Microsoft Express Beta IDE for Free!

afecelis · Post by **afecelis** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 2:53 am

Microsoft Express Beta IDE for Free!

VisualBasic, Visual C#, Visual C++, Visual Web Dev, Sql Server,all 2005 betas ready for download for free!

http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/default.aspx

nitroman · Post by **nitroman** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 3:15 am

cool!

what are the limitations?

afecelis · Post by **afecelis** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 3:56 am

Well they call it an "express" version and it works with a special set of "express" libraries but if you check the "what you get" section it seems to include everything.

Core C++ Tools and Libraries
* Generate fast and robust applications using a professional-grade C++ compiler
* Write, compile, and debug ISO C++ standards-conforming code
* Create programs for the .NET Framework using powerful new C++/CLI syntax

Simplified Development Experience

* Easily create new projects from existing sources
* Filter and locate classes and identifiers using the improved Class View
* Understand your source code with real-time code browsing

Full Access to the .NET Framework

* Build Windows applications and libraries using the .NET Framework
* Use .NET Framework features like Garbage Collection and Generics
* Use C++ Templates and Deterministic Finalization with the .NET Framework

So it seems pretty complete to me. I'm still downloading. Oh yes, the 2.0 .net framework is necesary.

cheers!

Robomaniac · Post by **Robomaniac** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 4:01 am

You cannot redistribue applications made with it

afecelis · Post by **afecelis** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 4:03 am

there's your limitation!

but it might be good for non-commercial purposes

Robomaniac · Post by **Robomaniac** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 4:06 am

Not even non commercial ones. As said on their site somewhere, its only for users who want to learn/evaluate the language/ide

afecelis · Post by **afecelis** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 4:26 am

You could use it to try the stuff out, check its properties, check compatibility with Irrlich or the kind of projects you're developing and once you're used to it and need to make anything commercial purchase it.

I'm sure a standard version will be available and you may buy only the C++ part of the new visualstudio 8 and usually MS tries to keep its price under $100 although the standard version of VC7 has got no code optimization, but it's great to work with Irrlicht.

cheers!

vermeer · Post by **vermeer** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:00 am

hmmm

what about the sharpdevelop IDE + the free framework SDK which includes all kind of needed compilers, docs, etc...

To me it seems it could do...

the huge disadvantage I keep seing on .net is the need to have the user download and install those extra 25 megs...

afecelis · Post by **afecelis** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 2:05 pm

Interesting idea; the only problem is that sharpdevelop is C# exclussive so that would leave C++ out of the picture. You can also download the beta for C# as well so I guess Sharpdevelop+Visualstudio 2005 beta tools could work.

Anyway, I downloaded the C++ beta and tried it out last night. It's very "complete" although they seem to have seriously changed some of the stuff that used to work in VS2003. I mean, my Irrlicht projects that worked in VC7 .net (2003) won't compile here. They stipped many important "lib" files off and I'm getting lots of "warning C4996: '_snwprintf' was declared deprecated" "see declaration of '_snwprintf'" messages. I got no friggin' Idea of what that is but I guess it means they changed the way to declare things on this version. This kind of problems already happened when importing a project from VC6 to VC7 but most of the things were compatible. I think they should make it more backward compatible.

The projects import ok, with a nice wizard to convert them but if you got any resources in your project is not possible to edit them.

so summarizing:
pros:
pretty complete, looks nice (pretty much the same as Vstudio 7)

cons:
bad backward compatibility, no rc editing

but what Vermeer proposes could be a good work-around. Find a nice IDE and use the 2005 tools. The only thing is that it wouldn't allow you to use it for commercial products. Similar to what I tried to do with the 2003 toolkit (free) and the Relo IDE. I still don't know if what you do with MS2003 toolkit .net can be used commercially.

take care!

vermeer · Post by **vermeer** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 3:55 pm

I think is free...with M$ u never know, but their dx sdk is free, so it could be very well. Remember that all this is partially to fight against Java.

gbjbaanb · Post by **gbjbaanb** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 3:41 pm

Hi guys.

I don;t think you want the 2005 beta as its just a preview for MS to test it all out - also, its not compatible with the old 2003 .NET as they're moving the C++ spec along somewhat. Check out the vstudio page on ms.com for al;l the whitepapers.

However, if you want a free version, you can get the 2003 vc++ toolkit which has everything you need to compile, except the IDE (so it'll be back to the command line, just like the good old days

)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/

everything in this is the same as you'd get with 2003 .NET product.

vermeer · Post by **vermeer** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 10:18 pm

Does exist something like that but for Visual Basic 6 code ?

I wouldn't mind if it'd be just a compiler msdos mode and all...
but I mean, a free compiler.

afecelis · Post by **afecelis** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 11:32 pm

the whole visual studio beta express is free to download. It includes: VisualBasic, Visual C#, Visual C++, Visual J#, Visual web dev and sql server.

more info here:
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/

vermeer · Post by **vermeer** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 7:50 am

I know about that, but a question that I have from something I read somewhere... It is a beta product, and while I don't care about non critical errors, I do about what I read insomeone's post that MS considers its betas non usable for comercial products...It maybe a paranoia of mine, but I tend to use only tools that I can use comercially... It sounds funny in this case, but just a rule I imposed to myself... Yet though, I don't have it clear if these express versions are limited in that way.

vermeer · Post by **vermeer** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 8:02 am

from what i'm reading, it could be that it only compiled to vb.net code, not vb6...

also, I may download the sql thing.I needed sql an dvb6 for certain..."job"...It's just curiosity...I also had a shy look at c and java. had a time going to paid courses of java, c (pointers almost killed me). And that job that demanded some vb and sql. So, I have nothing, a basic distant idea of each.

In the only one i found my self at least comfortable to start to learn was with vb6, I did some basic parsers with it, I kindda liked using it with no use of any graphic element, just code, and of course the reference manual. Sql was easy, just limited to what it does. Is not only that I am not a coder, I either have the needed basic abilities, the brains, and not even an strong interest. But kind of would like to do some stuff in vb6.

Irrlicht Engine

Microsoft Express Beta IDE for Free!

Microsoft Express Beta IDE for Free!

the free MS 2003.net VC++ compiler.