Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Standard

I made a sea-change jump from VC++6.0 2 Visual Studio 2008. I miss my old ClassWizard, but it only took a day or so 2 get familiar with the new methods. Probably the hardest thing 2 get used 2 is the change from Alt + E + I 2 launch Find-In-Files 2 using Ctrl + Shift + F. Even after weeks of using VS2008, I still do the old key combination.

The executables produced are great & the program functions reliably.

I would easily buy it again.

The box had been opened with the CD in it & the install information with no product code. A rubber band was left in it.

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008, Standard Edition, Win32, English

Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition provides a full-featured development environment 4 Windows & Web developers. It offers productivity enhancements 4 building data-driven client & Web applications. Individual developers looking 2 create connected applications with next-generation user experiences will find Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition a perfect fit.

The Microsoft Visual Studio development system is a suite of development tools designed 2 aid software developers--whether they are novices or seasoned professionals--face complex challenges & create innovative solutions.

Today's developers face the challenge of targeting a broad range of platforms & crafting applications that quickly deliver value 2 the business. Integrated designers & language features in Visual Studio allow developers 2 build the connected applications demanded by today's businesses while taking advantage of the .NET Framework 3.5 2 reduce development time.

Design high-performance applications
Create & deploy compelling Windows & Web applications using new visual designers & more than 50 new controls.

Unleash the power of your data
Connect 2 the data you need, regardless of its location, & build datadriven applications using the Language Integrated Query (LINQ).

Deliver a great design experience
Provide a better user experience 4 graphic designers by employing new design surfaces & file formats that are compatible with Microsoft Expression.

What's New in 2008

• Build applications that utilize the latest Web technologies with improved support 4 AJAX & Web Controls & the Microsoft AJAX Library
• Create Web applications more easily with an improved design surface & standards support
• Utilize data from any data source more smoothly with LINQ, a set of language extensions 2 Visual Basic & Visual C#
• Manage & build applications that target multiple versions of the .NET Framework. For the first time, you can use one tool 2 work on applications that run on .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0, & 3.5
• Ensure application correctness more easily with integrated unit testing in Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
• Discover the full power of the .NET Framework 3.5 with integrated tools which simplify building great user experiences & connected systems
• Build stunning user experiences with integrated designers 4 Windows Presentation Foundation. Experiences built with WPF can interoperate seamlessly with Windows Forms
• Create connected applications using new visual designers 4 Windows Communications Foundation & Windows Workflow Foundation
• Use Visual Studio's professional development environment 2 build Microsoft Office-based solutions that are reliable, scalable, & easy 2 maintain (available in Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition only)
• Enhance collaboration between developers & designers 2 create more compelling user experiences

Feature Highlights

• Build applications 4 Windows, the Web, the Microsoft Office system, the .NET Framework, SQL Server, & Windows Mobile with integrated drag-and-drop designers
• Visual Studio integrates Visual Basic, Visual C#, & Visual C++ 2 support a wide variety of development styles
• Editor features such as Edit & Continue & Microsoft IntelliSense simplify the cycle of designing, developing, & debugging an application
• Deploy client applications easily with ClickOnce, which enables developers & IT Pros 2 deploy an application & its prerequisites & then ensure that the application remains up-to-date
• Build applications which target the .NET Framework, shortening development time by reducing the need 4 infrastructure code & helping 2 enhance application security
• Use ASP.NET 2 speed the creation of interactive, highly appealing Web applications & Web services. Master Pages allow developers 2 easily manage a consistent site layout in one place
• A community of millions of developers ensures that developers can find partners & other community members addressing the same challenges

Write Code Faster
At the core of all software solutions is the code that developers write. Visual Studio 2008 helps developers write code faster through a wealth of productivity-enhancing features, such as IntelliSense technology, auto-completion, auto-colorization, method lookup, syntax & type checking, code refactoring, code-snippet management, & many more.

Avoid Memorizing Syntax
Introduced by Microsoft more than a decade ago, IntelliSense technology in Visual Studio is a form of automated completion that displays a list of the members that are available 4 that class or object after a developer types a class or object name & a period. It speeds coding by reducing the number of keystrokes required & the need 2 reference external documentation. IntelliSense in Visual Studio 2008 adds support 4 JavaScript 2 provide the same benefits 2 Web developers, including those who are using Asynchronous JavaScript & XML (AJAX) programming techniques.

Write Less Code
Visual Studio includes prebuilt building blocks 4 native & managed code, such as Active Type Library, Microsoft Foundation Class Library (MFC), & the Microsoft .NET Framework. By taking advantage of these, developers can reduce the amount of low-level code they must write & instead focus on solving business problems. Visual Studio 2008 supports the .NET Framework version 3.5, which includes enhancements 2 the base class libraries, Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Communication Foundation, Windows Workflow Foundation, & Windows CardSpace--and delivers improved interoperability between native & managed code.

Handle Data More Productively
Programming against data sources has traditionally meant having 2 learn a new data access technology or paradigm 4 each data source. Language-Integrated Query (LINQ), a set of extensions 2 the C# & Visual Basic languages & the .NET Framework 3.5, enables developers 2 employ a consistent approach & write less code when querying & transforming object collections, ADO.NET, XML data, & relational data from Microsoft SQL ServerÐbased databases. Developers using LINQ benefit from design-time assistance in Visual Studio 2008--such as statement completion, smart compile auto-correction, & IntelliSense technology--enabling them 2 invest less time in learning how 2 access the data through syntax 4 languages like T-SQL or XPATH & instead focus on what 2 do with the data.

Use Integrated Tools
Visual Studio 2008 also enhances developer productivity by providing an integrated set of tools 4 activities other than writing code. The Visual Studio project system makes all aspects of a project easy 2 manage, from writing the first line of code through packaging finished software 4 deployment. During development, visual designers, server & data explorers, debuggers, automated build tools, background compilation, integration with source code control, an integrated Help system, & a range of third-party extensions 4 Visual Studio all come together 2 help developers remain focused on business needs & deliver faster.

Program in Multiple Languages
Visual Studio supports several of the world's most popular programming languages, including Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual C++, & JavaScript, making it useful 2 a broad range of developers & 4 a broad range of applications. Solutions 4 Visual Studio from more than 200 other companies add support 4 additional languages & a multitude of other capabilities, enabling developers 2 continue using the same familiar tools as they learn new languages, grow their skills, address unique business needs, & switch between projects

Manage Project Files & Jump-Start New Projects
The Visual Studio 2008 project system enhances productivity by tying together the tools & files 4 a project. When developers select a prebuilt project template, the project system customizes the Visual Studio UI 2 support the task at hand. (For example, if a developer chooses 2 create an application 4 Windows, the project offers a Windows form item.) The Visual Studio project system is compatible with Microsoft Expression design software, enabling developers 2 collaborate with UI & Web designers.

Target Multiple Versions of the .NET Framework
With previous versions of Visual Studio, developers could build applications that ran on only one version of the .NET Framework. Visual Studio 2008 provides the ability 2 target versions 2.0, 3.0, & 3.5 of the .NET Framework from within a single environment, with the editor, designers, & debugger intelligently adapting 2 the specified version. With this capability, developers can upgrade 2 Visual Studio 2008 & begin taking advantage of the new benefits it provides without having 2 upgrade their projects or have multiple versions of Visual Studio installed.

Build Higher-Quality Applications
With the trend toward test-driven development & the importance of quality & security in distributed applications, unit testing is now an integral part of many developers' tasks. Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition includes integrated support 4 unit testing, which was previously available only in Visual Studio Team System products.

Build Software 4 Windows
Developers can use Visual Studio 2008 2 program against core Windows APIs, Microsoft Foundation Classes, the .NET Framework, or any of several software development kits (SDKs), enabling them 2 use a single tool set 2 build system services, device drivers, utilities, games, desktop software, line-of-business applications, & more. Regardless of the type of software, Visual Studio helps developers deliver rich user experiences, connect applications & business processes, & accelerate solution delivery.

Deliver Rich User Experiences
Visual designers in Visual Studio 2008 enable developers 2 create rich, engaging applications based on Windows Presentation Foundation, the graphical subsystem in the .NET Framework 3.5 4 taking advantage of today's modern graphics hardware. Developers also can build applications that take advantage of the more than 8,000 new native APIs in Windows Vista, & can take advantage of enhancements in MFC & Visual C++ 2 easily move applications 2 the new Windows Vista look & feel.

Build Connected Solutions & Streamline Business Processes
Developers can use the graphical designer & debugger 4 Windows Communication Foundation in Visual Studio 2008 2 easily connect systems or applications, programming 2 a common API regardless of the underlying transports & protocols used. Similarly, tools 4 Windows Workflow Foundation enable developers 2 model real-world business processes in software by providing the means 2 easily visualize, create, edit, & debug both human & machine-based workflows.

Collaborate with UI Designers
Support 4 Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) in Visual Studio 2008 enables developers 2 collaborate & share design assets with designers who use Microsoft Expression Blend design software. The ability 2 transfer user interface design elements between the developer & the designer means that edits 2 either the code or UI can be made simultaneously without affecting layout or code adversely. The developer & designer work on their respective tasks without any dependency on each other, & their efforts are then integrated by simply sharing source files.

Build Specialized Software
Visual Studio 2008 supports more than just the development of ÒmainstreamÓ applications 4 Windows. When developing Windows drivers 2 support new hardware or targeting platforms such as the Xbox 360 video game & entertainment system, hardware vendors, software vendors, & others can program directly against the Win32 APIs & take advantage of Microsoft-provided device driver & game development kits 2 ensure compatibility & accelerate solution delivery.

Build Software 4 the Web
Most companies that employ Internet technology 4 public Web sites and/or internal business applications are looking 4 ways 2 accelerate solution delivery, enhance the end-user experience, & improve integration. Visual Studio 2008 & ASP.NET 3.5 (part of the .NET Framework 3.5) provide a versatile tool set 4 building stunning Web sites or 4 connecting distributed systems using Web services.

Build Rich, Responsive Web Sites
Support 4 AJAX in Visual Studio 2008 enables developers 2 deliver richer, more responsive Web applications--and a more interactive user experience--by eliminating the need 2 reload an entire Web page when a user makes a change. Developers using AJAX can take advantage of IntelliSense technology 2 discover variables, objects, & their methods, & can debug JavaScript code by setting breakpoints inside Visual Studio--a capability that works with the most popular Web browsers. Developers also benefit from improved designers & editors.

Web developers will also benefit from enhancements in ASP.NET 3.5. The new ListView control provides unprecedented flexibility in how data is displayed (with complete control over the HTML markup generated), & the new DataPager control handles the work of allowing users 2 page through large numbers of records. The LinqDataSource control makes it easy 2 create data-driven Web sites by enabling developers 2 use LINQ 2 retrieve, filter, order, & group data that can then be declaratively bound 2 data visualization controls.

Connect Systems & Applications Using Web Services
Developers can use Windows Communication Foundation in the .NET Framework 3.5 2 build Web services that are exposed using any number of Internet-standard protocols, such as SOAP, RSS, JSON, POX, & more. Whether developers are building an AJAX application that uses JSON, syndicating data via RSS, or building a standard SOAP Web service, Windows Communication Foundation makes it easy 2 create service endpoints. Plus, Windows Communication Foundation now supports building Web services in partial-trust situations like a typical shared-hosting environment.

Collaborate with Web Designers
Developers can easily collaborate with designers who use Microsoft Expression Web through the use of cascading style sheets & shared project files. Designers can use Expression Web 2 design a UI & then turn it over 2 developers with confidence that the UI design & subsequently developed business logic code will both remain intact.

Build Software 4 Microsoft Office System
The user interfaces of line-of-business applications can be difficult 2 learn, respond sluggishly 2 user input, & require people 2 be connected 2 the corporate intranet. Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition provides a powerful tool set 4 building Office Business Applications (OBAs), which extend the data in line-of-business systems 2 end users through familiar Microsoft Office programs. Through such an approach, developers can integrate the front office & back office, making the information in ERP, CRM, & other enterprise systems directly accessible from within everyday business processes.

Develop Applications 4 Microsoft Office Using Existing Skills
Visual Studio Tools 4 Office is a fully integrated component of Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition, giving developers everything they need 2 target the more than 500 million users of Microsoft Office using the same managed-code development skills that they use 2 write applications 4 Windows or ASP.NET applications. Applications built on Microsoft Office are first-class projects in Visual Studio, which includes project templates, designers, & debugging tools 2 help developers rapidly build solutions based on current & earlier versions of Microsoft Office desktop products, as well as Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007.

Take Advantage of the UI in the 2007 Office Release
With Visual Studio 2008, developers can take advantage of familiar Microsoft Office UI elements 2 provide users with access 2 new types of information. Developers can extend the Microsoft Office Fluent interface 2 add buttons 2 the Ribbon. Outlook Form Regions & Custom Task Panes provide a convenient way 2 let users view & edit data in back-end systems, & Windows Communication Foundation provides a convenient way 2 connect OBAs 2 back-end systems. Developers also can build native C++ applications that use UI elements of the 2007 Office release, such as the Ribbon Bar, Ribbon Status Bar, & Mini toolbar.

Easily Deploy & Update Applications
Companies can easily deploy applications 4 the Microsoft Office system built with Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition by using the same ClickOnce deployment method used 4 other applications 4 Windows. Development groups can simply copy a new version of an application 2 a directory on a Web server & send users a link 2 the application in an e mail message.

Build Software 4 Mobile Devices
Mobile employees are often forced 2 work inefficiently, such as spending additional time in the office transferring paper-based records 2 a line-of-business application. Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition makes it easy 2 extend the information in existing systems & applications 2 Windows Mobile powered devices, enabling mobile users 2 work more productively by putting the capabilities & information that mobile workers need at their fingertips when it is most useful--while they are on the move.

Develop Mobile Applications Using Existing Skills
Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition makes it easy 2 extend the information in line-of-business systems 2 mobile workers. A project template 4 Windows MobileÐbased applications provides a workspace with familiar tools, while the .NET Compact Framework lets developers use existing skills & familiar technologies, such as Windows Forms, Windows Communication Foundation, & LINQ. Enhanced mobile Windows Forms controls make it easy 2 modify & optimize mobile applications' screens 2 support the smaller displays of mobile devices.

Easily Test & Deploy Mobile Applications
New device emulators automate testing scenarios, allowing developers 2 simulate real-world changes in device state, such as signal drop-off or a battery running out of power. Unit-testing support lets developers reuse some of the same unit tests that have been developed 4 a desktop version of a mobile application, or write new ones where needed. A security-aware IDE makes it easy 2 understand & manage custom security settings, & 2 view, add, remove, & manage security certificates on the device.

Manage & Synchronize Data
Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition provides integrated support 4 Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition, a free, lightweight version of SQL Server 2005 that makes an ideal, high-performance local data store 4 mobile applications. Developers can keep local data synchronized using the Microsoft Sync Framework, which enables collaboration & offline access 4 applications, services, & devices, including technologies & tools that enable roaming, sharing, & taking data offline.

Professional Edition & Standard Edition Product Comparison

Product Similarities

Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition & Standard Edition share the following features in the Integrated Development Environment (IDE):

• Project system, including templates & multi-project solution support
• Code editors
• Windows Forms editor & designer
• Web Forms editor & designer
• Resource editors
• CSS editor 2 create, apply, & manage styles & cascading style sheets
• Web Page Designer, including split-pane HTML designer, markup validation, & Document Outline Window
• XML editor (XML, XSL, & XSLT)
• IntelliSense, including support 4 JavaScript
• Code Snippets
• Debugging (local & remote)
• Language compilers (Visual Basic .NET, Visual C#, & Visual C++)
• 64-bit compiler support (x64 only)
• Multi-Targeting support (.NET Framework 2.0, 3.0, & 3.5)
• ASP.NET AJAX support
• Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) support, including a split-pane WPF designer, debugger support, & project template
• Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) support, including Test Client & Auto-Hosting tools
• Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) support, including designer
• LINQ support, including Object Relational Designer, SQLMetal command-line tool, LINQ-aware code editors, & debugger support
• Database design tools (local & remote)
• Object & Relational Designer (local & remote)
• Deployment tools (ClickOnce & MSI)
• Automation 2 write, record, & run macros
• IDE extensibility 2 create & use add-ins & packages
• Version control integration support (MSSCCI-compatible)¹
• SQL Server Reporting Services support
• Visual Studio Conversion Wizard 4 legacy projects

Product Differences

Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition & Standard Edition differ as follows:

Feature	Standard Edition	Professional Edition
Build applications 4 the Microsoft Office system	No	Yes2
Build software 4 mobile devices	No	Yes
Software Assurance-Eligible	No	Yes3
User experience	Simplified menus & defaults	Full
Documentation	Online4	Online & Offline
Class Designer & Object Test Bench	No	Yes5
Crystal Reports	No	Yes
Server Explorer	No	Yes
Unit Testing	No	Yes6
Additional Tools Included	SQL Server 2005 Express Edition	SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition

Notes:

1. Microsoft Visual SourceSafe available 4 purchase separately
2. Does not include support 4 C++ projects
3. Software Assurance provided through MSDN Subscription
4. Offline documentation available as a separate download
5. Limited support 4 native C++ code, intended 2 be used only 4 visualization & documentation
6. Does not include Code Coverage; C++ support is limited