Sampling samples with the new Sample Browser for Visual Studio 2012 and Visual Studio 2010

Code. Just show me the code... Code samples can be are our a dev life blood. Sure documentation is great and has a place, but in the end what dev doesn't just want to see some code?

Today's project is one we've highlighted before, yet with this update easily deserves to be mentioned again.

Releasing the new Sample Browser for Visual Studio 2012 and Visual Studio 2010

Developers love code samples.  Samples often serve as the starting point for many developers to learn a new technology.  They also provide straightforward solutions and helpful references when we as developers need to solve tough programming tasks.  Some developers even live by code samples. 

In partnership with Visual Studio Product Team and MSDN Samples Gallery Team, Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework releases Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension for Visual Studio 2012 and Visual Studio 2010 - an effort to evolve the code sample use experience. You can search and download 3500+ Microsoft official code samples and community samples, including over 700 Windows 8 samples and more than 1000 All-In-One Code Framework customer-driven code samples.  With its integrated sample search, flexible sample download and more than ten useful features designed for easier access and management of code samples, we hope to put the power of tens of thousands of code samples at developers’ fingertips.

Yes, VS2010 and VS2012. Many of us are going to be living in both VS worlds for a while, so its great to see this kind of support for both.

Features & Benefits

• Integrated and Rich Sample Search Experience

Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension is integrated with Visual Studio Quick Launch Bar, Toolbar, Code Editor and File Menu.  It gives you quicker access to samples when you are writing code in Visual Studio.  A rich set of sample search conditions allows you to filter search results by language, owner, technology and the targeting Visual Studio version.

• Integrated and Flexible Sample Download Experience

The Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension is integrated with the built-in support of downloading online samples in Visual Studio 2012.  Code samples downloaded in Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension are visible to the built-in code sample feature in Visual Studio 2012.  Vice versa.

• Integrated and Flexible Sample Download Experience

The Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension is integrated with the built-in support of downloading online samples in Visual Studio 2012.  Code samples downloaded in Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension are visible to the built-in code sample feature in Visual Studio 2012.  Vice versa.

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• Integrated Look and Feel

Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension is integrated with the Visual Studio theme colors.  It supports both light and dark themes.

"What's next?" you ask?

Did you catch how easy it is to request samples?

This really is the one "Sample set and browser to rule them all." If you're looking for a code sample for just about anything Microsoft, start here...