New Features of Visual Studio 2008 for .NET Professionals

1. LINQ Support

LINQ essentially is the composition of many standard query operators that allow you to work with data in a more intuitive way regardless.

The benefits of using LINQ are significant – Compile time checking C# language queries, and the ability to debug step by step through queries.

2. Expression Blend Support

Expression blend is XAML generator tool for silverlight applications. You can install Expression blend as an embedded plug-in to Visual Studio 2008. By this you can get extensive web designer and JavaScript tool.

3. Windows Presentation Foundation

WPF provides you an extensive graphic functionality you never seen these before. Visual Studio 2008 contains plenty of WPF Windows Presentation Foundation Library templates. By this a visual developer who is new to .NET, C# and VB.NET can easily develop the 2D and 3D graphic applications.

Visual Studio 2008 provides free game development library kits for games developers. currently this game development kits are available for C++ and also 2D/3D Dark Matter one image and sounds sets.

4. VS 2008 Multi-Targeting Support

Earlier you were not able to working with .NET 1.1 applications directly in visual studio 2005. Now in Visual studio 2008 you are able to create, run, debug the .NET 2.0, .NET 3.0 and .NET 3.5 applications. You can also deploy .NET 2.0 applications in the machines which contains only .NET 2.0 not .NET 3.x.

5. AJAX support for ASP.NET

Previously developer has to install AJAX control library separately that does not come from VS, but now if you install Visual Studio 2008, you can built-in AJAX control library. This Ajax Library contains plenty of rich AJAX controls like Menu, TreeView, webparts and also these components support JSON and VS 2008 contains in built ASP.NET AJAX Control Extenders.

6. JavaScript Debugging Support

Since starting of web development all the developers got frustration with solving javascript errors. Debugging the error in javascript is very difficult. Now Visual Studio 2008 makes it is simpler with javascript debugging. You can set break points and run the javaScript step by step and you can watch the local variables when you were debugging the javascript and solution explorer provides javascript document navigation support.

7. Nested Master Page Support

Already Visual Studio 2005 supports nested master pages concept with .NET 2.0, but the problem with this Visual Studio 2005 that pages based on nested masters can't be edited using WYSIWYG web designer. But now in VS 2008 you can even edit the nested master pages.

8. LINQ Intellisense and Javascript Intellisense support for silverlight applications

Most happy part for .NET developers is Visual Studio 2008 contains intellisense support for javascript. Javascript Intellisense makes developers life easy when writing client side validation, AJAX applications and also when writing Silverlight applications

Intellisense Support: When we are writing the LINQ Query VS provides LINQ query syntax as tool tips.

9. Organize Imports or Usings: We have Organize Imports feature already in Eclipse. SInce many days I have been waiting for this feature even in VS. Now VS contains Organize Imports feature which removes unnecessary namespaces which you have imported. You can select all the namespaces and right click on it, then you can get context menu with Organize imports options like "Remove Unused Usings", "Sort Usings", "Remove and Sort". Refactoring support for new .NET 3.x features like Anonymous types, Extension Methods, Lambda Expressions.

10. Intellisense Filtering: Earlier in VS 2005 when we were typing with intellisense box all the items were being displayed. For example If we type the letter 'K' then intellisense takes you to the items starts with 'K' but also all other items will be presented in intellisense box. Now in VS 2008 if you press 'K' only the items starts with 'K' will be filtered and displayed.

11. Intellisense Box display position

Earlier in some cases when you were typing the an object name and pressing . (period) then intellisense was being displayed in the position of the object which you have typed. Here the code which we type will go back to the dropdown, in this case sometimes programmer may disturb to what he was typing. Now in VS 2008 If you hold the Ctrl key while the intellisense is dropping down then intellisense box will become semi-transparent mode.

12. Visual Studio 2008 Split View

VS 205 has a feature show both design and source code in single window. but both the windows tiles horizontally. In VS 2008 we can configure this split view feature to vertically, this allows developers to use maximum screen on laptops and wide-screen monitors.

Here one of the good feature is if you select any HTML or ASP markup text in source window automatically corresponding item will be selected in design window.

13. HTML JavaScript warnings, not as errors: VS 2005 mixes HTML errors and C# and VB.NET errors and shows in one window. Now VS 2008 separates this and shows javascript and HTML errors as warnings. But this is configurable feature.

14. Debugging .NET Framework Library Source Code:

Now in VS 2008 you can debug the source code of .NET Framework Library methods. Lets say If you want to debug the DataBind() method of DataGrid control you can place a debugging point over there and continue with debug the source code of DataBind() method.

15. In built Silverlight Library

Earlier we used to install silverlight SDK separately, Now in VS 2008 it is inbuilt, with this you can create, debug and deploy the silverlight applications.

16. Visual Studio LINQ Designer

Already you know in VS 2005 we have inbuilt SQL Server IDE feature. by this you no need to use any other tools like SQL Server Query Analyzer and SQL Server Enterprise Manger. You have directly database explorer by this you can create connections to your database and you can view the tables and stored procedures in VS IDE itself. But now in VS 2008 it has View Designer window capability with LINQ-to-SQL.

17. Inbuilt C++ SDK

Earlier It was so difficult to download and configure the C++ SDK Libraries and tools for developing windows based applications. Now it is inbuilt with VS 2008 and configurable

18. Multilingual User Interface Architecture - MUI

MUI is an architecture contains packages from Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office libraries. This supports the user to change the text language display as he wish.

Visual Studio is now in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Japanese, and Korean. Over the next couple of months. Microsoft is reengineering the MUI which supports nine local languages then you can even view Visual studio in other 9 local languages.

19. Microsoft Popfly Support

Microsoft Popfly explorer is an add-on to VS 2008, by this directly you can deploy or hosting the Silverlight applications and Marshup objects

SMTP and POP3 Mail server Setting

Yahoo! Mail Settings

Yahoo Incoming Mail Server (POP3) - pop.mail.yahoo.com (port 110)
Yahoo Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) - smtp.mail.yahoo.com (port 25)

Yahoo Incoming Mail Server (POP3) - plus.pop.mail.yahoo.com (SSL enabled, port 995)
Yahoo Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) - plus.smtp.mail.yahoo.com (SSL enabled, port 465)

Google GMail Settings

Google Gmail Incoming Mail Server (POP3) - pop.gmail.com (SSL enabled, port 995)
Google Gmail Outgoing Mail Server - use the SMTP mail server address provided by your local ISP or smtp.gmail.com (SSL enabled, port 465)

Lycos Mail Settings

Lycos Mail Incoming Mail Server (POP3) - pop.mail.lycos.com (port 110)
Lycos MailOutgoing Mail Server - smtp.mail.lycos.com or use your local ISP SMTP mail server

AOL Mail Settings

AOL Incoming Mail Server (IMAP) - imap.aol.com (port 143)
AOL Outgoing Mail Server - smtp.aol.com or use your local ISP SMTP mail server

Mail.com Mail Settings

Mail.com Mail Incoming Mail Server (POP3) - pop1.mail.com (port 110)
Outgoing Mail Server - use your local ISP SMTP mail server

Netscape Internet Service Mail Settings

Netscape Internet Service Incoming Mail Server (POP3) - pop.3.isp.netscape.com (port 110)
Netscape Internet Service Outgoing Mail Server - smtp.isp.netscape.com (port 25, using a secure SSL connection)

Tiscali Mail Settings

Tiscali Incoming Mail Server (POP3) - pop.tiscali.com (port 110)
Outgoing Mail Server - use your local ISP SMTP mail server

Freeserve Mail Settings

Freeserve Incoming Mail Server (POP3) - pop.freeserve.com (port 110)
Outgoing Mail Server - use your local ISP SMTP mail server

Supanet Mail Settings

Supanet Incoming Mail Server (POP3) - pop.supanet.com (port 110)
Outgoing Mail Server - use your local ISP SMTP mail server

What is ASP.NET Futures?

ASP.NET AJAX Futures

The new release includes support for managing browser history (Back button support), selecting elements by CSS selectors or classes, and information on accessing “Astoria” Web data services. The Futures (July 2007) release adds:

History support for the Safari browser, inclusion of “titles”, encoding and encrypting of server-side history state and the ability to handle history in the client without a server requirement.

CSS Selectors APIs have been modified to be applicable to W3C recommendations.

A script resource extraction tool that allows you to create script files on disk that originate from embedded resources in assemblies. Important: this version of the browser history feature is now outdated and should not be used. Instead, please download the ASP.NET 3.5 Extensions Preview, which contains the new version.

Where can I get help and support for Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition?

The Express Editions include forum support. Please go to the Visual C++ 2008 Express Forum to post your question.

Does Visual C++ 2008 Express include the "optimizing compiler"?

Yes, Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition includes the same core optimizing compiler that will be included with all other Visual Studio 2008 editions. Some new expanded optimization features, including Profile Guided Optimizations, will be available only in the Standard and above editions of Visual Studio 2008.

What types of application can I build with Visual C++ 2008 Express?

With Visual C++ 2008 Express you can build both native and managed applications. Included is the Windows Platform SDK which you can build applications that take full advantage of the Win32 API.

For whom is Visual C++ 2008 Express intended?

Visual C++ 2008 Express is designed for hobbyists, first-time developers, and students looking for a fun and easy way to build Windows applications.

If I create a Web site with Visual Web Developer 2008 Express, will I be able to continue editing the project if I upgrade to VS 2008 Standard Edition

Absolutely. The Web site layout and file formats are 100% compatible between Visual Web Developer 2008 Express and Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition.

Can I use Visual Web Developer 2008 Express to edit Web projects I created with Visual Web Developer 2005 Express?

When you open a Visual Web Developer 2005 Web project in Visual Web Developer 2008 Express, the project is converted to the new, simpler project layout used with Visual Web Developer 2008 Express. The conversion process also converts existing .aspx pages, .ascx files and other files into a new format. Note that the conversion process creates a backup of your project before the conversion begins.

Do I need IIS to build applications with Visual Web Developer 2008 Express?

No. Visual Web Developer 2008 Express comes with a built-in Web development server that enables you to build and test applications without a dependency on IIS. The server only accepts local requests and is only for build and test. Web applications built with Visual Web Developer can easily be deployed to IIS or your favorite hoster using the built-in copy Web tool.

What programming languages are supported by Visual Web Developer 2008 Express?

Visual Web Developer 2008 Express supports development with Visual Basic and Visual C#. Visual Web Developer 2008 Express also includes rich editors for HTML, XML, JavaScript and Cascade Style Sheets (CSS).

Can I have Web sites using ASP.NET 2.0 and ASP.NET 3.5 on the same machine?

Yes. ASP.NET 20 and ASP.NET 3.5 can be run side-by-side on the same machine. You can easily control which applications and virtual roots target a certain version of the framework.

Does Visual Web Developer 2008 Express support ASP.NET 2.0?

Yes. The ability to target different versions of the .NET framework (i.e. multi-targeting) is available in Visual Web Developer 2008 through the Project Properties menu.

For whom is Visual Web Developer 2008 Express intended?

Visual Web Developer 2008 Express is intended for non-professional, hobbyists, students and beginning Web developers who want to learn how to build ASP.NET 3.5 Web applications.

What is Visual Web Developer 2008 Express?

Visual Web Developer 2008 Express is a stand-alone, lightweight, easy-to-use Web-focused tool for building ASP.NET 3.5 applications. It includes everything you need to begin building Web applications, including a built-in development/test Web server.

Can I have Web sites using ASP.NET 2.0 and ASP.NET 3.5 on the same machine?

Yes. ASP.NET 20 and ASP.NET 3.5 can be run side-by-side on the same machine. You can easily control which applications and virtual roots target a certain version of the framework.

Does Visual Web Developer 2008 Express support ASP.NET 2.0?

Yes. The ability to target different versions of the .NET framework (i.e. multi-targeting) is available in Visual Web Developer 2008 through the Project Properties menu.

Will code from Visual Basic 2005 Express work in Visual Basic 2008 Express?

Visual Basic 2008 Express includes a migration wizard that will help import existing Visual Basic 2005 Express projects. You may need to make some manual adjustments to the code you port over, but the migration wizard is a good first step towards moving your code forward.

Will code from Visual Basic 6.0 work in Visual Basic 2008 Express?

Visual Basic 2008 Express includes a migration wizard that will help import existing Visual Basic 6.0 projects. You may need to make some manual adjustments to the code you port over, but the migration wizard is a good first step towards moving your code forward.

What types of applications can I build with Visual Basic 2008 Express?

Visual Basic 2008 Express can be used to build Windows applications, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications, console and reusable components and controls. If you want to create interactive Web sites, you should use Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition which fully supports the Visual Basic language.