For the tutorials, we are interested in compiling and running simple console applications. The C++ compiler integrated with Visual Studio Express supports many features introduced by the recent standard, enough to follow the tutorials in this site off the box.īoth Visual Studio and its free Express version are designed to build a variety of applications. Then follow the instructions given by the installer. Run the executable (if it is an ISO, open the ISO file and run the executable within). The one needed to compile console programs is Express for Windows Desktop (neither Express for Web nor Express for Windows will do). Note that Express comes in a variety of versions.

It is a reduced version of Visual Studio available as a free program to download from: (In the past they also split the Win Forms IDEs to only handle one coding language like C# or VB).Visual Studio Express Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop is a tool from Microsoft that integrates a development interface and the toolchains needed to compile a variety of programming languages. And they make it harder to use by splitting the IDE to only handle Web Applications (like ASP.Net) in one IDE and a different IDE for handling Windows Forms. It allows for commercial development, but they restrict the features of the IDE. Like integration to GIT repos and Windows Azure hosting.Įxpress is like the old school express versions, if you used to use the old school express versions, you probably want to stick to it.

Other than Professional, Community is integrated with a lot of online collaboration sites.

You get full access to plugins that enhance the IDE, like code optimisation tools.

With Express you develop asp.net and other web apps (Express for Web) in different IDE's than you would developing a Windows Forms applicaiton (Express for Win Forms). You can develop a mix of different projects in the same solution on the same IDE.Why you would want Community (dito for VS Professional): With the exception for developing apps that you sell in the Windows Store. Community is like a full version of Visual Studio Professional, only they don't allow you to develop for commercial purposes (through the licence agreement).

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