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Visual
Studio .net Pro 2002 
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Microsoft |
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[pc
only] Visual
Studio.net is a superb next-generation development
tool. At its heart is the .Net Framework, a
runtime engine and class library that enables
rapid application building for both Windows
and Web applications. |
System
Requirements
PC
Windows NT 4.0/2000 or XP
Pentium II 450 MHz or faster processor
64 MB RAM for NT 4.0; 96 MB for 2000; 192 MB for 2000
Server; 160 MB for XP Professional
2,500 MB hard disk space (minimum of 500 MB on the
system drive)
CD-ROM drive
SVGA, 256-colour display
Mouse
Detailed
Description
Visual Studio.net is a superb next-generation development
tool. At its heart is the .Net Framework, a runtime
engine and class library that enables rapid application
building for both Windows and Web applications. The
runtime engine handles housekeeping like memory management,
while also providing fine-grained security and version
awareness. The class library reduces the code needed
to build rich applications. Visual Studio also provides
a slick visual environment, with features like tabbed
and docking windows, dynamic online help, and automatic
code completion and hints.
The
common runtime is language-neutral, so for example
Visual Basic programmers can use components written
in C#, and vice versa. Other languages such as COBOL
and Fortran can plug into Visual Studio, and Microsoft
provides a version of the Java language called J#.
Overall, this is a radical break from the past for
Microsoft. C# is an entirely new language, aimed at
C and C++ programmers looking for something safer
and more productive. Visual Basic.Net is a new twist
on the old Microsoft favourite, losing compatibility
with previous versions, but gaining full object orientation
as well as access to all the .Net libraries. These
two languages along with J# have full support for
the visual design tools. Also included is JScript.Net,
Microsoft's version of Javascript, although this has
no form designer. Visual C++ is more similar to earlier
versions, and is the only compiler here that can build
old-style Windows executables. With a compiler switch,
it can also target .Net, making it particularly flexible.
Visual Studio.Net has two distinct form designers.
Windows forms are for traditional Windows applications,
but managed by the common runtime. Web forms are ASP.Net
pages, which means they run on Web servers and work
over the Internet. Microsoft has made designing and
coding Windows and Web forms as similar as possible,
so that both types of application can share components,
and much of the complexity of coding Web applications
is kept hidden. Another key feature is Web services,
which lets developers create an XML interface to an
application, so that it can be called across the Web,
or from any platform or language. XML support generally
is strong, with a range of classes for parsing and
transforming XML data. There is also a visual designer
for XML Schema. There are a few points against Visual
Studio.Net. One is that, like earlier versions, it
only creates applications that run on Windows. Web
applications are a partial exception, in that they
support cross-platform clients, but deployment requires
a Windows Web server. Another factor is with its multiple
compilers and mountains of documentation,
Visual Studio.net eat up gigabytes of disk space,
and the IDE tends to be slow in less than around 384
megabytes of RAM. Serious developers will take this
in their stride, but casual users could be caught
out. Fortunately the applications created have more
modest system requirements, although Windows 95 is
not supported. Finally, developers coming from previous
editions face a lot of new learning, with radical
changes in both Visual Basic and ASP.
Tim Anderson, Amazon
Manufacturer's Description
Visual Studio .NET Professional enables developers
to build the next generation of Internet applications
with XML Web services, database applications with
XML, and RAD for the .NET Server. It enables developers
to build solutions for the broadest range of clients--from
Web applications to Windows to thin-client devices
to smart devices. The RAD capabilities provide a shared
IDE and a choice of programming languages, including
Visual Basic, C++, C#, and Java. Visual Studio .NET
Professional is RAD for the programmable Web.
In XML, Visual Studio .NET developers can build data-driven
applications using built-in ADO.NET tools that target
a variety of databases, including SQL Server, Oracle,
or any other XML source. With support for XML, ADO.NET
enables developers to share data across computing
platforms. Additionally, Visual Studio .NET includes
the Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE), a SQL Server-compatible
database that provides programmers with a viable development
database and natively supports XML.
Visual Studio .NET allows programmers to create and
deploy critical server-based programming. With Visual
Studio .NET, developers can visually compose middle-tier
components using the Visual Component Designer (VCD).
The VCD enables developers to drag and drop non-visual
objects such as message queues, timers, and event
logs to a design surface, automatically discovering
all necessary server-based resources and configuring
required components.
Microsoft
Review
Visual Studio .NET gets five stars based on industry
and customer feedback. We are yet to review Visual
Studio .NET before we consider this software deserving
of our own five star rating.
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