Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition is a comprehensive development environment for individual developers and small teams who build Windows, Office, Web, and mobile applications. Developers can choose to work in Visual Basic, Visual C++, Visual C#, JavaScript, or another programming language.
Visual Studio 2008 includes many Microsoft software development kits, utilities, and applications. It supports .NET Framework version 3.5, which includes enhancements to the base class libraries, Windows Presentation Foundation, Windows Communication Foundation, Windows Workflow Foundation, and Windows CardSpace. The 2008 version includes Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office System, formerly sold separately.
Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Professional: This version of Visual Studio includes a two-year subscription to MSDN Professional. MSDN provides access to Microsoft operating systems, development kits, and the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Library. Access is via the MSDN Subscriber Downloads site and through regular CD or DVD shipments. Technical support includes unlimited use of MSDN Managed Newsgroups with guaranteed response times of two business days; unlimited access to MSDN Online Concierge for nontechnical questions regarding use of the MSDN site; and two phone-based support incidents.
Express Editions: For organisations that do not need the full functionality of Visual Studio, Microsoft offers free, downloadable Express Editions of Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual C++, and Visual Web Developer.
Acquiring MSDN: To activate the MSDN subscription, you must perform an additional step while retrieving your license keys from the Microsoft eOpen Web site. After you enter the authorization code, follow the Activating MSDN Subscriptions link to display the Microsoft Developer Network subscriptions Web page. There, you enter your eOpen authorization code in the promotional code field, specify either CD-ROM or DVD-ROM for your software medium and subsequent updates, and activate your subscription.
Acquiring the License Key and Installation Media: Installing this product requires a license key and installation media. Instructions for obtaining the license key will be sent to your organisation email address after your request has been approved.
- 1.6-GHz (or higher) Pentium III processor
- 384 MB RAM (768 MB for Windows Vista)
- 2.2 GB available hard-disk space
- 5400-rpm hard drive
- DVD-ROM drive
- 1024x768-pixel or higher-resolution display with 256 colors
- Windows Server 2003 (x86 and x64) with Service Pack 1, all editions
- Windows Server 2003 R2 (x86 and x64), all editions
- Windows XP (x86 and x64) with Service Pack 2, all editions except Starter
- Windows Vista (x86 and x64), all editions except Starter
- Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.5 or later
- For local installation of the MSDN Library (optional) — 1.8 GB available disk space
- High-speed Internet connection recommended
- Under the Software Assurance program, customers acquire the right to install any new release of products covered in the agreement during the term of their coverage.
- Includes integrated Visual Database Tools for designing databases, tables, stored procedures, and data-driven, dynamic applications
- With ASP.NET 3.5, supports AJAX-style interactive Web applications and services such as forms authentication and caching for all content types, not just ASP.NET Web pages
- Includes Visual Studio Tools for Office, which allows development of Office-based applications and add-ons to the Office interface to give users access to data in back-end systems
- Includes integrated support for unit testing, which was previously available only in Visual Studio Team System products
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