Microsoft Visual Studio Express
Encyclopedia
Microsoft Visual Studio Express is a set of freeware
integrated development environment
s (IDE) developed by Microsoft
that are lightweight versions of the Microsoft Visual Studio
product line. Express Editions were conceived beginning with Visual Studio 2005. The idea of Express editions is to provide streamlined, easy-to-use and easy-to-learn IDEs for users other than professional software developers, such as hobbyists and students.
1 versions were released on December 2006. Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions ran on Windows 2000
SP4 and above Windows NT-based platforms. In response to popular demand since their original release, Microsoft has stated that these editions will always remain free-of-charge. Visual Studio 2008 Express editions were released in November 2007 and their SP1 on August 11, 2008. Visual Studio 2008 and 2010 Express Editions require Windows XP SP3 or a later Windows version; Windows 2000
is no longer supported for development but can be a target platform if using 2008 Express. Windows Phone support is only available on Windows 7 and Vista. Microsoft may make previous versions of Visual Studio Express unavailable. Visual Studio 2005 Express editions are available for download from Microsoft's website.
Visual Studio 2010 Express Editions were released in April 2010 alongside Visual Studio 2010. Free registration is mandatory in order to continue using Visual Studio 2010 Express Editions beyond 30 days. Earlier with Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 Express Editions, registration was not required for the ISO version but was required for the web download version.
There was a Visual J#
Express Edition released for 2005 but it was discontinued for future releases. The version shipping with Visual Studio 2005 will be supported until 2015 as per the product life-cycle strategy.
The Express Editions (2005 and 2008) mostly have the same following limitations: (Specific 2008 Express editions limitations here)
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:
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. It has a WYSIWYG
interface, drag-and-drop user interface designer, enhanced HTML
and 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 Studio 2005 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, macros and some other features.
Visual Studio 2008 Express Web Developer SP1 supports both class library and Web Application projects, which were not supported in Visual Studio 2005 Express. It also includes a new integrated HTML designer based on Microsoft Expression Web
. However, the functionality to publish self-developed websites is not present in this edition.
or ATL
, the libraries have to be obtained from alternative sources such as the free-to-download Windows Driver Kit.
However, natively compiling 64-bit
applications through the IDE is not supported without some involved configurations. If the freely available full version of the 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. True integration of 64-bit compilers to the Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition is possible, but remains cumbersome. In Visual C++ Express 2010 however, it is as simple as changing the Platform Toolset to the Windows SDK instead of the built-in v100.
Visual C++ 2008 and 2010 Express does not include a resource
editor. The higher-end commercial editions of Visual Studio, specifically the Professional and Team Suite editions, have these features.
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.
The limitations of Visual C++ Express are:
While Microsoft lists memory windows as unavailable in Express editions of Visual Studio 2010, third parties have reported that they are available when Expert Settings are enabled.
and Windows Presentation Foundation
applications. It can be used to create applications and games (when combined with the XNA Game Studio) for Windows, Xbox 360
and Zune
.
There is a substantial community for C# Express due to the many game enthusiasts that are taking up programming.
Limitations: 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:
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.
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.
Additionally it has been observed that the express version requires that the time between builds be greater than approximately 20 seconds. If a project is rapidly modified and rebuilt the target will not be updated even though the source has been modified and saved.
. It provides a no-cost database for developers writing basic Windows applications and web sites. SQL Server Express replaces MSDE
2000 and significantly expands on its feature set.
SQL Server Management Studio
Express, which provides a graphical user interface for administering SQL Server
Express, can also be downloaded.
The SQL Server Express Edition has the following limitations:
program. However, according to Dan Fernandez, Microsoft "made a business decision to not allow 3rd party extensibility in Express".
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
integrated development environment
Integrated development environment
An integrated development environment is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development...
s (IDE) developed by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
that are lightweight versions of the Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment from Microsoft. It is used to develop console and graphical user interface applications along with Windows Forms applications, web sites, web applications, and web services in both native code together with managed code for all...
product line. Express Editions were conceived beginning with Visual Studio 2005. The idea of Express editions is to provide streamlined, easy-to-use and easy-to-learn IDEs for users other than professional software developers, such as hobbyists and students.
History
The first versions of Visual Studio 2005 Express were released on October 2005 and the Service PackService pack
A service pack is a collection of updates, fixes or enhancements to a software program delivered in the form of a single installable package. Many companies, such as Microsoft or Autodesk, typically release a service pack when the number of individual patches to a given program reaches a certain ...
1 versions were released on December 2006. Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions ran on Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
SP4 and above Windows NT-based platforms. In response to popular demand since their original release, Microsoft has stated that these editions will always remain free-of-charge. Visual Studio 2008 Express editions were released in November 2007 and their SP1 on August 11, 2008. Visual Studio 2008 and 2010 Express Editions require Windows XP SP3 or a later Windows version; Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
is no longer supported for development but can be a target platform if using 2008 Express. Windows Phone support is only available on Windows 7 and Vista. Microsoft may make previous versions of Visual Studio Express unavailable. Visual Studio 2005 Express editions are available for download from Microsoft's website.
Visual Studio 2010 Express Editions were released in April 2010 alongside Visual Studio 2010. Free registration is mandatory in order to continue using Visual Studio 2010 Express Editions beyond 30 days. Earlier with Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 Express Editions, registration was not required for the ISO version but was required for the web download version.
Products
Visual Studio Express consists of the following separate products:- Visual Basic Express
- Visual Web Developer Express
- Visual C++ Express
- Visual C# Express
- SQL Server Express
- Express for Windows Phone
There was a Visual J#
J Sharp
Visual J# |sharp]]') programming language is a discontinued transitional language for programmers of Java and Visual J++ languages, so they may use their existing knowledge and applications on .NET Framework....
Express Edition released for 2005 but it was discontinued for future releases. The version shipping with Visual Studio 2005 will be supported until 2015 as per the product life-cycle strategy.
Visual Basic Express
Visual Basic 2005/2008 (but not Visual Basic 2010) Express Edition contains the Visual Basic 6.0 converter that makes it possible to upgrade Visual Basic 6.0 projects to the Visual Basic.NET.The Express Editions (2005 and 2008) mostly have the same following limitations: (Specific 2008 Express editions limitations here)
- No IDE support for databases other than SQL Server ExpressSQL Server ExpressMicrosoft SQL Server Express, a freely downloadable and distributable version of Microsoft's SQL Server relational database management system, comprises a database specifically targeted for embedded and smaller-scale applications.- Capabilities :...
and Microsoft AccessMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Office Access, previously known as Microsoft Access, is a relational database management system from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of... - No support for Web Applications with ASP.NETASP.NETASP.NET is a Web application framework developed and marketed by Microsoft to allow programmers to build dynamic Web sites, Web applications and Web services. It was first released in January 2002 with version 1.0 of the .NET Framework, and is the successor to Microsoft's Active Server Pages ...
(this can instead be done with Visual Web Developer Express, though the non-Express version of Visual Studio allows both web and windows applications from the same IDE) - No support for developing for mobile devices (no templates or emulator)
- No Crystal ReportsCrystal Reports-External links:*****Reviews:****...
- Fewer project templates (e.g. Windows services template, Excel Workbook template)
- Limited options for debuggingDebuggingDebugging is a methodical process of finding and reducing the number of bugs, or defects, in a computer program or a piece of electronic hardware, thus making it behave as expected. Debugging tends to be harder when various subsystems are tightly coupled, as changes in one may cause bugs to emerge...
and breakpointBreakpointIn software development, a breakpoint is an intentional stopping or pausing place in a program, put in place for debugging purposes. It is also sometimes simply referred to as a pause....
s - No support for creating Windows ServiceWindows ServiceOn Microsoft Windows operating systems, a Windows service is a long-running executable that performs specific functions and which is designed not to require user intervention. Windows services can be configured to start when the operating system is booted and run in the background as long as...
s (Can be gained through download of a project template) - No support for OpenMPOpenMPOpenMP is an API that supports multi-platform shared memory multiprocessing programming in C, C++, and Fortran, on most processor architectures and operating systems, including Linux, Unix, AIX, Solaris, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows platforms...
- Limited deployment options for finished programs
- VB Express lacks some advanced features of the standard versions. For example, there is no Outlining feature Hide selection to collapse/expand selected text.
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 FoundationWindows Presentation FoundationDeveloped by Microsoft, the Windows Presentation Foundation is a computer-software graphical subsystem for rendering user interfaces in Windows-based applications. WPF, previously known as "Avalon", was initially released as part of .NET Framework 3.0. Rather than relying on the older GDI...
designer codenamed "Cider" - DebugsDebuggingDebugging is a methodical process of finding and reducing the number of bugs, or defects, in a computer program or a piece of electronic hardware, thus making it behave as expected. Debugging tends to be harder when various subsystems are tightly coupled, as changes in one may cause bugs to emerge...
at runtime - Better IntelliSenseIntelliSenseIntelliSense is Microsoft's implementation of autocompletion, best known for its use in the Microsoft Visual Studio integrated development environment...
support- Fixes common spelling errors
- Corrects most forms of invalid syntaxSyntaxIn linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
- Provides suggestions to classClass (computer science)In object-oriented programming, a class is a construct that is used as a blueprint to create instances of itself – referred to as class instances, class objects, instance objects or simply objects. A class defines constituent members which enable these class instances to have state and behavior...
names when specified classes are not found
Visual Web Developer Express
Visual Web Developer Express is a freeware web developmentWeb development
Web development is a broad term for the work involved in developing a web site for the Internet or an intranet . This can include web design, web content development, client liaison, client-side/server-side scripting, web server and network security configuration, and e-commerce 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
ASP.NET
ASP.NET is a Web application framework developed and marketed by Microsoft to allow programmers to build dynamic Web sites, Web applications and Web services. It was first released in January 2002 with version 1.0 of the .NET Framework, and is the successor to Microsoft's Active Server Pages ...
websites. It has a WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG is an acronym for What You See Is What You Get. The term is used in computing to describe a system in which content displayed onscreen during editing appears in a form closely corresponding to its appearance when printed or displayed as a finished product...
interface, drag-and-drop user interface designer, enhanced HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
and code editors, a (limited) database explorer, support for other web technologies (e.g., CSS
Cascading Style Sheets
Cascading Style Sheets is a style sheet language used to describe the presentation semantics of a document written in a markup language...
, JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
, XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
), and integrated, design-time validation for standards including XHTML
XHTML
XHTML is a family of XML markup languages that mirror or extend versions of the widely-used Hypertext Markup Language , the language in which web pages are written....
1.0/1.1 and CSS 2.1.
Visual Studio 2005 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, macros and some other features.
Visual Studio 2008 Express Web Developer SP1 supports both class library and Web Application projects, which were not supported in Visual Studio 2005 Express. It also includes a new integrated HTML designer based on Microsoft Expression Web
Microsoft Expression Web
Microsoft Expression Web, code-named Quartz, is an HTML editor and general web design software product by Microsoft. It is part of the Expression Studio suite....
. However, the functionality to publish self-developed websites is not present in this edition.
Visual C++ Express
The Visual C++ Express Edition can be used to compile .NET as well as Win32 applications. The Windows Platform SDK compilers and core files are included which can be used to build applications that use the Win32 API. To build applications using either MFCMicrosoft Foundation Class Library
The Microsoft Foundation Class Library is a library that wraps portions of the Windows API in C++ classes, including functionality that enables them to use a default application framework...
or ATL
Active Template Library
The Active Template Library is a set of template-based C++ classes developed by Microsoft, intended to simplify the programming of Component Object Model objects. The COM support in Microsoft Visual C++ allows developers to create a variety of COM objects, OLE Automation servers, and ActiveX...
, the libraries have to be obtained from alternative sources such as the free-to-download Windows Driver Kit.
However, natively compiling 64-bit
64-bit
64-bit is a word size that defines certain classes of computer architecture, buses, memory and CPUs, and by extension the software that runs on them. 64-bit CPUs have existed in supercomputers since the 1970s and in RISC-based workstations and servers since the early 1990s...
applications through the IDE is not supported without some involved configurations. If the freely available full version of the 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. True integration of 64-bit compilers to the Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition is possible, but remains cumbersome. In Visual C++ Express 2010 however, it is as simple as changing the Platform Toolset to the Windows SDK instead of the built-in v100.
Visual C++ 2008 and 2010 Express does not include a resource
Resource (Windows)
In Microsoft Windows, resources are read-only data embedded in EXE, DLL, CPL or MUI files.The Windows API provides for easy access to all applications' resources.-Types:...
editor. The higher-end commercial editions of Visual Studio, specifically the Professional and Team Suite editions, have these features.
Many open source projects have started providing project files created with Visual C++ Express; noteworthy examples include the Ogre
OGRE Engine
OGRE is a scene-oriented, flexible 3D rendering engine written in C++ designed to make it easier and intuitive for developers to produce applications utilizing hardware-accelerated 3D graphics...
and Irrlicht
Irrlicht Engine
Irrlicht is an open source 3D engine written in C++. It is cross-platform, officially running on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Windows CE and due to its open nature ports to other systems are available, including Xbox, PlayStation Portable, SymbianOS and iPhone.Irrlicht is known for its small size...
engines. Modding kits for commercial engines, such as Valve's Source engine
Source engine
Source is a 3D game engine developed by Valve Corporation. It debuted in June 2004 with Counter-Strike: Source and shortly thereafter Half-Life 2, and has been in active development ever since...
, are also supporting this development system.
The limitations of Visual C++ Express are:
- No resource editor.
- No built-in MFC support.
- No built-in ATL support.
- No profiling support.
- No built-in x64 compiler (you can download one from the windows SDK).
- No support for OpenMP.
- No support for add-ins or IDE macros.
- Ability to attach the debugger to an already-running process is possible by enabling Tools -> Settings -> Expert settings (starting with 2010).
While Microsoft lists memory windows as unavailable in Express editions of Visual Studio 2010, third parties have reported that they are available when Expert Settings are enabled.
Visual C# Express
Visual C# Express is an easy-to-use, free, lightweight, integrated development environment (IDE) designed for beginning developers, students, and hobbyists interested in building console-based applications, class libraries, Windows FormsWindows Forms
Windows Forms is the name given to the graphical application programming interface included as a part of Microsoft .NET Framework, providing access to native Microsoft Windows interface elements by wrapping the extant Windows API in managed code...
and Windows Presentation Foundation
Windows Presentation Foundation
Developed by Microsoft, the Windows Presentation Foundation is a computer-software graphical subsystem for rendering user interfaces in Windows-based applications. WPF, previously known as "Avalon", was initially released as part of .NET Framework 3.0. Rather than relying on the older GDI...
applications. It can be used to create applications and games (when combined with the XNA Game Studio) for Windows, Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Zune
Zune
Zune is a digital media brand owned by Microsoft which includes a line of portable media players, a digital media player software for Windows machines, a music subscription service known as a 'Zune Music Pass', music and video streaming for the Xbox 360 via the Zune Software, music, TV and movie...
.
There is a substantial community for C# Express due to the many game enthusiasts that are taking up programming.
Limitations: 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:
- 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.
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.
Additionally it has been observed that the express version requires that the time between builds be greater than approximately 20 seconds. If a project is rapidly modified and rebuilt the target will not be updated even though the source has been modified and saved.
SQL Server Express
SQL Server Express is a freeware, light-weight, and redistributable edition of Microsoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...
. It provides a no-cost database for developers writing basic Windows applications and web sites. SQL Server Express replaces MSDE
MSDE
Microsoft SQL Server Data Engine is a relational database management system developed by Microsoft. It is a scaled-down version of Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 or 2000 which is free for non-commercial use as well as certain limited commercial use...
2000 and significantly expands on its feature set.
SQL Server Management Studio
SQL Server Management Studio
SQL Server Management Studio is a tool included with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and later versions for configuring, managing, and administering all components within Microsoft SQL Server...
Express, which provides a graphical user interface for administering SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...
Express, can also be downloaded.
The SQL Server Express Edition has the following limitations:
- Limited to one physical CPU.
- Lack of enterprise features support.
- 1 GB memory limit for the buffer pool.
- Databases have a 4 GB size limit. (10 GB beginning with SQL Server Express 2008 R2)
- No data mirroring and/or clustering.
- No profiler.
- No workload throttling.
- No GUI to import or export data from/to spreadsheets.
- No Server Agent background process.
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". Microsoft encourages and fosters third-party partners to create modules for Visual Studio via the free VSIPVSIP
The Visual Studio Industry Partner Program allows third-party developers and software vendors to develop tools, components and languages for use in the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET IDE...
program. However, according to Dan Fernandez, Microsoft "made a business decision to not allow 3rd party extensibility in Express".
External links
- Microsoft Visual Studio Express Official Website (Requires SilverlightMicrosoft SilverlightMicrosoft Silverlight is an application framework for writing and running rich Internet applications, with features and purposes similar to those of Adobe Flash. The run-time environment for Silverlight is available as a plug-in for web browsers running under Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X...
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 2008 Express Editions
- Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions Beta 2 website
- Microsoft Visual Express Edition 2005 Update for Windows Vista