VS Express???

[vendmacro]

I have just become aware of VS Express (http://msdn.microsoft.com/express).
I currently own VS C++ .NET 2003 std ed and a new user of it and loving it.
But what is this "Express"? Is it a FREE C++, VB etc... IDE and compiler? Is
this like the Outlook and Outlook Express deal? Would there be any advantage
in me installing VS Express, if I were to purchase VS C++ 2005??? Sorry for
all the Q's, but the FAQ didn't quite help. And sorry if this is not the
right forum.

 

[Bo Persson]

I have just become aware of VS Express (http://msdn.microsoft.com/express).
I currently own VS C++ .NET 2003 std ed and a new user of it and loving it.
But what is this "Express"? Is it a FREE C++, VB etc... IDE and compiler? Is
this like the Outlook and Outlook Express deal? Would there be any advantage
in me installing VS Express, if I were to purchase VS C++ 2005??? Sorry for
all the Q's, but the FAQ didn't quite help. And sorry if this is not the
right forum.

It's free right now, because it is a Beta version - a preview of next
year's release.

From what I understand, Express is a new way of saying Standard Edition.
Slightly less content, much lower price.

If you want to purchase the 2005 release, you will probably have to wait
another full year. If you want a peek right now, you can download the
preview.


Bo Persson

 

[Ronald Laeremans [MSFT]]

Express is not really the same as Standard Edition. The feature set is quite
different. E.g. in the case of VC, Express does not contain MFC and ATL
libraries. It is geared towards people learning to develop in C++ and
developers using standard C++ libraries only (CRT and STL) or the .Net
framework.

Pricing of the Express Editions has not been set. It should come in (really)
low though.

Ronald Laeremans
Visual C++ team

 

[Guest]

Do you think MS will ever return to the model of selling VC++ as a stand alone product (or C# or VB for that matter) with the option of going all the way to professional edition or higher (like VC++ 6 did). I would imagine that would be popular with developers (but not MS) since it's hard to justify charging the same for VC++ Pro as Visual Studio Pro. Ever see that happening?


Wes Keene

 

[Ioannis Vranos]

Express is not really the same as Standard Edition. The feature set is quite
different. E.g. in the case of VC, Express does not contain MFC and ATL
libraries. It is geared towards people learning to develop in C++ and
developers using standard C++ libraries only (CRT and STL) or the .Net
framework.

Pricing of the Express Editions has not been set. It should come in (really)
low though.

Ronald Laeremans
Visual C++ team

Will VC++ Express have any optimisation abilities? GCC ports for Windows
have.






Regards,

Ioannis Vranos

 

[Bo Persson]

Will VC++ Express have any optimisation abilities?

It does!

The difference is in the amount of other stuff in the package.


Bo Persson

 

[Ioannis Vranos]

It does!

The difference is in the amount of other stuff in the package.

That's great. Now on another topic, what about VC++ certification options?






Regards,

Ioannis Vranos

 

[Ronald Laeremans [MSFT]]

I would consider that very unlikely. Seeing the amount of shared components
in VS Pro, I am also not sure what the price difference should be.

Ronald

 

[Ronald Laeremans [MSFT]]

Re C++ certification options: I am talking to the MS training and
certification team about his. Any piece of customer feedback asking for this
helps. The core issue is that compared to the other certification exams, the
C++ branch has never been all that popular.

Ronald

 

[Ioannis Vranos]

Re C++ certification options: I am talking to the MS training and
certification team about his. Any piece of customer feedback asking for this
helps. The core issue is that compared to the other certification exams, the
C++ branch has never been all that popular.

However C++ is the dominant programming language, so I think MS should
not turn its back to millions of developers especially now that VC++ is
ahead of competition (and before competition catches up).

How does this sound?






Regards,

Ioannis Vranos

 

[Bo Persson]

However C++ is the dominant programming language, so I think MS should
not turn its back to millions of developers especially now that VC++ is
ahead of competition (and before competition catches up).

How does this sound?

MS is the authority for VB and C#, but much less so for C++.

There are a lot of C++ programmers that don't see the need for a VC++
specific certification.


Bo Persson

 

[Ronald Laeremans [MSFT]]

The issue is that quite simply the number of customers taking these
certification exams and / or taking the corresponding training must allow
the training to be developed and delivered in a way that makes economic
sense, the numbers are not easy to make work for VC certification. It has
nothing to do with any agenda or with language popularity per se, just with
the popularity of customers desiring certification in the specific topic or
language.

Ronald

 

[Ioannis Vranos]

The issue is that quite simply the number of customers taking these
certification exams and / or taking the corresponding training must allow
the training to be developed and delivered in a way that makes economic
sense, the numbers are not easy to make work for VC certification. It has
nothing to do with any agenda or with language popularity per se, just with
the popularity of customers desiring certification in the specific topic or
language.

Sorry for insisting a bit on the matter, however if not training, exams
only could be provided, and I think this would not imply any financial
damage.






Regards,

Ioannis Vranos

 

[Ioannis Vranos]

It does!

The difference is in the amount of other stuff in the package.

As I have said, this is great! I forgot to ask another question, will
VC++ Express have any RAD?

And something else, it would be better if a professional VC++ programmer
to not have to buy VB for example (and vice versa).






Regards,

Ioannis Vranos

 

[Ronald Laeremans [MSFT]]

It still does, the budget to develop a certification exam is quite
substantial.

Do not give up hope however, I consider this a very important issue and we
are continuing discussions.

Ronald

 

[Ronald Laeremans [MSFT]]

Visual C++ Express Edition will have the full Windows Forms designer.

Ronald

 

[Ioannis Vranos]

It still does, the budget to develop a certification exam is quite
substantial.

Do not give up hope however, I consider this a very important issue and we
are continuing discussions.

I may give up hope, but I will not give up C++.






Keep coding,

Ioannis Vranos

 

[Ioannis Vranos]

Visual C++ Express Edition will have the full Windows Forms designer.

MS ROCKS! (on that).






Regards,

Ioannis Vranos