Become a Member My Atlas
Insights
Training
Advisory & Negotiation
Free Resources
About
Contact Us
Search
Become a Member

Updated: July 9, 2020 (June 4, 2007)

  Analyst Report Archived

Tools and Languages

My Atlas / Analyst Reports

2,465 wordsTime to read: 13 min

Microsoft’s strategy for tools and programming languages is centered on its Visual Studio product, but also includes tools for graphic designers who work in application development, as well as foundation components such as the .NET Common Language Runtime. This chapter outlines the roadmap for all of those components and identifies recent and upcoming releases likely to be of interest to developers.

(For a graphical view of the tools and languages roadmap, see the illustration “Developer Tools Overview“.)

Developer Tools

The VS integrated development envionment (IDE) will continue to be an important way for Microsoft to support developers working with new features of its platform. Key features that have yet to be supported in VS include the new APIs of Windows Vista and the new application and systems management technology Microsoft is developing as part of the Dynamic Systems Initiative.

Since 2005, the VS product line has included the basic IDE, which supports the code-build-debug cycle for individual developers, the Team System line of products, which includes specialized IDE editions and a server product for build management, source code control, and other features needed by teams of architects, developers, and testers, and the Express editions, a free set of lightweight tools for beginning programmers and hobbyists.

Atlas Members have full access

Get access to this and thousands of other unbiased analyses, roadmaps, decision kits, infographics, reference guides, and more, all included with membership. Comprehensive access to the most in-depth and unbiased expertise for Microsoft enterprise decision-making is waiting.

Membership Options

Already have an account? Login Now

Updated: August 2, 2020 (October 26, 2009)

  Analyst Report

Tools and Languages

My Atlas / Analyst Reports

3,016 wordsTime to read: 16 min
Rob Sanfilippo by
Rob Sanfilippo

Before joining Directions on Microsoft, Rob worked at Microsoft for 14 years where he designed technologies for Microsoft products and... more

Microsoft’s strategy for tools and programming languages is centered on its VS product, but also includes tools for graphic designers who work in application development, as well as foundation components such as the .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR). This chapter outlines the roadmap for all of those components and identifies recent and upcoming releases likely to be of interest to developers.

(For a graphical view of the tools and languages roadmap, see the illustration “Development and Design Tools Overview“.)

Visual Studio

VS is the most popular integrated development environment (IDE) for the Microsoft platform. The product supports the C#, VB, and C++ programming languages with graphical tools and wizards for designing, coding, debugging, and testing software in those languages. (See the chart “Past Visual Studio Versions“.)

VS 2008 was released in Dec. 2007. It includes the .NET Framework 3.5, which delivers Language Integrated Query (LINQ), extensions to VB and C# to simplify access to databases and XML data. VS 2008 also includes tools for newer .NET Framework components, such as a drag-and-drop designer for the Windows Presentation Framework graphical user interface (GUI) system, and design tools for the Windows Workflow Foundation workflow engine. VS 2008 incorporates the latest programming tools for Office, which introduce graphical tools for customizing the Office 2007 interface and which support live viewing and debugging of Office 2007 applications inside VS.

Atlas Members have full access

Get access to this and thousands of other unbiased analyses, roadmaps, decision kits, infographics, reference guides, and more, all included with membership. Comprehensive access to the most in-depth and unbiased expertise for Microsoft enterprise decision-making is waiting.

Membership Options

Already have an account? Login Now