Installation

Currently only manual installation is available.
It's simple and consists mostly of copying some files at dedicated locations.

##Manual installation

There are 3 steps required to let you start BlackBerry development with Visual Studio:

[Optional] Download and extract BlackBerry NDK for Visual Studio (aka bbndk_vs)

Typical location: "C:\bbndk_vs"

This is a hosting area for 10.2+ NDKs. It let's you download and install any new NDK, simulator or debug versions of Runtime Libraries. It also provides Java VM (as some used BlackBerry tools are written in Java). It's optional since the plugin works perfectly fine with any other already installed NDK and doesn't need to download anything. In case you skipped that step, JavaHome will need to be specified in plugin settings inside Visual Studio (or directly - check Registry Settings).

If you haven't extract it into location mentioned above, you will need to specify it via plugin settings, too.

[Required] Download and extract new MSBuild platforms

Since the version v3.4 the plugin installed in Visual Studio is capable of populating the MSBuild itself, although it requires granting administrator privileges during the process. Installation can be triggered from "Error List" window or from MSBuild options page.

Typical location: "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild" on 64-bit machines

or "C:\Program Files\MSBuild" on 32-bit machines.

It adds a 'BlackBerry' build platform next to the ARM, x86, x64, Itanium for Visual C++ projects (from Microsoft.Cpp folder) and required BlackBerry QNX-tools. Targeting this new platform will let you compile your code using QCC and tools will enable packaging it into a BAR file, signing and deployment on simulator or device.

When the Package tries to update MSBuild from the Visual Studio 2010 on Windows XP, make sure to uncheck the "Protect my computer and data from unauthorized program activity" as this will effectively lower required privileges and won't let to write inside Program Files folder.

[Optional] Download and install VSIX package for your Visual Studio version

If you want to enable the plugin inside multiple versions of Visual Studio, download and install as many VSIX packages as you like. It's all possible and more - you will need to configure it only once! All the plugins share the sample storage, where the settings are kept (check Registry Settings).

Skipping this step is possible (as MSBuild extensions do all the job), but not recommended. The VSIX package is the essential part of this project and enables inside Visual Studio features like:

BlackBerry dedicated menus
new BB10 and PlayBook related projects and project-items that appear in Visual Studio wizards
new tool-window - Target FileSystem Navigator - to copy files and folders to/from the device or simulator without leaving the IDE
integrated GDB debugger
custom bar-descriptor.xml visual editor
and more!

NOTE: Custom VSIX packages are not allowed for VS Express editions.

VSIX packages are available through 'Extensions and Updates' inside the Visual Studio. Simply search for 'BB10' items or visit the Gallery for VS2010, VS2012, VS2013 and VS2015.