skills.rest
madskristensen
madskristensenCOMMUNITY
Explore all skills by this author →
Website𝕏@mkristensenGitHub

showing-message-boxes

Implement Visual Studio extension notifications using ShowPromptAsync, VS.MessageBox, and VsShellUtilities.

14|2|Updated Mar 24, 2026
Search Tags:#notifications#extensibility#extensions#prompt#visual-studio#message-box#info-bar
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/madskristensen/vs-agent-plugins --skill showing-message-boxes
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: showing-message-boxes
Source: https://github.com/madskristensen/vs-agent-plugins/tree/main/skills/showing-message-boxes
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/madskristensen/vs-agent-plugins --skill showing-message-boxes

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Visual Studio extensions require consistent, safely parented user notifications (prompts, info bars, and status messages) that respect the IDE's theming and threading.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • VisualStudio.Extensibility (out-of-process) prompts via ShowPromptAsync for blocking and non-blocking interactions.
  • VSIX Community Toolkit / VSSDK in-process approaches for message boxes, info bars, and status indicators.
  • Guidance on selecting the appropriate mechanism (dialog, info bar, or status update) based on urgency and required user action.

Quick Start

Ask the AI to display a confirmation prompt in a Visual Studio extension using ShowPromptAsync.

Frequently Asked Questions about showing-message-boxes

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I show a message box in a Visual Studio extension?▼

To show a message box in a Visual Studio extension, use VS.MessageBox or ShowPromptAsync depending on your extensibility model, ensuring proper thread handling and avoiding System.Windows.MessageBox.

What is the best way to display user notifications in VSIX extensions?▼

The best way to display user notifications in VSIX extensions is by selecting between dialogs, info bars, or status indicators based on urgency, using VisualStudio.Extensibility or VSSDK APIs for IDE-themed results.

Can I use ShowPromptAsync for non-blocking prompts in VisualStudio.Extensibility?▼

Yes, ShowPromptAsync in VisualStudio.Extensibility supports both blocking and non-blocking user interactions, allowing up to three choices per prompt while maintaining safe threading.

Why should I avoid System.Windows.MessageBox when building Visual Studio extensions?▼

You should avoid System.Windows.MessageBox because it does not respect the IDE's theming and threading rules, whereas VS APIs like VsShellUtilities ensure safely parented, consistent notifications.

When do I use an info bar instead of a dialog prompt in a VS extension?▼

Use an info bar instead of a dialog prompt when user action is non-critical, as info bars provide non-blocking status updates while dialogs are reserved for urgent interactions requiring immediate user input.

Does the VSSDK Community Toolkit support status indicators and info bars?▼

Yes, the VSSDK Community Toolkit supports in-process approaches for implementing message boxes, info bars, and status indicators that align with Visual Studio's native user experience.

Related Skills

Explore More Software Engineering Skills→
microsoftmicrosoft
19

vssdk-sdk-style-conversion

Convert legacy VSIX/VSSDK projects to SDK-style format.

Official
Advanced
madooeimadooei
1

create-utility-service

Create reusable utility services for authentication, authorization, notification, and shared logic.

Community
Advanced
madskristensenmadskristensen
14

adding-tool-window-toolbars

Add declarative toolbars to Visual Studio tool windows via VSCT or ToolbarConfiguration.

Community
Advanced
sunLeeesunLeee

convention-solid-dip

Implement the Dependency Inversion Principle by introducing abstractions and dependency injection.

Community
Advanced