Some additional confusion is caused by the fact that extensions can be installed, even if they're third-party created, but can't run. Microsoft-created extensions like NuGet, Node.js Tools and Python Tools will work, but not user-created packages.

The simple answer is that third-party extensions will not work with any version of Visual Studio Express. Variations of this question have been asked elsewhere, too. So is it that only extensions developed my Microsoft (or possibly approved by Microsoft) can be installed on Express editions? Or is it that my code is somehow incompatible with the Express editions? (in this case, where could I find documentation about making the coding compatible ?)' Unlike many other programming platforms, however, the interface is visual, making it less daunting for novices. It allows users to create Windows applications and executable files. The extension doesn't do anything that shouldn't work on an Express edition. Visual Basic Express Edition is a freeware, stripped back version of the main Microsoft Visual Basic programming platform. The question was posed this way by a developer on an MSDN forum: '.when I tried to install an extension that I have developed, it would show up in the Extension Manager but the extension menu would not appear under the Tools menu, as it is supposed to (it works on other editions of Visual Studio). There appears to be confusion among some developers around extensions in Visual Studio Express, Microsoft's free version of its flagship development tool.

Visual basic express