Visual studio.NEt plus free download version

[Paul_FX]

Hi peeps,

Wondering if anyone can clear something up for me. About six months ago i bought visual studio C++.net, however, the compiler is not the optimising version (AAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!). Now i find that m$ have put a free version of the optimising version on their website, but without any of the visual studio IDE (its just a command line version).

My question is... is there any way that i can use the free download compiler to replace the non optimising one in my verison of visual studio, so i get the optimising features within visual studio's IDE??

It has to be said, i think m$ have shown much arrogance in this move. I shelled out a lot of money for visual studio, only to find out that its a crippled version..but they GIVE AWAY the uncrippled version....Oh well i should have known better than to trust m$

[impulse one]

They're giving away an IDE now too!

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

edit: although according to the faq it might not be free when it comes out of beta.

[bastien]

The no MFC thing bothers me - does this mean any UIs would have to be Windows Forms (and therefore need the framework)?

[ost12666]

Can it build VST DLL using the SDK and VSTGUI? I am downloading to find out...

[csharp]

The version you bought must be the Visual C++ 2003 Standard Edition. That version does not have the optimizing compiler. It is only available starting with the Pro edition.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/howto ... osing.aspx

If you want an optimizing compiler, you can download the free command line version.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/

Now, what Microsoft released this week was the Beta 1 of it's next set of dev tools called Visual Studio 2005. The Standard editions are being replaced by the Express editions. Prices are not been announced yet but they should be low enough to be in the reach of all non-professional, first-time programmers and hobbyists. The exception is SQL Server Express (MSDE replacement) that is free to use and redistribute.
You can download it here:
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/v ... fault.aspx

if you take a look at the FAQ, you can read this:

Does Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition include the "optimizing compiler"?
Yes, Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition includes the same core optimizing compiler that will be included with all other Visual Studio 2005 editions. It should be noted that some new expanded optimization features, including Profile Guided Optimizations, will be available only in the Professional and above editions of Visual Studio 2005.

http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/f ... px#visualc

Be advise that this is a Beta 1 release and that the EULA has some restrictions (for this Beta).

In conjunction with the announcement of the Express products, Microsoft's Channel9 is running a coding contest with prizes for each languages.
http://channel9.msdn.com/express/


Hope this help
Guy

[MacButch]

The no MFC thing bothers me - does this mean any UIs would have to be Windows Forms (and therefore need the framework)?

I wouldn't think so. You could use the Win32 API directly (MFC is afterall just a nasty wrapper around this). You may be able to use ATL or WTL but I'm not sure... You would need to get hold of a dialog/resource editor from somewhere.

Hope this is helpful
Edit: I could be wrong on this, the web page for the Beta seems to imply that you are indeed limited to Windows Forms or the console. I'm fairly confident that what I've said applies to the free compiler tho'. You could also think about a third party GUI toolkit such as wxWindows or Fox - not sure how this would go with plugin dev though.

[Paul_FX]

The version you bought must be the Visual C++ 2003 Standard Edition. That version does not have the optimizing compiler.

Yep thats the version i have

If you want an optimizing compiler, you can download the free command line version.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/

But can i integrate the two versions? Or should i just build it in my normal version while testing and then for the release build my plugin using the command line optimising one??

[csharp]

But can i integrate the two versions? Or should i just build it in my normal version while testing and then for the release build my plugin using the command line optimising one??

From what I heard, integration might be possible (at your own risk ). Slashdot.org might have some threads about that.
You can of course code and debug in Standard and do your final compile with the toolkit.


Guy

[Miles1981]

Have you try replacing the standard compiler with the free one ?

[Paul_FX]

Have you try replacing the standard compiler with the free one ?

No not yet. I wanted to see if anyone had tried that before 'taking apart' visual studio. But i suppose the worst that can happen is havig to reinstall visual studio...so ill give it a go over the weekend and let you know what happends

[PaintedBlue]

The exception is SQL Server Express (MSDE replacement) that is free to use and redistribute.

Yikes, I remember buying SQL Server 2000 Developer Edition for around $500 a few years back... oh well...

[stefankuhn]

Have you try replacing the standard compiler with the free one ?

No not yet. I wanted to see if anyone had tried that before 'taking apart' visual studio. But i suppose the worst that can happen is havig to reinstall visual studio...so ill give it a go over the weekend and let you know what happends

Let us know how it went.
It would be astonishing if you were successful.
Probably the free compiler uses different command-line switches than the IDE version.

It would be a really, really stupid thing to sell an IDE with non-optimizing compiler and giving away a compatible optimizing compiler for free...

...but then... after all it's Microsoft we're talking, eh?

[valley]

MS seem to be trying to bring young coders into the MS world though. I read somewhere this week (probably the register) that they are doing 'personal' or 'le' versions of a number of their big packages. Much like Borland I suspect there will be "do not sell/do not distribute" style restrictions on the resulting binariesm, but clearly MS are aware of the threat of young coders turning to Linux 'cos of the ease and low cost of developing for it.

[ost12666]

Maybe there is not need...From the FAQ:

Does Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition include the "optimizing compiler"

Yes, Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition includes the same core optimizing compiler that will be included with all other Visual Studio 2005 editions. It should be noted that some new expanded optimization features, including Profile Guided Optimizations, will be available only in the Professional and above editions of Visual Studio 2005.

BTW the express is supposed to be simple but it does not look simple to me compared to dev-c++...I am trying to compile the VST SDK and it does not find windows.h, anybody knows where it might be hiding? Dev-c++ has its own windows.h so I might try to use this one...

[dougsyo]

The exception is SQL Server Express (MSDE replacement) that is free to use and redistribute.

Yikes, I remember buying SQL Server 2000 Developer Edition for around $500 a few years back... oh well...

No doubt it's because they don't want people choosing mysql instead.

Doug, who is in the process of deploying a perl/mysql web app this evening.

PS: I was able to get MS Visual Studio .net through my employer (a state uni).