Microsoft Visual Studio

2018-01-26 I am setting up the 2017 Community edition.

I want to try to develop some ArcObjects tools and I want to access those tools from Python.

So, that gives me two tasks: set up C# and the ESRI SDKs and set up Python.

I have ESRI and Anaconda versions of Python. I originally installed the Anaconda versions to use Spyder. I like the conda package and environment management so I want (at least for now) to continue using them.

I used to be a Windows developer so I was in Visual Studio sessions all day, every day. I am hoping it works as well with Python as it did with C#.

Installation

Use the "Preview" version: https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/preview/

For reasons I mention on the Anaconda page, do NOT install the versions of Python and Anaconda that are available in the Visual Studio installer. Install them separately.

Set up

Select the Python you want

1. Tools->Python->Python Environment
2. Select the one for ESRI Python 2.7.14 64-bit for modern ArcMap work or 32-bit if you need Personal Geodatabases
3. Choose "Make this the default for new projects"

Use Git for version control

Go to "Tools -> Options -> Source Control" and under "Plug-in Selection", switch to Git.

So far I still use git from the command line...

Use the experimental support for Intellisense

This is a checkbox under Tools->Options->Python->Experimental

ArcObjects 10.6 SDK

https://desktop.arcgis.com/en/system-requirements/latest/arcobjects-sdk-system-requirements.htm

ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Engine, or ArcGIS Server is required to develop with ArcObjects SDK.

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 or higher

Visual Studio 2017 Community should be okay and it comes with 4.6 framework.

Samples will be found in C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\DeveloperKit10.6