windows development tools

[northernpcgeek]

im currently in the process of building a new pc to replace a 10 year old one! and one of the things im looking forward to is being able to run the latest software that iv'e had to avoid in the past. for software development there is a free version of visual studio available for download? what are the licensing terms? i can write software but only for my own personal use? ie not distribute it. or can i write software to use for my own business use also?

[Darkplek]

Do you already do Visual Studio type development (like... visual C++, or .NET, for example) in an older full version of Visual Studio?

Visual Studio Express is free: (I posted a link here, but apparently I need to have 5 posts before I can ... just google "visual studio express" and hit the first result)

Although I'm not entirely sure on the licensing terms, to be honest... At a guess (might be wrong..), you could probably use it for what you like, but the functionality of the IDE will be more limited for creating corporate-type software, than with the full version. I guess it comes down to what you need to do with it.

[Darkplek]

Here's that link for you: http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudi...indows-desktop

[northernpcgeek]

no never used VS. i use a free edition of borland c++ for writing command line tools in C..as it doesn't have an IDE for windows development. i think the VS express edition is limited in that it doesn't allow you to create an installer for a finished program. i'm sure there are a few other things it can't do though.

[finlay666]

You are limited in the language and type of project, there are free C# dev envs like Monodevelop though

[dangel]

See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microso...#2012_products

I wouldn't use "windows installer" if you paid me too. I actually use NSIS (from nullsoft) which is free - it's a little uphill to learn but actually remarkably flexible.

For Windows development you will be hard pressed to beat MS' Visual Studio.