SDK should be unpacked to DSSDK folder in Desktop Sidebar installation directory (where sidebar.exe is stored). So include files should be placed <<desktop sidebar folder>>\dssdk\includes and dsidebarpia.dll should be placed <<desktop sidebar folder>>\dsidebarpia.dll (e.g. C:\Program Files\Desktop Sidebar\dsidebarpia.dll)

If you don’t use VC7.1 you can use included sample: samples/cpp/recyclebin as start point for creating your panel. All required include files are in includes folder. You don’t need any libraries to build panels.

Panels are COM components but they required small xml configuration file with dsplugin extension. This file should be stored in Desktop Sidebar installation directory. Primary function of this file is point to COM component which implements plugin interface. You can point to COM component by ProgId or by path to dll. If you use Desktop Sidebar Panel wizard inside Visual Studio this configuration file will be generated automatically for your plugin. If you prefer to create it manually please use included sample recyclebin.dsplugin as template. Please remember that you have to copy dll and dsplugin file to Desktop Sidebar Directory and then restart sidebar to notify it about new panel

If you prefer to create panel manually please use included sample: samples/cs/stickerpanel as start point. To develop panel with .NET you have to create assembly with two classes which implements IPlugin and IPanel interfaces defined in Interop Assembly for Desktop Sidebar: dsidebarpia.dll, build this assembly, register it with regasm or with “Registry for COM interop” setting in project, create “dsplugin” file for your panel and copy this file to Desktop Sidebar installation directory. (You can use stickerpanel.dsplugin as  template). You have to restart Desktop Sidebar to notify it about new panel and then your panel should be visible in “Add New Panel” dialog in Desktop Sidebar