Microsoft has released the Bing Code Search Add-in for Visual Studio 2013 this week. This add-in is intended to facilitate search across "community" websites including the MSDN, StackOverflow, Dotnetperls, and CSharp411 without having to switch to a browser and search for code samples.
Microsoft aims to circumvent the need to copy code from code repositories like StackOverflow and then use it in the code editor.
Bing Code Search is capable of customizing the snippets it finds with the variables a developer is working within their own code. This essentially automates the process of customizing the sample code and makes it ready to drop directly into whatever the developer is working on.
As a result, developers stay "in the zone" and focused on their code, improving their productivity.
According to Microsoft, "Bing uses signals and metadata including project type and semantic context (e.g. C#/VB compiler) combined with our vast index to deliver relevant code samples directly into the Visual Studio experience. In a few short clicks, you have a set of code snippets for review and copy into the Visual Studio editor without missing a beat."
Developers can also download the extension for free from the Visual Studio DevLabs.