Walkthrough: Create an SDK using JavaScript

Article
01/12/2024

This walkthrough teaches how to use JavaScript to create a simple math SDK as a Visual Studio Extension (VSIX). The walkthrough is divided into these parts:

To create the SimpleMathVSIX extension SDK project
To create a sample app that uses the SDK

For JavaScript, there is no class library project type. In this walkthrough, the sample arithmetic.js file is created directly in the VSIX project. In practice, we recommend that you first build and test the JavaScript and CSS files as a Windows Store app—for example, by using the Blank App template—before you put them in a VSIX project.

Prerequisites

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

To create the SimpleMathVSIX extension SDK project

On the menu bar, choose File > New > Project.
In the list of template categories, under Visual C#, select Extensibility, and then select the VSIX Project template.
In the Name text box, specify SimpleMathVSIX and choose the OK button.
If the Visual Studio Package Wizard appears, choose the Next button on the Welcome page, and then on Page 1 of 7, choose the Finish button.

Although the Manifest Designer opens, we'll keep this walkthrough simple by modifying the manifest file directly.

In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for the source.extension.vsixmanifest file, and then choose View Code. Use this code to replace the existing content in the file.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<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="SimpleMathVSIX" Version="1.0" Language="en-US" Publisher="myname" />
    <DisplayName>Simple Math</DisplayName>
    <Description>Does basic arithmetic calculations.</Description>
  </Metadata>
  <Installation Scope="Global" AllUsers="true">
    <InstallationTarget Id="Microsoft.ExtensionSDK" TargetPlatformIdentifier="Windows" TargetPlatformVersion="v8.0" SdkName="SimpleMath" SdkVersion="1.0" />
  </Installation>
  <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, open the shortcut menu for the SimpleMathVSIX project, and then choose Add > New Item.
In the Data category, select XML file, name the file SDKManifest.xml, and choose the Add button.
In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for the SDKManifest.xml file, and then choose Open to display the file in the XML Editor.

Add the following code to the SDKManifest.xml file.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<FileList
  DisplayName="Simple Math"
  MinVSVersion="14.0"
  AppliesTo="JavaScript+WindowsAppContainer"
  SupportsMultipleVersions="Error"
  MoreInfo="https://msdn.microsoft.com/">

  <!-- JS -->
  <File Content="js\arithmetic.js" />
</FileList>

In Solution Explorer, on the shortcut menu for the SDKManifest.xml file, choose Properties.
In the Properties window, set the Include in VSIX property to True.
In Solution Explorer, on the shortcut menu for the SimpleMathVSIX project, choose Add > New Folder, and then name the folder Redist.
Add subfolders under Redist to create this folder structure:

\Redist\CommonConfiguration\Neutral\SimpleMath\js\
On the shortcut menu for the \js\ folder, choose Add > New Item.
Under Visual C# items, select the Web category, and then select the JavaScript File item. Name the file arithmetic.js, and then choose the Add button.

Insert the following code into arithmetic.js:

(function (global) {
    "use strict";
    global.Arithmetic = {
        add: function (firstNumber, secondNumber) {
            return firstNumber + secondNumber;
        },

        subtract: function (firstNumber, secondNumber) {
            return firstNumber - secondNumber;
        },

        multiply: function (firstNumber, secondNumber) {
            return firstNumber * secondNumber;
        },

        divide: function (firstNumber, secondNumber) {
            return firstNumber / secondNumber;
        }
    };
})(this);

In Solution Explorer, on the shortcut menu for the arithmetic.js file, choose Properties. Make these property changes:
- Set the Include in VSIX property to True.
- Set the Copy to Output Directory property to Copy Always.
In Solution Explorer, on the shortcut menu for the SimpleMathVSIX project, choose Build.
After the build completes successfully, on the shortcut menu for the project, choose Open Folder in File Explorer. Navigate to \bin\debug\, and run SimpleMathVSIX.vsix to install it.
Choose the Install button and let the installation complete.
Restart Visual Studio.

To create a sample app that uses the SDK

On the menu bar, choose File > New > Project.
In the list of template categories, under JavaScript, select Windows Store, and then select the Blank App template.
In the Name box, specify ArithmeticUI. Choose the OK button.
In Solution Explorer, open the shortcut menu for the ArithmeticUI project, and then choose Add > Reference.
Under Windows, choose Extensions, and notice that Simple Math is displayed.
Select the Simple Math check box and then choose the OK button.
In Solution Explorer, under References, notice that the Simple Math reference is displayed. Expand it and notice that there's a \js\ folder that includes arithmetic.js. You can open arithmetic.js to confirm that your source code was installed.

Use the following code to replace the contents of default.htm.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <meta charset="utf-8" />
    <title>ArithmeticUI</title>

    <!-- WinJS references -->
    <link href="//Microsoft.WinJS.1.0/css/ui-dark.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <script src="//Microsoft.WinJS.1.0/js/base.js"></script>
    <script src="//Microsoft.WinJS.1.0/js/ui.js"></script>

    <!-- ArithmeticUI references -->
    <link href="/css/default.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <script src="/js/default.js"></script>
    <script src="/SimpleMath/js/arithmetic.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
    <form>
    <div id="calculator" class="ms-grid">
        <input name="firstNumber" id="firstNumber" type="number" step="any">
        <div id="operators">
            <button class="operator" type="button">+</button>
            <button class="operator" type="button">-</button>
            <button class="operator" type="button">*</button>
            <button class="operator" type="button">/</button>
        </div>
        <input id="secondNumber" type="number">
        <button class="calculate" type="button">=</button>
        <input id="result" type="number" name="result" disabled="" readonly="">
    </div>
    </form>
</body>
</html>

Use the following code to replace the contents of \js\default.js.

(function () {
    "use strict";

    var app = WinJS.Application;
    var operation = null;

    function calculateResult() {
        var firstNumber = parseFloat(document.querySelector("#firstNumber").value),
            secondNumber = parseFloat(document.querySelector("#secondNumber").value),
            result = 0;

        if (isNaN(firstNumber) || isNaN(secondNumber)) {
            result = 0;
        }
        else {
            switch (operation) {
                case "+":
                    result = Arithmetic.add(firstNumber, secondNumber);
                    break;
                case "-":
                    result = Arithmetic.subtract(firstNumber, secondNumber);
                    break;
                case "*":
                    result = Arithmetic.multiply(firstNumber, secondNumber);
                    break;
                case "/":
                    result = Arithmetic.divide(firstNumber, secondNumber);
                    break;
                default:
            }
        }
        document.querySelector("#result").value = result.toString();
    }

    app.onactivated = function (args) {
        document.querySelector("#calculator").addEventListener("click", function (event) {
            if (event.target.tagName.toLowerCase() === "button") {
                switch (event.target.className) {
                    case "operator":
                        operation = event.target.innerText;
                        break;
                    case "calculate":
                        calculateResult();
                        break;
                    default:
                        break;
                }
            }
        });
    };

    app.start();
})();

Replace the contents of \css\default.css with this code:

form {
    display: -ms-grid;
    -ms-grid-rows: 1fr auto 1fr;
    -ms-grid-columns: 1fr auto 1fr;
    height: 100%;
    width: 100%;
}

button, input[type=number] {
    margin-right: 5px;
    -ms-grid-row-align: center;
}

#calculator {
    -ms-grid-column: 2;
    -ms-grid-row: 2;
    display: -ms-grid;
    -ms-grid-rows: 1fr;
    -ms-grid-columns: auto min-content auto auto auto;
}

.ms-grid input {
    width: 5em;
}

#firstNumber {
    -ms-grid-column: 1;
    -ms-grid-row-align: center;
}

#operators {
    -ms-grid-column: 2;
    -ms-grid-row-align: center;
}

    #operators button.operator {
        margin-bottom: 5px;
        height: 40px;
    }

#secondNumber {
    -ms-grid-column: 3;
}

button.calculate {
    -ms-grid-column: 4;
    -ms-grid-row-align: center;
    height: 40px;
}

#result {
    -ms-grid-column: 5;
}

Choose the F5 key to build and run the app.
In the app UI, enter any two numbers, select an operation, and then choose the = button. The correct result appears.

Create a Software Development Kit

Walkthrough: Create an SDK using JavaScript

Prerequisites

To create the SimpleMathVSIX extension SDK project

To create a sample app that uses the SDK

Related content

Additional resources