Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express [Old Version]

by Microsoft

Product Features

• Stand-alone, lightweight tool for building ASP.NET 2.0 applications
• Create Web applications using built-in data controls
• Starter applications; built-in development and test Web server
• Drag-and-drop user interface; use IntelliSense to quickly write code and HTML
• Multiple-language support; integration with SQL Server 2005 Express Edition

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000BHQ5UQ
• Item model number: 128-00037
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 29, 2005
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,122 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition is a stand-alone, lightweight tool for building ASP.NET 2.0 applications. It includes everything you need to begin building Web applications, including starter applications and a built-in development and test Web server.

Features:

• Drag-and-drop user interface: the drag-and-drop user interface makes it easy for you to learn your way around the development environment.
• IntelliSense: use IntelliSense to quickly write code and HTML.
• Built-in data controls: create Web applications using built-in data controls.
• Integration with SQL Server 2005 Express Edition: access to Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is integrated into the product.
• Multiple development languages: includes support for multiple languages, including Visual Basic, Visual C#, and Visual J#.

Easy to Use

An ideal environment for new Web developers

• Enjoy a streamlined development environment that is focused on the needs of hobbyists, enthusiasts, and students.
• Use a developer tool that grows with you--by simply upgrading within the Visual Studio product line as your development needs grow.

Visually design your Web applications

• Provides everything you need to begin building Web applications out of the box.
• Create great looking and easy-to-use Web applications using an intuitive, WYSIWYG, drag-and-drop user-interface designer.
• Take advantage of more than 60 new reusable controls and hundreds of reusable code snippets to reduce the time needed to create engaging, interactive Web applications.
• Use Master Pages to manage a consistent site layout in one place.
• Let IntelliSense give you fast access to methods and libraries for use within your applications.
• Common Tasks and Smart Tags place commonly accessed Web building functionality one click away.

Visually design your databases

• Build your first dynamic, data-driven Web site.
• Design your databases and queries visually using a drag-and-drop data designer.
• Use time-saving Wizards to easily connect to your data.
• Connect user interfaces to data using "drag and drop" instead of having to write code.
• Create data-enabled applications using SQL Server 2005 Express Edition.

Easily share your Web applications with your friends

• Find great hosting offers for applications you build using Visual Web Developer Express.
• Use built-in copy-Web functionality to get your Web site live in minutes over FTP.

Fun

Personal Web Site Starter Kit

• Take advantage of a complete, ready-to-run, ready-to-customize, interactive Web site for sharing photos and photo albums.
• Secure your photos and albums for viewing by individuals you authorize.

Club Web Site Starter Kit

• Easily build a dynamic Web site for your club or organization--including contacts, events calendar, photo sharing, and more.

Easy to Learn

Video training for absolute beginner Web developers

• Watch a video series designed specifically for individuals who want to learn the basics of creating dynamic Web applications using Visual Web Developer Express.

Video training for intermediate Web developers

• Join Jeff Prosise, world renowned expert and instructor, as he walks through building interactive Web applications.

Download Starter Kits

• Starter Kits are fully functional sample applications designed to help you learn ASP.NET 2.0 and accomplish common Web development scenarios.
• The PayPal-enabled eCommerce Starter Kit is an extensible open source Web application that makes it easy for you to setup and manage your own ecommerce Web site.
• Download the PayPal-enabled eCommerce Starter Kit

Learn by doing in the guided tour

• Build your first interactive, data-driven Web site by following along in this guided tour.

Master common Web development tasks

• Ever wonder "How’d they do that?" Get simple, task-based examples to help you master common Web development tasks.

Product Description

Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition is a stand-alone, lightweight, easy-touse Web-focused tool for building ASP.NET 2.0 applications. It includes everything needed to begin building Web applications, including fully functional Starter Kit applications and a built-in development/test Web server.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Web Development Program for 2006, January 5, 2006

By 

Brian A. Wolters (Cabot, Arkansas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

Microsoft's Visual Web Developer 2005 Express is the best web development program available. I've been a long time Dreamweaver user and I can tell you that for the price, you can beat this program.

VWD is very easy to set up and you can create good looking web pages in a matter of hours. Not only can you develop in HTML, XHTML and CSS, you also have access to the rich ASP.NET 2.0 enviroment and can create powerful dynamic web sites. If you are new to ASP.NET, it is easy to learn and Amazon has many good books available on ASP.NET 2.0.

In ASP.NET 2.0, they have reduced coding by 70% and in VDW, most of this coding is done for you, making it a snap to set up the dynamic content of your website. VWD makes is easy to incorporate themes, XML and database functionality to your site as well.

A word of note for newbie developers; you will need to have an ASP.NET 2.0 compatible host if you plan on deploying your sites.

While Dreamweaver has a lot of excellent features and is still a great program, I have to give the edge to VWD for 2006. You can't go wrong with this program.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for novice Windows programmers, free until Nov. 06, February 1, 2006

By 

Gadgester "No Time, No Money" (Mother Earth) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

Yep, the other guys are absolutely right: this is a free download, together with many other Visual Studio 2005 Express products like C#, C++, J+ and even SQL Server (wow!), until Nov. 6, 2006. If you pay for this on Amazon, you get a getting started book as well as a few coupons and offers. But as with the downloaded free version, you get no free phone support, so might as well just get the free version. Please note that this is not Amazon's fault at all. Microsoft originally planned to charge $50 each for these tools but decided to run a free promotion for one year. (I feel bad for Amazon...)

Anyway, the URL for the whole suite is ( msdn dot microsoft dot com slash vstudio slash express ) where you can download each of the Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition tools for free as well as check out the FAQ. What's great is you can even use these products to develop commericial software! As long as you download and register before Nov. 6, 2006, you can keep the software for as long as you desire.

Each of the Express tools is quite small and includes only the basic features (I haven't downloaded J+ and SQL Server yet), but if you are new to Windows or .NET 2.0 programming, this is a great way to get the compilers for free. You can just get a book (from Amazon or your friendly local library) and start learning and programming right away!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now free - Why buy?, June 8, 2006

By 

James Forbes "Simple Programmer" (Oklahoma City, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

As others have said this is a free download from Microsoft. However when this was originally released the 'free' download was only going to last until November 2006. Microsoft announced in April 2006 however that they were going to make it free without the previously announced November 2006 expiration. This probably explains why this product is not available on Amazon anymore. There are however some good books on this product on Amazon so be sure to search for those.