OTHER VISUAL STUDIO 2005 EXPRESS PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

Visual C++ 2005 Express is just one of several Visual Studio Express development options available. Following are some of the others:

• Visual Basic 2005 Express. This product offers Windows developers a means of building applications quickly using the easy-to-understand Visual Basic programming language. It is especially aimed at first-time programmers who want to get programs up and running quickly without getting bogged down in the technical details of their computer system.

• Visual C# 2005 Express. This product offers Windows developers a language that leverages some of the strengths and concepts of C, C++, and Java but is easier to use. It is also aimed at first-time and casual programmers, hobbyists, and students.

• Visual J# Express. This product, offered to support Java development, allows programmers to create applications for Windows and the Web. Like each of the Express Editions, it streamlines the development process to make program writing simpler.

IN THE REAL WORLD

In addition to Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition, Microsoft offers both a Standard and Professional Edition. The Standard Edition is targeted at individual software professionals or small businesses and includes a wider range of development tools than the Express Edition. The Professional Edition is intended for building larger scale, mission-critical business applications and expands on the Standard Edition's options by adding a more powerful compiler and solutions for SQL development. These higher-end products also feature a wider range of tools for building Web applications.

Companies that develop applications using Visual C++ often purchase it as part of a package deal that Microsoft calls Visual Studio. When you purchase the applications this way, you get access not only to Visual C++ but also to other languages and tools that make up Visual Studio, including Visual Basic and Visual C#. Microsoft offers several tiers of Visual Studio. Unfortunately, the products can quickly become quite expensive. At the lower end, Visual Studio .NET Professional Edition is available for roughly $500. It supports Windows, Web, and mobile device development using any of Its supported programming languages, as you might expect. Next in the series is Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Developer, which retails for more than $1,000. This package offers developers an assortment of team-oriented development tools and Microsoft technical support solutions. Finally, at the upper end of the range lies Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect, which runs somewhere around $2,500.

Visual Basic 2005 Express

Visual Basic is a programming language geared toward rapid application development. It is based on the BASIC (Beginner's All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) language, which is popular for its easy-to-read, English-like statements. Visual Basic has widespread support among business professionals and hobbyists alike, and versions of it are built into Microsoft Word and Excel to support database development and automation.

Visual C# 2005 Express

Visual C# is a relatively new programming language that Microsoft created based on a combination of C, C++, and Java. Microsoft first introduced Visual C# with the initial release of Visual Studio. Although a little more difficult to learn than Visual Basic, C# provides former C, C++, and Java developers with a program development platform that is easy to learn and leverages their existing program development skills.

Visual J# 2005 Express

Visual J# is an enhanced version of Microsoft Visual J++ 6.0, which has been updated to work with the .NET Framework. Although strongly tied to the Java programming language, Microsoft has added numerous extensions to the language. As a result, Visual J# 2005 Express is not compatible with Java, so you won't be able to run programs developed with Visual J# using Sun's Java Virtual Machine. However, Visual J# provides individuals with previous Java programming experience with a great language for Windows application development using .NET.

IN THE REAL WORLD

Visual C++ is so powerful that Microsoft relies heavily on it to develop many of its tools and applications. In fact, along with a little help from another language known as Assembly, which supports precise, low-level control over computer systems, Microsoft developed every one of the Visual Studio products using Visual C++!