Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition is a comprehensive set of tools that accelerates the process of turning the developers vision into reality. Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition was engineered to support development projects that target the Web (including ASP AJAX), Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, SQL Server 2008, and Windows Mobile devices.Main Features:Build applications that utilize the latest Web technologies with improved support for AJAX and Web Contro...

The best professional development tool out there,, 24 Aug 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition provides a full-featured development environment for Windows and Web developers. It offers productivity enhancements for building data-driven client and Web applications. Individual developers looking to create connected applications with next-generation user experiences will find Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition a perfect fit.Main Features:Design high-performance applications: Create and deploy compelling Windows and Web applications using new visual designers and m...

The best professional development tool out there,, 24 Aug 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 04 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

The ability to target multiple versions of the framework from within one development environment is a great advantage, now you don't need to have multiple versions of Visual Studio installed this one version can target version 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 of the dot net framework. The unit test features previously only available in the Team Suite editions of the product are now available in the professional edition.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 03 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

Reduce complexity and ease data integration by using powerful design tools and task panes to design for ASP, PHP and XML. Seamlessly integrate Web design and development teams with the powerful combination of Expression Web 2 and Visual Studio 2008. Unleash your creative ideas and bring your Web sites to life with sophisticated CSS design features. Visual designers, specialized task panes, and tool bars give you precise control of page layout and formatting. Import layered artwork from Adobe Photoshop or sl...

The best professional development tool out there,, 24 Aug 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 04 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

The ability to target multiple versions of the framework from within one development environment is a great advantage, now you don't need to have multiple versions of Visual Studio installed this one version can target version 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 of the dot net framework. The unit test features previously only available in the Team Suite editions of the product are now available in the professional edition.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 03 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.


Great web design software, 18 Aug 2008
I don't understand why Expression Web has grown in popularity. Microsoft really have come up trumps for once. Its a small install, way smaller than Dreamweaver, intuaitive and incredibly effective. Its also massivley cheaper than Adobe's baby.

I have used Dreamweaver for sometime and it now seems to have gone the way of most Microsoft offerings. Its bloated, too complicated and annoyingly produces messy propriety code. It also has restritive licensing and poor upgrade routes.

Expression Web just churns out fully XHTML compliant code and doesn't even add anything in the meta data to say its produced it (very unusual these days). It links well with ASP pages and has enough .net snippets in there for those who want the power of asp pages but don't want to learn and has good design attributes. It also integrates nicely with Visual Studio.

It also has a number of useful tools. For example it will highlight non-compliant code, just hover over it and it will tell you what the issue is. If you have a legacy page, just right click on it and select XML formatting and it will update the code to XHTML compliance - brilliantly simle and it doesn't break anything in the process

Where it really shines though is the CSS creator. Its just so powerful and easy to use. Click on an item and open the css modifier and all the avaiable properties and attributes are there for you to play with. It will then neatly add them all into an external style sheet in full css 2 complaint code. This is a trick that Dreamweaver has been struggling with for a while now.

The main downside is lack of support for other activie scripting languages but now it does support PHP (although this is a bit fiddly to get going). This also supports Intellisnse and code snippets. This makes it a very viable alternative to Dreamweaver - particularly those who don't have such a web package (although if you are a DW user see my note about upgrade routes).

Other than that, if pure XHTML with ASP or PHP and fanatstic CSS support is all you need then by this. Its streets ahead of Dremweaver in these areas.

Just as a final note, if you own Office (any version), Dreamweaver, Go Live, Flash or Director (any version) or Front Page then you qualify for the upgrade version which is only £99.

Interesting upgrade routes, 17 Aug 2008
I will save a full prodcut review for the main product as more people who haven't used Expression Web before are likely to look there but I thought I'd comment on Microsoft's choice of upgrade paths which are generous to say the least (unlike Adobe's attempt at daylight robbery with Dreamweaver).

You qualify to use the upgrade license if you have any of the following:

* Expression Web 1 or Expression Studio 1

*Any of the following Adobe packages (any version) - Creative Suite, Dreamweaver, Flash, Director, Go Live

* Microsoft Office (any version)

* Front Page (any version)

This is about the broadest upgrade route I have ever seen and must be welcomed in today's world of complicated EULA's (please note the above is straight of the box - I have a copy).

It also shows how serious Microsoft is about broadening the appeal of Expression Web which is a good thing because it really is an excellent package.

Not sure and own any of the above software. Then download the trial and see what you think (you won't be disappointed). If you like it you can legally buy this upgrade version for just £99. Great value!

Danny B

Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition is a comprehensive set of tools that accelerates the process of turning the developer's vision into reality. Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition was engineered to support development projects that target the Web (including ASP.NET AJAX), Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, The 2007 Microsoft Office system, SQL Server 2008, and Windows Mobile devices. The number of platforms that developers must target to meet business needs is increasing rapidly. Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition provides the integrated toolset for addressing all of these needs by providing a superset of the functionality available in Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition. Today's developers face the challenge of targeting a broad range of platforms and crafting applications that quickly deliver value to the business. Integrated designers and language features in Visual Studio allow developers to build the connected applications demanded by today's businesses while taking advantage of the .NET Framework 3.5 to reduce development time.

The best professional development tool out there,, 24 Aug 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 04 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

The ability to target multiple versions of the framework from within one development environment is a great advantage, now you don't need to have multiple versions of Visual Studio installed this one version can target version 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 of the dot net framework. The unit test features previously only available in the Team Suite editions of the product are now available in the professional edition.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 03 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.


Great web design software, 18 Aug 2008
I don't understand why Expression Web has grown in popularity. Microsoft really have come up trumps for once. Its a small install, way smaller than Dreamweaver, intuaitive and incredibly effective. Its also massivley cheaper than Adobe's baby.

I have used Dreamweaver for sometime and it now seems to have gone the way of most Microsoft offerings. Its bloated, too complicated and annoyingly produces messy propriety code. It also has restritive licensing and poor upgrade routes.

Expression Web just churns out fully XHTML compliant code and doesn't even add anything in the meta data to say its produced it (very unusual these days). It links well with ASP pages and has enough .net snippets in there for those who want the power of asp pages but don't want to learn and has good design attributes. It also integrates nicely with Visual Studio.

It also has a number of useful tools. For example it will highlight non-compliant code, just hover over it and it will tell you what the issue is. If you have a legacy page, just right click on it and select XML formatting and it will update the code to XHTML compliance - brilliantly simle and it doesn't break anything in the process

Where it really shines though is the CSS creator. Its just so powerful and easy to use. Click on an item and open the css modifier and all the avaiable properties and attributes are there for you to play with. It will then neatly add them all into an external style sheet in full css 2 complaint code. This is a trick that Dreamweaver has been struggling with for a while now.

The main downside is lack of support for other activie scripting languages but now it does support PHP (although this is a bit fiddly to get going). This also supports Intellisnse and code snippets. This makes it a very viable alternative to Dreamweaver - particularly those who don't have such a web package (although if you are a DW user see my note about upgrade routes).

Other than that, if pure XHTML with ASP or PHP and fanatstic CSS support is all you need then by this. Its streets ahead of Dremweaver in these areas.

Just as a final note, if you own Office (any version), Dreamweaver, Go Live, Flash or Director (any version) or Front Page then you qualify for the upgrade version which is only £99.

Interesting upgrade routes, 17 Aug 2008
I will save a full prodcut review for the main product as more people who haven't used Expression Web before are likely to look there but I thought I'd comment on Microsoft's choice of upgrade paths which are generous to say the least (unlike Adobe's attempt at daylight robbery with Dreamweaver).

You qualify to use the upgrade license if you have any of the following:

* Expression Web 1 or Expression Studio 1

*Any of the following Adobe packages (any version) - Creative Suite, Dreamweaver, Flash, Director, Go Live

* Microsoft Office (any version)

* Front Page (any version)

This is about the broadest upgrade route I have ever seen and must be welcomed in today's world of complicated EULA's (please note the above is straight of the box - I have a copy).

It also shows how serious Microsoft is about broadening the appeal of Expression Web which is a good thing because it really is an excellent package.

Not sure and own any of the above software. Then download the trial and see what you think (you won't be disappointed). If you like it you can legally buy this upgrade version for just £99. Great value!

Danny B

The best professional development tool out there, 04 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

The ability to target multiple versions of the framework from within one development environment is a great advantage, now you don't need to have multiple versions of Visual Studio installed this one version can target version 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 of the dot net framework. The unit test features previously only available in the Team Suite editions of the product are now available in the professional edition.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 03 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

Visual Studio Standard Edition is an entry point professionaldevelopment tool that maintains the simplicity of the Express linebut delivers access to the powerful development tools necessary toconstruct data-focused client applications n-tier applic

The best professional development tool out there,, 24 Aug 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 04 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

The ability to target multiple versions of the framework from within one development environment is a great advantage, now you don't need to have multiple versions of Visual Studio installed this one version can target version 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 of the dot net framework. The unit test features previously only available in the Team Suite editions of the product are now available in the professional edition.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 03 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.


Great web design software, 18 Aug 2008
I don't understand why Expression Web has grown in popularity. Microsoft really have come up trumps for once. Its a small install, way smaller than Dreamweaver, intuaitive and incredibly effective. Its also massivley cheaper than Adobe's baby.

I have used Dreamweaver for sometime and it now seems to have gone the way of most Microsoft offerings. Its bloated, too complicated and annoyingly produces messy propriety code. It also has restritive licensing and poor upgrade routes.

Expression Web just churns out fully XHTML compliant code and doesn't even add anything in the meta data to say its produced it (very unusual these days). It links well with ASP pages and has enough .net snippets in there for those who want the power of asp pages but don't want to learn and has good design attributes. It also integrates nicely with Visual Studio.

It also has a number of useful tools. For example it will highlight non-compliant code, just hover over it and it will tell you what the issue is. If you have a legacy page, just right click on it and select XML formatting and it will update the code to XHTML compliance - brilliantly simle and it doesn't break anything in the process

Where it really shines though is the CSS creator. Its just so powerful and easy to use. Click on an item and open the css modifier and all the avaiable properties and attributes are there for you to play with. It will then neatly add them all into an external style sheet in full css 2 complaint code. This is a trick that Dreamweaver has been struggling with for a while now.

The main downside is lack of support for other activie scripting languages but now it does support PHP (although this is a bit fiddly to get going). This also supports Intellisnse and code snippets. This makes it a very viable alternative to Dreamweaver - particularly those who don't have such a web package (although if you are a DW user see my note about upgrade routes).

Other than that, if pure XHTML with ASP or PHP and fanatstic CSS support is all you need then by this. Its streets ahead of Dremweaver in these areas.

Just as a final note, if you own Office (any version), Dreamweaver, Go Live, Flash or Director (any version) or Front Page then you qualify for the upgrade version which is only £99.

Interesting upgrade routes, 17 Aug 2008
I will save a full prodcut review for the main product as more people who haven't used Expression Web before are likely to look there but I thought I'd comment on Microsoft's choice of upgrade paths which are generous to say the least (unlike Adobe's attempt at daylight robbery with Dreamweaver).

You qualify to use the upgrade license if you have any of the following:

* Expression Web 1 or Expression Studio 1

*Any of the following Adobe packages (any version) - Creative Suite, Dreamweaver, Flash, Director, Go Live

* Microsoft Office (any version)

* Front Page (any version)

This is about the broadest upgrade route I have ever seen and must be welcomed in today's world of complicated EULA's (please note the above is straight of the box - I have a copy).

It also shows how serious Microsoft is about broadening the appeal of Expression Web which is a good thing because it really is an excellent package.

Not sure and own any of the above software. Then download the trial and see what you think (you won't be disappointed). If you like it you can legally buy this upgrade version for just £99. Great value!

Danny B

The best professional development tool out there, 04 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

The ability to target multiple versions of the framework from within one development environment is a great advantage, now you don't need to have multiple versions of Visual Studio installed this one version can target version 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 of the dot net framework. The unit test features previously only available in the Team Suite editions of the product are now available in the professional edition.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 03 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.


A comprehensive development environment for professional developers., 27 Dec 2007
The first edition of Visual studio 2005 to provide what I would call professional features such as remote debugging, integration with SQL server 2005 and a truly integrated environment. Still if you are looking for the edge then you should consider the team system or one of the specialised team editions which can provide a greater degree of professionalism to your development effort.
Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition is a comprehensive, high productivity professional development environment (for devs working alone or in small teams) for building high performance, multi-tier applications for Windows, the Web, and mobile devices.
With Visual Studio 2005, professional developers can:
* Create multi-tier Windows, Web, SmartPhone, and Pocket PC based applications
* Integrated Visual Database Tools for designing databases, tables, stored procedures, and more
* Integrated database report designer and viewer
* Design, debug, and deploy multi-tier applications
* Integrated XSLT debugging


A not so comprehensive development environment for individual amateur developers., 27 Dec 2007
This is the most basic of the commercial versions of visual studio available and should only be considered by somebody who wants a more integrated development enviorment than that provided by the express editions.
This version does not support remote debugging, provide server explorer or integrate with SQL server; nor does it support office development. For those of you who want a truely professional environment look at the Professional Edition
Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition is a comprehensive, high productivity professional development environment (for devs working alone) for building high performance, multi-tier applications for Windows, Web, and common consumer mobile devices.
* The ideal tool for the part-time or occasional developer.
* Support for Visual Basic, C#, C++, and J# languages.
* Develop and deploy client-server based Windows, Web, SmartPhone, and Pocket PC applications.
* "Drag and drop" user interface designers for virtually every type of application
* Includes a built-in Web server for testing Web applications, IIS is not needed


A comprehensive development environment for professional developers., 27 Dec 2007
Buy now and because of the MSDN subscription get VS 2008 straight away!

The first edition of Visual studio 2005 to provide what I would call professional features such as remote debugging, integration with SQL server 2005 and a truly integrated environment. Still if you are looking for the edge then you should consider the team system or one of the specialised team editions which can provide a greater degree of professionalism to your development effort.
Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition is a comprehensive, high productivity professional development environment (for devs working alone or in small teams) for building high performance, multi-tier applications for Windows, the Web, and mobile devices.
With Visual Studio 2005, professional developers can:
* Create multi-tier Windows, Web, SmartPhone, and Pocket PC based applications
* Integrated Visual Database Tools for designing databases, tables, stored procedures, and more
* Integrated database report designer and viewer
* Design, debug, and deploy multi-tier applications
* Integrated XSLT debugging


A comprehensive development environment for professional developers., 27 Dec 2007
The first edition of Visual studio 2005 to provide what I would call professional features such as remote debugging, integration with SQL server 2005 and a truly integrated environment. Still if you are looking for the edge then you should consider the team system or one of the specialised team editions which can provide a greater degree of professionalism to your development effort.
Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition is a comprehensive, high productivity professional development environment (for devs working alone or in small teams) for building high performance, multi-tier applications for Windows, the Web, and mobile devices.
With Visual Studio 2005, professional developers can:
* Create multi-tier Windows, Web, SmartPhone, and Pocket PC based applications
* Integrated Visual Database Tools for designing databases, tables, stored procedures, and more
* Integrated database report designer and viewer
* Design, debug, and deploy multi-tier applications
* Integrated XSLT debugging


Great suite of software, 24 Nov 2007
It's a great deal of software (operating systems, development tools, etc) with free upgrades for 2 years and is the cheapest way to get your hands on it all. Sure at £1800 quid it's a lot of money but its still great value, although if you look at the pricing in
However, if you compare the US Dollar price and the current exchange rate, it does make you wish you could buy at the US pricing.

Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition provides a full-featured development environment for Windows and Web developers. It offers productivity enhancements for building data-driven client and Web applications. Individual developers looking to create connected applications with next-generation user experiences will find Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition a perfect fit.Main Features:Design high-performance applications: Create and deploy compelling Windows and Web applications using new visual designers and m...

The best professional development tool out there,, 24 Aug 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 04 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

The ability to target multiple versions of the framework from within one development environment is a great advantage, now you don't need to have multiple versions of Visual Studio installed this one version can target version 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 of the dot net framework. The unit test features previously only available in the Team Suite editions of the product are now available in the professional edition.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 03 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.


Great web design software, 18 Aug 2008
I don't understand why Expression Web has grown in popularity. Microsoft really have come up trumps for once. Its a small install, way smaller than Dreamweaver, intuaitive and incredibly effective. Its also massivley cheaper than Adobe's baby.

I have used Dreamweaver for sometime and it now seems to have gone the way of most Microsoft offerings. Its bloated, too complicated and annoyingly produces messy propriety code. It also has restritive licensing and poor upgrade routes.

Expression Web just churns out fully XHTML compliant code and doesn't even add anything in the meta data to say its produced it (very unusual these days). It links well with ASP pages and has enough .net snippets in there for those who want the power of asp pages but don't want to learn and has good design attributes. It also integrates nicely with Visual Studio.

It also has a number of useful tools. For example it will highlight non-compliant code, just hover over it and it will tell you what the issue is. If you have a legacy page, just right click on it and select XML formatting and it will update the code to XHTML compliance - brilliantly simle and it doesn't break anything in the process

Where it really shines though is the CSS creator. Its just so powerful and easy to use. Click on an item and open the css modifier and all the avaiable properties and attributes are there for you to play with. It will then neatly add them all into an external style sheet in full css 2 complaint code. This is a trick that Dreamweaver has been struggling with for a while now.

The main downside is lack of support for other activie scripting languages but now it does support PHP (although this is a bit fiddly to get going). This also supports Intellisnse and code snippets. This makes it a very viable alternative to Dreamweaver - particularly those who don't have such a web package (although if you are a DW user see my note about upgrade routes).

Other than that, if pure XHTML with ASP or PHP and fanatstic CSS support is all you need then by this. Its streets ahead of Dremweaver in these areas.

Just as a final note, if you own Office (any version), Dreamweaver, Go Live, Flash or Director (any version) or Front Page then you qualify for the upgrade version which is only £99.

Interesting upgrade routes, 17 Aug 2008
I will save a full prodcut review for the main product as more people who haven't used Expression Web before are likely to look there but I thought I'd comment on Microsoft's choice of upgrade paths which are generous to say the least (unlike Adobe's attempt at daylight robbery with Dreamweaver).

You qualify to use the upgrade license if you have any of the following:

* Expression Web 1 or Expression Studio 1

*Any of the following Adobe packages (any version) - Creative Suite, Dreamweaver, Flash, Director, Go Live

* Microsoft Office (any version)

* Front Page (any version)

This is about the broadest upgrade route I have ever seen and must be welcomed in today's world of complicated EULA's (please note the above is straight of the box - I have a copy).

It also shows how serious Microsoft is about broadening the appeal of Expression Web which is a good thing because it really is an excellent package.

Not sure and own any of the above software. Then download the trial and see what you think (you won't be disappointed). If you like it you can legally buy this upgrade version for just £99. Great value!

Danny B

The best professional development tool out there, 04 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

The ability to target multiple versions of the framework from within one development environment is a great advantage, now you don't need to have multiple versions of Visual Studio installed this one version can target version 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 of the dot net framework. The unit test features previously only available in the Team Suite editions of the product are now available in the professional edition.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 03 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication techniques for AJAX/JSON-enabled websites.
b. New ASP.NET controls that allow for better page management and templates.
- Native support for RSS and REST by the Windows Communication Foundation.

4. Build stunning applications for windows vista (improved WPF and Smart Client tools)
- Build powerful Windows-based applications that take advantage of Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation to make your applications really stand out.
- Benefit from Smart Client application enhancements that improve deployment and disconnected scenarios.

5. Build higher quality applications with integrated unit testing (Previously only available in team suite editions)
- Powerful unit-testing tools are now integrated directly into Visual Studio Professional.

6. ENJOY great support for designing web applications (Visual Studio Web Authoring Component)
- Cascading style sheet and HTML editors have been greatly enhanced for productivity gains.
- Breakthrough JavaScript support has been integrated within Visual Studio 2008, including IntelliSense and debugging.

7. Build applications that run on multiple versions of THE .net Framework (Multi-Targeted Complier)
- With previous versions of Visual Studio, you could only build applications that ran on one version of the .NET Framework; now you can use one tool - Visual Studio 2008 -- to build applications that work with .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5.

8. Build office-based applications (Enhanced Office development tools)
- Visual Studio 2008 Professional now includes tools for Office development.
- Built-in tools help make Office look-and-feel interfaces, like the "fluent ribbon", quickly and easily.
- Click-Once deployment for applications built for Office using Visual Studio 2008.

9. Use workflow and communication tools (integrated WF & WCF tools)
- Built-in tools for developing business logic using Windows Workflow Foundation enables modelling of real-world business processes in software. This includes a workflow designer, project templates and a workflow debugger.
- Built-in tools for implementing communications software with Windows Communication Foundation, providing support for a wide array of transports and protocols.

10. Benefit from performance and stability across the board
- The highest quality Visual Studio release ever ensures that you are more productive during development.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.


A comprehensive development environment for professional developers., 27 Dec 2007
The first edition of Visual studio 2005 to provide what I would call professional features such as remote debugging, integration with SQL server 2005 and a truly integrated environment. Still if you are looking for the edge then you should consider the team system or one of the specialised team editions which can provide a greater degree of professionalism to your development effort.
Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition is a comprehensive, high productivity professional development environment (for devs working alone or in small teams) for building high performance, multi-tier applications for Windows, the Web, and mobile devices.
With Visual Studio 2005, professional developers can:
* Create multi-tier Windows, Web, SmartPhone, and Pocket PC based applications
* Integrated Visual Database Tools for designing databases, tables, stored procedures, and more
* Integrated database report designer and viewer
* Design, debug, and deploy multi-tier applications
* Integrated XSLT debugging


A not so comprehensive development environment for individual amateur developers., 27 Dec 2007
This is the most basic of the commercial versions of visual studio available and should only be considered by somebody who wants a more integrated development enviorment than that provided by the express editions.
This version does not support remote debugging, provide server explorer or integrate with SQL server; nor does it support office development. For those of you who want a truely professional environment look at the Professional Edition
Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition is a comprehensive, high productivity professional development environment (for devs working alone) for building high performance, multi-tier applications for Windows, Web, and common consumer mobile devices.
* The ideal tool for the part-time or occasional developer.
* Support for Visual Basic, C#, C++, and J# languages.
* Develop and deploy client-server based Windows, Web, SmartPhone, and Pocket PC applications.
* "Drag and drop" user interface designers for virtually every type of application
* Includes a built-in Web server for testing Web applications, IIS is not needed


A comprehensive development environment for professional developers., 27 Dec 2007
Buy now and because of the MSDN subscription get VS 2008 straight away!

The first edition of Visual studio 2005 to provide what I would call professional features such as remote debugging, integration with SQL server 2005 and a truly integrated environment. Still if you are looking for the edge then you should consider the team system or one of the specialised team editions which can provide a greater degree of professionalism to your development effort.
Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition is a comprehensive, high productivity professional development environment (for devs working alone or in small teams) for building high performance, multi-tier applications for Windows, the Web, and mobile devices.
With Visual Studio 2005, professional developers can:
* Create multi-tier Windows, Web, SmartPhone, and Pocket PC based applications
* Integrated Visual Database Tools for designing databases, tables, stored procedures, and more
* Integrated database report designer and viewer
* Design, debug, and deploy multi-tier applications
* Integrated XSLT debugging


A comprehensive development environment for professional developers., 27 Dec 2007
The first edition of Visual studio 2005 to provide what I would call professional features such as remote debugging, integration with SQL server 2005 and a truly integrated environment. Still if you are looking for the edge then you should consider the team system or one of the specialised team editions which can provide a greater degree of professionalism to your development effort.
Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition is a comprehensive, high productivity professional development environment (for devs working alone or in small teams) for building high performance, multi-tier applications for Windows, the Web, and mobile devices.
With Visual Studio 2005, professional developers can:
* Create multi-tier Windows, Web, SmartPhone, and Pocket PC based applications
* Integrated Visual Database Tools for designing databases, tables, stored procedures, and more
* Integrated database report designer and viewer
* Design, debug, and deploy multi-tier applications
* Integrated XSLT debugging


Great suite of software, 24 Nov 2007
It's a great deal of software (operating systems, development tools, etc) with free upgrades for 2 years and is the cheapest way to get your hands on it all. Sure at £1800 quid it's a lot of money but its still great value, although if you look at the pricing in
However, if you compare the US Dollar price and the current exchange rate, it does make you wish you could buy at the US pricing.

The best professional development tool out there, 04 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

The ability to target multiple versions of the framework from within one development environment is a great advantage, now you don't need to have multiple versions of Visual Studio installed this one version can target version 2.0, 3.0 and 3.5 of the dot net framework. The unit test features previously only available in the Team Suite editions of the product are now available in the professional edition.

If you develop software using Microsoft technologies then you should use this new version of Visual Studio.

The best professional development tool out there, 03 Feb 2008
Normally a new release of a development environment is just a small number of enhancements and a few minor changes to the language features. With this release of Visual Studio Microsoft have almost created an entirely new experience for the developer. Core language enhancements such as LINQ and extension methods combined with major changes to the tools such as IntelliSense for JavaScript make this a must have version of this already great development environment.

Ten reasons to upgrade to this version:
1. Work with data in a unified and integrated way (LINQ)
- Be more productive by using a single approach to querying and manipulating data that's integrated with the way you write code -- in the programming language.
- Use a single model to query and transform XML, SQL Server and object data with Language-Integrated Query, helping you focus on what you need the data to do rather than how you are going to access the data.

2. Work with user interface designers (Common Project Format with Expression products)
- Share user interface assets, such as design elements and controls, with graphic designers that use Microsoft Expression: both Microsoft Expression Web (ASP.NET) and Microsoft Expression Blend (WPF) are supported.

3. Employ the latest web user interface techniques
- New support for web server communication te