VS2010 loads slowly. Can I profile extensions' respective startup time?

Question

Hello,

I have a simple question. Is it possible to somehow get a log of what is taking so much time to load when starting VS2010? On a default install, starting the IDE is very quick (~1-2 s), but with a batch of extensions installed, the time taken for the IDE to launch is prohibitive of using it to "just have a peek at a file".

I know I can "enable and disable extensions one by one", but I'm looking for a better way that gives me numbers, not 'feelings'.

Hope someone out there knows a good way to do this.

Edit: Follow-up question: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3996242/can-i-selectively-disable-packages-from-loading-into-vs2010

Answer 1

You can use devenv /log as detailed here ...

http://saraford.net/2008/11/27/did-you-know-theres-a-way-to-have-visual-studio-log-its-activity-for-troubleshooting-366/

Open %APPDATA%\Microsoft\VisualStudio\10.0\ActivityLog.xml in a web browser and it will format itself nicely.

Answer 2

No need to upvote this answer, give it to Antony instead (or edit it into his, I don't have enough points):

1. run "devenv /log"
2. close the ide again to close the log
3. [Win]+[R], run "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\VisualStudio\10.0\ActivityLog.xsl"
4. Wait for it to load (zzz ;)) in Visual Studio
5. Press [CTRL]+[ALT]+[F5], select ActivityLog.xml, or paste "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\VisualStudio\10.0\ActivityLog.xml" into the browser.
6. View the outputted html.

FYI: Here was one of my slow extensions that I will get rid of and file a bug report in:

** snip - not possible to bold code **

339 Begin package load [DPStudio.VSCommands.VSCommandsPackage, DPStudio.VSCommands, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=1f57f29404ce1db6] {4D4B29B7-971B-4FF2-8604-CF9F67FBB705} VisualStudio 2010/10/22 09:20:11.275

340 Entering function VBDispatch::GetTypeLib VisualStudio 2010/10/22 09:20:11.643

341 Leaving function VBDispatch::GetTypeLib {80CC9F66-E7D8-4DDD-85B6-D9E6CD0E93E2} VisualStudio 2010/10/22 09:20:11.644

342 Entering function VBDispatch::GetTypeLib VisualStudio 2010/10/22 09:20:20.274

343 Leaving function VBDispatch::GetTypeLib {80CC9F66-E7D8-4DDD-85B6-D9E6CD0E93E2} VisualStudio 2010/10/22 09:20:20.274

344 End package load [DPStudio.VSCommands.VSCommandsPackage, DPStudio.VSCommands, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=1f57f29404ce1db6] {4D4B29B7-971B-4FF2-8604-CF9F67FBB705} VisualStudio 2010/10/22 09:20:20.294

** snip **