Microsoft Visual C++ .NET Standard [Old Version]

by Microsoft

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 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: B00005RV4X
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 9, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,359 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #72 in Software > Programming > Programming Languages
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Visual C++ .NET is the most flexible of Microsoft's languages. The compiler primarily targets native-code Windows executables, but a switch also enables compilation to MSIL (Microsoft intermediate language). This managed code runs on the .NET Framework's common language runtime, with full access to the Framework's class library.

Developers can include both managed and unmanaged code in the same project: the compiler does the necessary internal translation automatically. This feature is particularly valuable for those with existing applications that cannot be ported all at once to the .NET platform.

The Visual C++ .NET product consists of an IDE, class libraries, compiler, and tools. The compiler in the Standard edition is nonoptimizing, so professional developers may prefer Visual Studio .NET Professional or higher. The key libraries are the MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes), which wrap the Windows API, and the ATL (Active Template Library), for efficient development of COM or ActiveX components. In addition, the bundled .NET Framework SDK has command-line compilers for Visual Basic, JScript, and Visual C#, and you can also compile C# from the IDE. Despite its managed extensions, Visual C++ .NET does not support the Windows Forms designer or the Web Forms designer, although there is a visual dialog editor for native Windows applications.

The two big changes in Visual C++ .NET, when compared to Visual C++ 6.0, are support for the .NET Framework and a brand-new IDE. There are minor updates to MFC and ATL, and the ability to do COM programming using attributes is a strong feature. The Standard C++ Library is updated in this version, with improved standards compliance for those building portable applications, although Visual C++ .NET is still not the best in this respect. On the other hand, it excels as a tool for building Windows applications and components, where its huge flexibility compensates for the lack of a visual form designer.

The Visual C++ IDE is outstanding, although you need to double the minimum system requirements for good performance, and note that it does not run on Windows 98 or Me. Online help is now fully integrated into the main workspace, wizards have been streamlined, and the XML designer will be useful even to those not working with the .NET Framework. --Tim Anderson, Amazon.co.uk

Product Description

Microsoft Visual C++ .net Standard 2002 lets you get started building powerful applications for Microsoft Windows and the web. You can write code for the .NET platform using powerful new language keywords, expose Active Template Library (ATL) components as XML Web services, and use ATL and Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) libraries simultaneously in a single application to integrate a full range of Windows features effortlessly. You can gain advanced development capabilities, and work efficiently in an integrated development environment with fewer errors and advanced debugger features. Part Number 254-00174.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great IDE - watch out for Standard version though, March 2, 2002

By 

"myelin" (Christchurch, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Visual C++ .NET Standard [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

I've been using Visual Studio .NET (the full package) for a while at work, and it's been working very well. The debugger is great, the IDE is much nicer than any other I've used, and IntelliSense is very handy to have.

If you're considering buying this 'Standard version', take note of the difference between it and the version that comes with 'Professional' Visual Studio package:

VC++.NET Standard does NOT come with an optimising compiler. This is the *learning edition* - you're permitted to distribute apps you write with it, but you can't use the /Ox compiler switches to generate optimised code.

Note that you may be still able to compile (and optimise) the code you've written in the VC++.NET IDE with the free Borland C++ compiler or with GCC, as long as you're not using MFC or ATL.

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Wait for the service patches to come out., April 10, 2002

By 

David Blankley (NY,NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Visual C++ .NET Standard [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

As with all MSFT software the program has a clean ui, and it is pretty easy to figure out how to do stuff.

However, this is the first release of a new version, and the resulting teething problems mean you should pause before purchasing this if you already have a C++ compiler.

My primary complaints about the software are:
- Libraries and software that compiled in MSVC++ 6.0 no longer compile in .NET. Worse, the errors listed by the compiler do not provide meaningful clues as to what is wrong(error C1001, internal compiler error). In the newsgroups, the standard MSFT response has been that the problem is with your source, not the compiler.
- The help and the ui are not in synch. For instance, the names used in the help files for project properties, and the actual naming in the dialog are different. This makes it hard to determine what you need to change when trying to configure your project.

Summary: Stay away unless you like living on the bleeding edge.

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Why do they call it visual?, May 30, 2002

By 

G. Bass (Simi Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Visual C++ .NET Standard [Old Version] (CD-ROM)

I bought this to take advantage of the ability to quickly visually design dialogs as in 6.0 which was recommended to me only to find out that the designers are not included in C++ as they are in C# and Visual Basic. Good luck finding that out on the MS website. So with the premier MS C++ development tool, you are still counting pixels for a simple dialog box!