Visual Studio 2015, Native C++, Can I install A CE 6.0 SDK?

Question

I have an application that I am currently maintaining in VS 2008.
It is native C++ / Win32 (no .NET, MFC,....).
This is a single set of source code (with a couple of #defines) that supports:
Desktop:
1.) XP Sp3.
2.) Windows 7.
3.) Windows 8.
4.) Windows 8.1
5.) Windows 10.
Compact:
7.) Windows CE 6.0 R3 (x86)
8.) Windows Embedded Compact 7 (x86)
9.) Windows CE 6.0 R3 (ARM)

I want to attempt to maintain this application in Visual Studio 2015.

I will ignore my issues with the desktop operating architectures and focus on the
Compact architectures:
1.) The Windows CE 6.0 R3 (x86) and Windows Embedded Compact 7 (x86) are both built against
    the same 'generic' SDK that I produced from a Windows CE 6.0 R3 machine.
2.) Windows CE 6.0 R3 (ARM) is built against an SDK that was produced from a clients ARM device.

In my current (VS 2008) configuration Platform Builder is not required on the machine that is doing
the build. All I have on that machine is:
1.) Visual Studio 2008.
2.) Windows 7.1 SDK.
3.) The (installed) 'generic' CE 6.0 (x86) SDK.
4.) The (installed) CE 6.0 (ARM) SDK.

I would think I would be able to maintain this application in Visual Studio 2013.
Is this possible?

All I want installed on the machine that is doing the build:
1.) Visual Studio 2015 (With the associated 8,8.1,10 SDK's).
2.) Windows 7.1 SDK.
3.) The 'generic' CE 6.0 (x86) SDK.
4.) The CE 6.0 (ARM) SDK.

My first issue is that I cannot figure out how to 'install' the CE 6.0 SDK's
so Visual Studio 2015 see's them!

The machine I am testing this on already has Visual Studio 2008 installed and both
of the CE 6.0 SKD's installed (they are located: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows CE Tools\wce600).
I would think that Visual Studio 2015 would see them?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi RSullivan59,

Windows CE 6.0 is out of life cycle in 4/9/2013.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle?p1=12015

And as far as I know, C++ Cross-Platform Library Development in Visual Studio 2015 is different with other version of Visual Studio.

And in my opinion, the Smart Devices development is not support from Visual Studio 2010.

So I think the Windows CE 6.0 is not supported in Visual Studio.

In addition, I suggest you post your issue to Windows Embedded Compact forum for a better help. It is appropriate and more experts will assist you.

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/home?category=windowsembeddedcompact

Best Regards,
Weiwei

Answer 2

Thanks Weiwei.

I am aware that CE 6.0 is out of life cycle. My clients do not care though!

I will post my question in the WEC forum.

Thanks