What is the difference between the VC++ and VC++ express edition?

[Kueishiong Tu]

What is the difference between the regular VC++ edition and the VC++ express
edition? If there is not too much difference in functionality, why the
express edition
is free?

 

[David Wilkinson]

What is the difference between the regular VC++ edition and the VC++ express
edition? If there is not too much difference in functionality, why the
express edition
is free?

Kueishiong:

There is just not one "regular VC++" edition. In fact I believe that,
apart from the Express Editions, you can only buy the whole of Visual
Studio (including VC++, C#, Visual Basic ...). Available versions
include Standard, Professional, and various Team editions.

But to (partially) answer your question, the one big issue with VC++
Express is that it does not provide MFC and ATL for writing native
programs (though writing plain Win32 programs is possible by downloading
the Platform SDK).

 

[Nathaniel L. Walker]

Kueishiong:

There is just not one "regular VC++" edition. In fact I believe that,
apart from the Express Editions, you can only buy the whole of Visual
Studio (including VC++, C#, Visual Basic ...). Available versions include
Standard, Professional, and various Team editions.

But to (partially) answer your question, the one big issue with VC++
Express is that it does not provide MFC and ATL for writing native
programs (though writing plain Win32 programs is possible by downloading
the Platform SDK).

I'm pretty sure the platform SDK is integrated into the Visual C++ 2008
Express Edition.

 

[Carl Daniel [VC++ MVP]]

I'm pretty sure the platform SDK is integrated into the Visual C++
2008 Express Edition.

Indeed it is - or at least, a subset of it is.

-cd

 

[Ralf Baumhoefer]

Indeed it is - or at least, a subset of it is.

-cd

What do you mean by "subset"? Please elaborate. Thx.

 

[William DePalo [MVP VC++]]

What do you mean by "subset"? Please elaborate. Thx.

The compiler, even the professional editions, comes with a "snapshot" of the
SDK taken at a point in time. The SDK though is constantly evolving. So,
sooner or later, the compiler's version will get stale. In addition, I
_think_ that some of the tools or less frequently used portions of the SDK
have been omitted from the compiler's package.

It really doesn't matter much, though, because (assuming a broadband
connection) you can always just download the most recent SDK:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...00-F358-4523-B479-F53D234CDCCF&displaylang=en

Regards,
Will

 

[Kerem Gümrükcü]

Hi,

It really doesn't matter much, though, because (assuming a broadband
connection) you can always just download the most recent SDK:

the most recent SDK is a must for any serious windows developer, even
when he doesnt develop with ms compilers or ms tools. It will be the
best documentation and help available for any windows deveopment,..
after this come the ms newsgroups in my eyes,...

First SDK Docs and then here,...

Regards

Kerem

--

 

[Ralf Baumhoefer]

The compiler, even the professional editions, comes with a "snapshot" of
the SDK taken at a point in time. The SDK though is constantly evolving.
So, sooner or later, the compiler's version will get stale. In addition, I
_think_ that some of the tools or less frequently used portions of the SDK
have been omitted from the compiler's package.

It really doesn't matter much, though, because (assuming a broadband
connection) you can always just download the most recent SDK:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...00-F358-4523-B479-F53D234CDCCF&displaylang=en

Regards,
Will

Thx for the answer.
Isn't this SDK outdated (2 years old) since VS 2008 ??

How about :

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...23-93CA-479A-867C-04DC45164F5B&displaylang=en

Isn't this SDK supposed to compile native WIN32 code, which i need to make
c++ progs ??

TIA

 

[Ben Voigt [C++ MVP]]

Thx for the answer.
Isn't this SDK outdated (2 years old) since VS 2008 ??

How about :

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...23-93CA-479A-867C-04DC45164F5B&displaylang=en

Isn't this SDK supposed to compile native WIN32 code, which i need to make
c++ progs ??

The SDK is used during development and compilation of code using the Win32
API, but the compiler is what is supposed to compile code, and right now
VC++ 2008 Express Edition (or VS2008) is the best option for that.

 

[William DePalo [MVP VC++]]

Thx for the answer.

You are welcome.

Isn't this SDK outdated (2 years old) since VS 2008 ??

How about :

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...23-93CA-479A-867C-04DC45164F5B&displaylang=en

Isn't this SDK supposed to compile native WIN32 code, which i need to make
c++ progs ??

The link to which I pointed you is the software development kit for the
platform - i.e. for Win32 and .Net development.

The SDK link that you posted is

<quote>
for developers to design, build, test and deploy extensions for Visual
Studio 2008.
</quote>

Regards,
Will

P.S. When Windows Server 2008 is released next February there will be a
conncurrent release of the SDK for the platform.

 

[Kueishiong Tu]

I found the comparison from the microsoft official site.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/zcbsd3cz(VS.80).aspx