Visual Studio templates for ESRI, Javascript, Node, OpenLayers, Python, etc... relevant to my GIS work (but apparently regarded as red-headed step children by Microsoft).
I tried to follow the instructions on how to build a ".vsix" file, but it failed in the usual "let's make everything so complicated and opaque that it does not work" fashion often exhibited by Microsoft. It works fine following the VB example but I don't use VB, I use Python and Javascript... so I had to work around it.
To get started I built a python template ZIP file using the "Project Export" wizard, then extracted the .vstemplate from it and built a new ZIP around it. Since I could not convince VS to build the zip for me I created a stupid brute force bash script for now.
The docs say that Visual Studio 2017 only supports VSIX files now but it's not true. I can still drop a ZIP file into the right VS folder and VS will unpack it the next time it launches so I am sticking with that approach for now.
- At least VS 2017. I use the (free) Community Edition, currently I have 15.8.0 installed.
- For ESRI templates I am using ArcGIS 10.6 Desktop and Enterprise.
If all you want is to use these templates you can download the ZIP files. Drag the zip files into the appropriate folders. I use %HOME%/VisualStudio2017/Templates/{ItemTemplates|ProjectTemplates} but I think the default is "%HOME%/Documents/Visual Studio 2017/Templates" I change the option in VS, "Tools->Options->Projects and Solutions->Locations", so that it follows local convention.
After installing new templates you have to restart VS before it will see them.
First fork or clone this project, then open the "solution" in VS.
Make whatever changes you desire.
I crafted my pyproj and vstemplate files lovingly by hand, you will have to update them if you go this route, or use the wizard. If you need to edit the vstemplate file, refer to the documentation. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/ide/template-parameters If you need to edit the pyproj file, well. Not complicated, good luck, if you find docs let me know.
I have a bash script "install.sh" that zips and copies.
Under Project, choose "Export Template". Choose the Project or Item option as needed.
The wizard stupidly always puts its zipped output in "%HOME%/Documents/Visual Studio 2017/My Exported Templates" and then you have to move the ZIP files yourself to whereever you actually want them.
After proper deployment, the templates will show up when you create new projects or when you add an item.
I don't remember where I got the ArcPY Python icon, maybe ESRI? If it belongs to you and you don't want me using it, speak up and I will remove it.