Microsoft Visual Studio Express
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Microsoft Visual Studio Express | |
|---|---|
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| Developed by | Microsoft |
| Stable release | 2008 (version 9) |
| Preview release | [+/−] |
| OS | Microsoft Windows |
| Genre | Integrated development environment |
| License | Microsoft EULA |
| Website | msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express |
Microsoft Visual Studio Express is a set of freeware integrated development environments (IDE) developed by Microsoft that are lightweight versions of the Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 (codenamed Orcas) product line. The idea of express editions, according to Microsoft, is to provide a streamlined, easy-to-use and easy-to-learn IDEs for less serious users, such as hobbyists and students. The final versions were released on November 19, 2007. In line with popular demand since the Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions[1], these editions will always remain free-of-charge. Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions require Windows XP or a later Windows version; Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and Windows 9x are no longer supported. Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions can be installed on Windows 2000 SP4.
Contents |
[edit] Products
Visual Studio Express consists of the following separate products:
- Visual Basic (.NET) 2008 Express Edition
- Visual C# 2008 Express Edition
- Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition
- Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition
- SQL Server 2008 Express Edition (to be released in the first half of 2008)
Microsoft Visual J# 2005 was not updated for this release and is currently not planned. The version shipping with Visual Studio 2005 will be supported until 2015 as per the product life-cycle strategy.
[edit] Visual Basic Express
Despite the fact that it is a stripped-down version of Visual Studio, some improvements were made upon Visual Basic 2008 from Visual Basic 2005. Visual Basic 2008 Express includes the following improvements over Visual Basic 2005 Express:
- Includes the visual Windows Presentation Foundation designer codenamed "Cider"
- Debugs at runtime
- Better IntelliSense support
The Express Edition has the following limitations:[2]
- No IDE support for databases other than SQL Server Express and Microsoft Access
- No support for Web Applications with ASP.NET (this can instead be done with Visual Web Developer Express, though the non-Express version of Visual Basic allows both web and windows applications from the same IDE)
- No support for developing for mobile devices (no templates or emulator)
- No Crystal Reports
- Fewer project templates (e.g. Windows services template, Excel Workbook template)
- Limited options for debugging and breakpoints.
- No support for creating Windows Services
[edit] Visual Web Developer Express
The Visual Web Developer Express is a freeware web development tool that allows developers to evaluate the web development and editing capabilities of the other Visual Studio 2008 editions at no charge. Its main function is to create ASP.NET websites and Web project model (like in ASP.NET 1.1) is not supported.
It has a WYSIWYG interface, drag-and-drop user interface designer; enhanced HTML & code editors; a (limited) database explorer; support for other web technologies (e.g., CSS, JavaScript, XML); and integrated, design-time validation for standards including XHTML 1.0/1.1 and CSS 2.1. Visual Web Developer 2008 Express includes a new integrated HTML designer based on Microsoft Expression Web.
Being an Express IDE, it lacks certain features, such as the Accessibility Checker, the ability to create standalone Class Library Projects (which can be done by the other language-specific Express Editions), the extensibility support necessary to load third-party add-ins and macros and some other features. [3]
[edit] Visual C++ Express
Using the same compiler, Windows SDK headers and libraries as the professional edition of Visual Studio 2008, this free development system can compile virtually any windows application or library for which the source code can be obtained. Many Open Source projects have started providing project files created with Visual C++ Express, noteworthy examples include the Ogre and Irrlicht engines. Modding kits for commercial engines, such as Valve's Source engine are also supporting this development system.[citation needed]
The Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition can be used to compile .NET as well as Win32 applications immediately after installation. However, natively compiling 64-bit applications through the IDE is not supported. If the freely available Windows SDK is installed, 64-bit applications can be built on the command line using the x64 cross-compiler (Cl.exe) supplied with the SDK. [4]
Visual C++ 2008 Express does not include MFC, ATL, OpenMP support, or 64-bit compilers, nor does it include a resource editor. The higher-end commercial editions of Visual Studio, specifically the Professional and Team Suite editions, have these features.[5]
[edit] Visual C# Express
The list of breakpoints where the user could control the breakpoint features has been removed, so that now the user can only toggle breakpoints.
The following refactoring modes were also removed:[6]
- Encapsulate field
- Promote local to parameter
- Reorder parameters
- Remove parameters
- Extract interface
This effectively reduces the refactoring capabilities of Visual C# Express to Renaming and Extracting Methods.
Developers state the reason of this removal as "to simplify the C# Express user experience". However this created a controversy as some end users claim it is an important feature, and instead of simplifying it cripples the user experience.[7]
The ability to attach the debugger to an already-running process has also been removed, hindering scenarios such as writing Windows services and re-attaching a debugger under ASP.NET when errors under the original debugging session cause breakpoints to be ignored.
[edit] SQL Server Express
SQL Server Express is a freeware, light-weight, and redistributable edition of Microsoft SQL Server. It provides an integrated data storage solution for developers writing Windows applications and Web sites that have basic data storage needs. SQL Server Express replaces MSDE 2000 and significantly expands on its feature set.
The SQL Server Management Studio Express can also be downloaded to provide a graphical user interface for administering SQL Server Express.
The Express Edition has the following limitations:[8]
- Limited to one physical CPU
- Lack of enterprise features support
- One GB memory limit for the buffer pool
- Databases have a 4 GB maximum size[9]
- No Data mirroring and/or clustering
- No profiler tool
- No workload throttle
- No UI to import/export data to table
[edit] Extensibility
Visual Studio is extensible by nature, ultimately consisting of a core "shell" that implements all commands, windows, editors, project types, languages, and other features through dynamically loadable modules called "packages" [1] [2]. Microsoft encourages and fosters third party partners to create modules for Visual Studio via the free VSIP program. However, according to Dan Fernandez, Microsoft "made a business decision to not allow 3rd party extensibility in Express".
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Microsoft Brings Programming to the Masses With Visual Studio Express". Microsoft (April 19, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-09-13.
- ^ Visual Basic Editions. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
- ^ Which features are missing from Visual Web Developer Express: Mikhail Arkhipov's blog
- ^ How to: Configure Visual C++ Projects to Target 64-Bit Platforms
- ^ Visual C++ Editions. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved on 2007-09-29.
- ^ Technologies site about MSDN. MSDNER. Retrieved on 2007-10-21.
- ^ Aaron Stebner's WebLog. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved on 2004-10-20.
- ^ Microsoft Corporation (2006-04-07). Upgrading MSDE 2000 to SQL Server Express. Retrieved on 2006-10-26.
- ^ Comparing SQL Server Express with MSDE. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
[edit] External links
- Microsoft Visual Studio Express Official Website (Requires Silverlight for some functionality)
- Compare MSDN Subscriptions 2008
- Microsoft Visual Studio Express - FAQ
- Visual Studio Product Line Feature Comparisons
- Microsoft Visual Studio Express 2005 SP1 Download
- Manual Installation Instructions for Express Editions2005 2008
- Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions Beta 2 website
- Microsoft Visual Express Edition 2005 Update for Windows Vista
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