IKVM Extension for Visual Studio

IKVM.NET is an implementation of the Java Virtual Machine built on .NET. This extension brings first-class Java project support to Visual Studio, letting you write, build, and manage Java code that compiles directly to .NET assemblies — without leaving the IDE.

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Features

Java Project System

• .ikvmproj project type — a full SDK-style project backed by the IKVM.NET SDK, integrated with Visual Studio's Common Project System (CPS)
• Solution Explorer support — .java source files, .jar archives, and .class files appear as first-class project items with dedicated icons
• MSBuild integration — build, rebuild, and clean work through the standard Visual Studio build pipeline; CI builds work via dotnet msbuild with no extra tooling

Editor

• Java syntax highlighting — TextMate grammar for .java source files (sourced from VS Code's Java extension)
• Language configuration — bracket matching, comment toggling, and other editor affordances for Java source

Marketplace & Distribution

• Automatic install prompt — projects using IKVM.NET.Sdk declare a VsixDependency on this extension, so Visual Studio prompts users to install it on first open
• VSIX packaging — single .vsix artifact published to the Visual Studio Marketplace on every tagged release

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Requirements

Requirement	Version
Visual Studio	2026 or later (amd64)
.NET SDK	9.0 or later (for building this repo)
IKVM.NET SDK NuGet package	referenced from your .ikvmproj

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Getting Started

Install the extension

Install from the Visual Studio Marketplace, or search for IKVM in Extensions → Manage Extensions inside Visual Studio.

Create a new Java project

1. Open Visual Studio and choose Create a new project.
2. Search for IKVM or filter by language Java.
3. Select the IKVM Java Class Library (or application) template and follow the wizard.

Add to an existing solution

Create a .ikvmproj file by hand or via dotnet new:

<Project Sdk="IKVM.NET.Sdk/8.x.x">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <TargetFramework>net9.0</TargetFramework>
  </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

Add .java source files to the project directory — they are included automatically by default globs. Build with Ctrl+Shift+B or dotnet build.

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Repository Layout

src/
  IKVM.VisualStudio.Vsix/        # The VSIX extension (net472)
    Grammars/                    # TextMate grammar for .java files
    Icons/                       # File icon provider
    Images/                      # Image manifest and icons
    Packaging/                   # AsyncPackage registration
    ProjectSystem/               # CPS project type, capabilities, properties
  dist-vsix/                     # Packaging target that assembles the .vsix artifact
  dist-tests/                    # Test distribution target
.github/workflows/
  IKVM.VisualStudio.yml          # CI/CD: build, test, publish to Marketplace on tag

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Building from Source

# Restore packages
dotnet restore IKVM.VisualStudio.sln

# Build the VSIX
dotnet msbuild /p:Configuration=Release IKVM.VisualStudio.dist.msbuildproj

# The output VSIX is written to dist/vsix/IKVM.vsix

To run the extension in the Visual Studio Experimental Instance, open IKVM.VisualStudio.sln in Visual Studio and press F5.

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Contributing

Contributions are welcome. Please open an issue or pull request on github.com/ikvmnet/ikvm-vs.

This project follows the same contribution guidelines as IKVM.NET.

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License

Licensed under the MIT License.
IKVM.NET is Copyright © Jerome Haltom and contributors.