasethu/NotesApp.git
   cd NotesApp

2. Open in Visual Studio:

   • Open NotesApp.sln in Visual Studio
   • Ensure you have the Visual Studio SDK installed

3. Build:

   • Select Debug or Release configuration
   • Build > Build Solution (or press Ctrl+Shift+B)

4. Debug/Test:

   • Press F5 to launch a new experimental instance of Visual Studio
   • The extension will be loaded in the experimental instance for testing

Key Components

• NotesAppPackage.cs: Main extension package that handles initialization and command registration
• MyToolWindow.cs: Implements the tool window functionality
• MyControl.xaml/.cs: Defines the user interface and interaction logic for the notes panel
• NotesApp.vsct: Visual Studio Command Table that defines menu integration

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Here's how you can help:

1. Fork the Repository: Click the Fork button at the top of this page
2. Create a Feature Branch:

   git checkout -b feature/your-feature-name

3. Make Your Changes: Implement your feature or bug fix
4. Test Thoroughly: Ensure your changes work in both Debug and Release builds
5. Commit Your Changes:

   git commit -am "Add your descriptive commit message"

6. Push to Your Fork:

   git push origin feature/your-feature-name

7. Submit a Pull Request: Open a PR with a clear description of your changes

Development Guidelines

• Follow existing code style and conventions
• Test your changes in an experimental Visual Studio instance
• Update documentation if you add new features
• Ensure compatibility with Visual Studio 2014+

Future Enhancements

Potential improvements for future versions:

• Rich text editing capabilities
• Note persistence and saving
• Multiple note tabs or categories
• Search and organization features
• Import/export functionality
• Syntax highlighting for code snippets

License

This project is open source. Please check the repository for license details.

Support

If you encounter any issues or have questions:

• Open an Issue on GitHub
• Check existing issues for solutions
• Provide detailed information about your environment and the problem

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Note: This extension is a work in progress. Current functionality includes basic tool window integration with plans for expanded note-taking features in future releases.