Here’s a quick list of essential plug-ins and tools for Visual Studio. All of them are free, and this is mainly so the next time I reinstall windows I won’t spend ages trying to remember what that thing I use was called.
Microsoft StyleCop: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/sourceanalysis
This is the source analysis tool from and used by Microsoft programmers, and helps to “enforce a common set of best practices for layout, readability, maintainability, and documentation of C# source code”. It can also be integrated it into the build process to help keep you honest.
Once you learn and get used to its strict rules, they are easy to live by (I’ve even grown used to using this.variable rather then _Variable ).
GhostDoc: http://www.roland-weigelt.de/ghostdoc/
With just a keypress this adds in XML comments for the current type, often magically filling in the values from base types, other comments, or who knows where. Saves a lot of time, and it’s perfect for all those StyleCop “must have a documentation header” warnings.
Regionerate http://www.rauchy.net/regionerate/
Great little plugin that automatically arranges your code based on layout rules. Produce neat and friendly code without any effort. Check out this post in their forum for a StyleCop layout: http://www.rauchy.net/regionerate/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=189. The only issue is that it uses tabs instead of spaces, but you just have to remember to select all (Ctrl-A), then format it (Ctrl-K-F).
Microsoft FxCop: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/codeanalysis
Microsoft code analysis tool. It looks at the compiled code and produces a list of possible problems based on Microsoft’s design guidelines.
Proggy Fonts: http://www.proggyfonts.com/index.php?menu=download
A collection of small, neat, and easy to read fonts. They’re all good, but I tend to stick with Proggy Square.
