Do you know how many editions does Microsoft released for Visual Studio 2008?
With different combinations they are as follows…
- Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition
- Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition
- Visual C# 2008 Express Edition
- Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition
- Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition
- Visual Studio Team System 2008 Architecture Edition
- Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition
- Visual Studio Team System 2008 Development Edition
- Visual Studio Team System 2008 Test Edition
- Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite
Note:
Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition is available for ASP.NET development with VB, C# and Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition, Visual C# 2008 Express Edition and Visual C++ 2008 Express edition are available for the specific language and are available or free download.
Don’t get light hearted, though there are whopping 11 different editions, just review 3 major editions for better understnading.
- Team Foundation Server is missing in Standard & Professional Editions.
- The following features are missing in Standard Edition but present in rest of the two.
- Remote debugging
- SQL-CLR debugging
- T-SQL debugging
- Database Project & SQL Server Project templates
- Server Explorer
- MPI Cluster System debugging
- Object Test Bench
- XSLT Editing Enhancements
- Crystal Reports
- Complete set of Office development options except shared add-in project template
- Smart device development
- Code Quality tools
- ASP.NET website project template
- 64 bit (IA64) debugging is missing in both Standard & Professional Editions.
- 64 bit profiler, Distributed System debugging tools, Code Analysis tools are present only in Team System Development Edition & Team Suite.
- Database development tools (custom data generators, Data compare, Database refactoring, etc.,) are only available in Team System Database Edition and Team Suite.
- Load and Web test integration is available only in Team Suite
If you’re into learning stuff, start with freeware express edition of your choice. If you’re into serious development with good team go for professional, unless you have a big team handling large projects, which needs Team Suite
