Walkthrough: Create an SDK using C# or Visual Basic

Article
03/10/2023

In this walkthrough, you'll learn how to create a simple Math Library SDK by using Visual C# and then package the SDK as a Visual Studio Extension (VSIX). You'll complete the following procedures:

Prerequisites

To follow this walkthrough, you must install the Visual Studio SDK. For more information, see Visual Studio SDK.

To create the SimpleMath Windows Runtime component

On the menu bar, choose File > New > Project.
In the list of templates, expand Visual C# or Visual Basic, choose the Windows Store node, and then choose the Windows Runtime Component template.
In the Name box, specify SimpleMath, and then choose the OK button.
In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for the SimpleMath project node, and then choose Properties.

Rename Class1.cs to Arithmetic.cs and update it to match the following code:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace WinRTMath
{
    public sealed class Arithmetic
    {
        public float add(float firstNumber, float secondNumber)
        {
            return (firstNumber + secondNumber);
        }

        public float subtract(float firstNumber, float secondNumber)
        {
            return (firstNumber - secondNumber);
        }

        public float multiply(float firstNumber, float secondNumber)
        {
            return (firstNumber * secondNumber);
        }

        public float divide(float firstNumber, float secondNumber)
        {
            return (firstNumber / secondNumber);
        }
    }
}

Public NotInheritable Class Arithmetic
    Public Function Add(ByVal firstNumber As Single, ByVal secondNumber As Single) As Single
        Return (firstNumber + secondNumber)
    End Function

    Public Function Subtract(ByVal firstNumber As Single, ByVal secondNumber As Single) As Single
        Return (firstNumber - secondNumber)
    End Function

    Public Function Multiply(ByVal firstNumber As Single, ByVal secondNumber As Single) As Single
        Return (firstNumber * secondNumber)
    End Function

    Public Function Divide(ByVal firstNumber As Single, ByVal secondNumber As Single) As Single
        Return (firstNumber / secondNumber)
    End Function
End Class

In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for the Solution 'SimpleMath' node, and then choose Configuration Manager.

The Configuration Manager dialog box opens.
In the Active solution configuration list, choose Release.
In the Configuration column, verify that SimpleMath row is set to Release, and then choose the Close button to accept the change.

Important

The SDK for the SimpleMath component includes only one configuration. This configuration must be the release build, or apps that use the component won't pass certification for the Microsoft Store.
In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for the SimpleMath project node, and then choose Build.

To create the SimpleMathVSIX extension project

On the shortcut menu for the Solution 'SimpleMath' node, choose Add > New Project.
In the list of templates, expand Visual C# or Visual Basic, choose the Extensibility node, and then choose the VSIX Project template.
In the Name box, specify SimpleMathVSIX, and then choose the OK button.
In Solution Explorer, choose the source.extension.vsixmanifest item.
On the menu bar, choose View > Code.

Replace the existing XML with the following XML:

<PackageManifest Version="2.0.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/vsx-schema/2011" xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/vsx-schema-design/2011">
  <Metadata>
    <Identity Id="SimpleMath" Version="1.0" Language="en-US" Publisher="[YourName]" />
    <DisplayName>SimpleMath Library</DisplayName>
    <Description xml:space="preserve">Basic arithmetic operations in a WinRT-compatible library. Implemented in C#.</Description>
  </Metadata>
  <Installation Scope="Global" AllUsers="true">
    <InstallationTarget Id="Microsoft.ExtensionSDK" TargetPlatformIdentifier="Windows" TargetPlatformVersion="v8.0" SdkName="SimpleMath" SdkVersion="1.0" />
  </Installation>
  <Prerequisites>
    <Prerequisite Id="Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.CoreEditor" Version="[14.0,16.0]" />
  </Prerequisites>
  <Dependencies>
    <Dependency Id="Microsoft.Framework.NDP" DisplayName="Microsoft .NET Framework" d:Source="Manual" Version="4.5" />
  </Dependencies>
  <Assets>
    <Asset Type="Microsoft.ExtensionSDK" d:Source="File" Path="SDKManifest.xml" />
  </Assets>
</PackageManifest>

In Solution Explorer, choose the SimpleMathVSIX project.
On the menu bar, choose Project > Add New Item.
In the list of Common Items, expand Data, and then choose XML File.
In the Name box, specify SDKManifest.xml, and then choose the Add button.
In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for SDKManifest.xml, choose Properties, and then change the value of the Include in VSIX property to True.

Replace the contents of the file with the following XML:

<FileList
  DisplayName="WinRT Math Library (CS)"
  MinVSVersion="11.0"
  TargetFramework=".NETCore,version=v4.5"
  AppliesTo="WindowsAppContainer"
  SupportsMultipleVersions="Error"
  MoreInfo="https://msdn.microsoft.com/">
</FileList>

Visual Basic

<FileList
  DisplayName="WinRT Math Library (VB)"
  MinVSVersion="11.0"
  TargetFramework=".NETCore,version=v4.5"
  AppliesTo="WindowsAppContainer"
  SupportsMultipleVersions="Error"
  MoreInfo="https://msdn.microsoft.com/">
</FileList>

In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for the SimpleMathVSIX project, choose Add, and then choose New Folder.
Rename the folder to references.
Open the shortcut menu for the References folder, choose Add, and then choose New Folder.
Rename the subfolder to commonconfiguration, create a subfolder within it, and name the subfolder neutral.
Repeat the previous four steps, this time renaming the first folder to redist.

The project now contains the following folder structure:
```
references\commonconfiguration\neutral
redist\commonconfiguration\neutral
```
In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for the SimpleMath project, and then choose Open Folder in File Explorer.
In File Explorer, navigate to the bin\Release folder, open the shortcut menu for the SimpleMath.winmd file, and then choose Copy.
In Solution Explorer, paste the file into the references\commonconfiguration\neutral folder in the SimpleMathVSIX project.
Repeat the previous step, pasting the SimpleMath.pri file into the redist\commonconfiguration\neutral folder in the SimpleMathVSIX project.
In Solution Explorer, choose SimpleMath.winmd.
On the menu bar, choose View > Properties (Keyboard: Choose the F4 key).
In the Properties window, change the Build Action property to Content, and then change the Include in VSIX property to True.
In Solution Explorer, repeat this process for SimpleMath.pri.
In Solution Explorer, choose the SimpleMathVSIX project.
On the menu bar, choose Build > Build SimpleMathVSIX.
In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for the SimpleMathVSIX project, and then choose Open Folder in File Explorer.
In File Explorer, navigate to \bin\Release folder, and then run SimpleMathVSIX.vsix to install it.
Choose the Install button, wait for the installation to finish, and then restart Visual Studio.

To create a sample app that uses the class library

On the menu bar, choose File > New > Project.
In the list of templates, expand Visual C# or Visual Basic, and then choose the Windows Store node.
Choose the Blank App template, name the project ArithmeticUI, and then choose the OK button.
In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for the ArithmeticUI project, and then choose Add > Reference.
In the list of reference types, expand Windows, and then choose Extensions.
In the details pane, choose the WinRT Math Library extension.

Additional information about your SDK appears. You can choose the More Information link to open https://msdn.microsoft.com/, as you specified in the SDKManifest.xml file earlier in this walkthrough.
In the Reference Manager dialog box, select the WinRT Math Library check box, and then choose the OK button.
On the menu bar, choose View > Object Browser.
In the Browse list, choose Simple Math.

You can now explore what's in the SDK.

In Solution Explorer, open MainPage.xaml, and replace its contents with the following XAML:

<Page
    x:Class="ArithmeticUI.MainPage"
    IsTabStop="False"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:local="using:SimpleMath"
    xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
    xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
    mc:Ignorable="d">

    <Grid Background="{StaticResource ApplicationPageBackgroundThemeBrush}">
        <TextBox x:Name="_firstNumber" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="414,370,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="First Number" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="32" Width="135" TextAlignment="Center"/>
        <TextBox x:Name="_secondNumber" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="613,370,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Second Number" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="32" Width="135" TextAlignment="Center"/>
        <Button Content="+" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="557,301,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="39" Width="49" Click="OnOperatorClick"/>
        <Button Content="-" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="557,345,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="39" Width="49" Click="OnOperatorClick"/>
        <Button Content="*" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="557,389,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="39" Width="49" Click="OnOperatorClick"/>
        <Button Content="/" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="557,433,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="39" Width="49" Click="OnOperatorClick"/>
        <Button Content="=" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="755,367,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="39" Width="49" Click="OnResultsClick"/>
        <TextBox x:Name="_result" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="809,370,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Result" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="32" Width="163" TextAlignment="Center" IsReadOnly="True"/>
    </Grid>
</Page>

Visual Basic

<Page
    x:Class="ArithmeticUI.MainPage"
    IsTabStop="False"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:local="using:SimpleMath"
    xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
    xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
    mc:Ignorable="d">

    <Grid Background="{StaticResource ApplicationPageBackgroundThemeBrush}">
        <TextBox x:Name="_firstNumber" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="414,370,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="First Number" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="32" Width="135" TextAlignment="Center"/>
        <TextBox x:Name="_secondNumber" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="613,370,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Second Number" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="32" Width="135" TextAlignment="Center"/>
        <Button Content="+" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="557,301,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="39" Width="49" Click="OnOperatorClick"/>
        <Button Content="-" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="557,345,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="39" Width="49" Click="OnOperatorClick"/>
        <Button Content="*" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="557,389,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="39" Width="49" Click="OnOperatorClick"/>
        <Button Content="/" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="557,433,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="39" Width="49" Click="OnOperatorClick"/>
        <Button Content="=" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="755,367,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="39" Width="49" Click="OnResultsClick"/>
        <TextBox x:Name="_result" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="809,370,0,0" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="Result" VerticalAlignment="Top" Height="32" Width="163" TextAlignment="Center" IsReadOnly="True"/>
    </Grid>
</Page>

Update MainPage.xaml.cs to match the following code:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;
using Windows.Foundation;
using Windows.Foundation.Collections;
using Windows.UI.Xaml;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Primitives;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Data;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Input;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Media;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Navigation;

// The Blank Page item template is documented at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=234238

namespace ArithmeticUI
{
    /// <summary>
    /// An empty page that can be used on its own or navigated to within a Frame.
    /// </summary>
    public sealed partial class MainPage : Page
    {
        public static string operation = null;

        public MainPage()
        {
            this.InitializeComponent();
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Invoked when this page is about to be displayed in a Frame.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="e">Event data that describes how this page was reached.  The Parameter
        /// property is typically used to configure the page.</param>
        protected override void OnNavigatedTo(NavigationEventArgs e)
        {
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the operator chosen by the user
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="sender"></param>
        /// <param name="e"></param>
        private void OnOperatorClick(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            operation = (sender as Button).Content.ToString();
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Calls the SimpleMath SDK to do simple arithmetic
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="sender"></param>
        /// <param name="e"></param>
        private void OnResultsClick(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                float firstNumber = float.Parse(this._firstNumber.Text);
                float secondNumber = float.Parse(this._secondNumber.Text);

                SimpleMath.Arithmetic math = new SimpleMath.Arithmetic();

                switch (operation)
                {
                    case "+":
                        this._result.Text = (math.add(firstNumber, secondNumber)).ToString();
                        break;
                    case "-":
                        this._result.Text = (math.subtract(firstNumber, secondNumber)).ToString();
                        break;
                    case "*":
                        this._result.Text = (math.multiply(firstNumber, secondNumber)).ToString();
                        break;
                    case "/":
                        this._result.Text = (math.divide(firstNumber, secondNumber)).ToString();
                        break;
                    default:
                        this._result.Text = "Choose operator";
                        break;
                }
            }
            catch
            {
                this._result.Text = "Enter valid #";
            }
        }
    }
}

' The Blank Page item template is documented at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=234238

''' <summary>
''' An empty page that can be used on its own or navigated to within a Frame.
''' </summary>
Public NotInheritable Class MainPage
    Inherits Page

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Invoked when this page is about to be displayed in a Frame.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="e">Event data that describes how this page was reached.  The Parameter
    ''' property is typically used to configure the page.</param>
    Protected Overrides Sub OnNavigatedTo(e As Navigation.NavigationEventArgs)
    
    End Sub

    Public Shared operation As String = Nothing

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Sets the operator chosen by the user
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="sender"></param>
    ''' <param name="e"></param>
    Private Sub OnOperatorClick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As RoutedEventArgs)
        operation = If(TypeOf sender Is Button, CType(sender, Button), Nothing).Content.ToString()
    End Sub

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Calls the SimpleMath SDK to do simple arithmetic
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="sender"></param>
    ''' <param name="e"></param>
    Private Sub OnResultsClick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As RoutedEventArgs)

        Try

            Dim firstNumber As Single = Single.Parse(Me._firstNumber.Text)
            Dim secondNumber As Single = Single.Parse(Me._secondNumber.Text)

            Dim math As New SimpleMath.Arithmetic()

            Select Case (operation)

                Case "+"
                    Me._result.Text = (math.Add(firstNumber, secondNumber)).ToString()

                Case "-"
                    Me._result.Text = (math.Subtract(firstNumber, secondNumber)).ToString()
                Case "*"
                    Me._result.Text = (math.Multiply(firstNumber, secondNumber)).ToString()
                Case "/"
                    Me._result.Text = (math.Divide(firstNumber, secondNumber)).ToString()
                Case Else
                    Me._result.Text = "Choose operator"

            End Select

        Catch
            Me._result.Text = "Enter valid #"
        End Try
    End Sub
End Class

Choose the F5 key to run the app.
In the app, enter any two numbers, choose an operation, and then choose the = button.

The correct result appears.

You have successfully created and used an Extension SDK.

Share via

Walkthrough: Create an SDK using C# or Visual Basic

Prerequisites

To create the SimpleMath Windows Runtime component

To create the SimpleMathVSIX extension project

To create a sample app that uses the class library

Additional resources

Share via

Walkthrough: Create an SDK using C# or Visual Basic

Prerequisites

To create the SimpleMath Windows Runtime component

To create the SimpleMathVSIX extension project

To create a sample app that uses the class library

Related content

Additional resources