Book I: ASPNET Basics in .NET

Encoder UPC-A Supplement 2 in .NET Book I: ASPNET Basics

Comparing the editions of Visual Studio Registering and test-driving Visual Web Developer Express Installing Visual Studio successfully

efore you can use Visual Studio to develop ASPNET 20 applications, you must install the Visual Studio software This chapter introduces you to the various versions of Visual Studio available for you to choose from, and then walks you through the process of installing the most popular version for ASPNET Web development Visual Studio Web Developer Express Edition (The setup process for other versions of Visual Studio is similar)

Like most Microsoft software, Visual Studio 2005 comes in several different versions Here s the rundown on each one: Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition: This is the basic version of Visual Studio 2005 It includes everything you need to develop Windows applications using Visual Basic, C#, or C++, or ASPNET 20 Web applications using Visual Basic or C# It also comes with SQL Server Express Edition, a scaled-back version of SQL Server that s designed to use while you re developing applications that access a database Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition: This is a beefed-up version of the Standard Edition, with added features that are useful for professional developers in particular, advanced debugging features and the capability to create complex Setup projects for deploying your applications Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition: This is the top-of-the-line Visual Studio edition It includes all the features of the Professional Edition, plus advanced features designed specifically for large development projects, such as built-in code profiling, unit testing, and project management features Visual Studio Web Developer 2005 Express Edition: This is a low-cost version of Visual Studio that s designed for beginning and casual ASPNET

Web developers This edition of Visual Studio is sometimes referred to as VWD Express or even just VWD VWD is described in greater detail in the next section

For most people getting started with ASPNET 20, Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition (VWD) is the tool of choice It includes everything you need to create basic Web applications in Visual Basic or C# We recommend using this version while you re learning ASPNET Web programming, for two reasons First, it s simpler to use because it isn t cluttered up with features that aren t related to ASPNET Web development Second, it s cheap In fact, you can download it for free from Microsoft until November 7, 2006 After that, it will cost a mere $49 That means major savings over the other editions, as summarized in Table 2-1

Table 2-1

Free download until November 7, 2006 After that, $49 $299 $799 $5,469

Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition

The following are some important things you need to know about VWD: VWD supports Web applications developed in either Visual Basic or C# VWD includes SQL Server Express Edition, so you can use it to develop sophisticated database applications Microsoft does not place any limits on how you can use VWD Thus you can use VWD to develop commercial applications VWD provides most of the same features as other editions of Visual Studio 2005 for Web development However, there are a few features missing, such as advanced deployment tools

The following procedure shows you how to download and install the free version of Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition (VWD):

http://msdnmicrosoftcom/vstudio/express/vwd/download/

Microsoft has been known to change things around on its Web site, so if this address doesn t get you there, poke around a bit until you find it

Opening the link begins the download If a Security Warning dialog box appears, click Run to allow the download The initial download may take a minute or two, so please be patient Eventually the Setup program shown in Figure 2-1 appears You can download Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition for free from Microsoft until November 7, 2006 After that, it will cost $49