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Visual Studio Express Announcements!

Dan
Posted by Dan // Wed, Apr 19, 2006 1:22 PM


Fellow C9'ers,

Since many of you are Visual Studio Express users, I thought you all would want to hear that we are making Express free permanently and we have plenty of new code for you to play with

Here's the announcement I posted to my blog earlier
_ _ _ _

Dear Visual Studio Express community,

We are incredibly excited to announce that effective April 19th, 2006, all Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions including Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual J#, Visual C++, and Visual Web Developer Express will be free permanently!

 

Prior to this pricing announcement, Visual Studio Express Editions were promotionally discounted to be free for one year, starting on November 7th, 2005. With this announcement, the promotional discount for Visual Studio Express is now permanent and Express will continue to be free.

 

The key reason for the pricing change was you. You’ve helped make Visual Studio Express a runaway hit, and we’re proud to announce that in the five months since its launch, Express has been downloaded over 5 million times!

 

In addition to announcing that Express is free, we also have some very cool new content with something for everyone including:

 

Microsoft .NET Interface for Lego Mindstorms Starter Kit
The Microsoft .NET interface for Lego Mindstorms enables you to programmatically control Lego Mindstorms directly from Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual J#, or Visual C++ Express. We also have a dedicated sub-page on Coding4Fun on programming Lego Mindstorms with Express.

 

Beta: Skype Wrapper for .NET Starter Kit

The Beta of the Skype Wrapper for .NET Starter Kit is a managed code wrapper with samples that enables to programmatically connect and consume Skype services from Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual J#, or Visual C++ Express.

 

MediaShare Messenger Starter Kit
The Media Share Messenger Starter Kit is a fully functioning Visual C++ Express custom chat client that enables you to send instant messages to your friends and even share your music collection with them over a local area network (LAN).

 

Annotated Travel Log Starter Kit

The Annotated Travel Log Starter Kit is a fully functioning Visual C++ Express travel planning and tracking application you can use to manage your travel plans & routes, as well as track and record your progress.

 

Beta: Classifieds Site Starter Kit

The Classifieds Site Starter Kit Beta provides a complete, ready to run, fully customizable, Web site for listing and managing classified advertisements with Visual Web Developer Express and SQL Server Express.

 

Teacher Starter Kit

The Teacher Starter Kit is a rich client application for keeping track of students, course rosters, and assessments or grades using Visual Basic or Visual C# Express.

 

Maker Faire Demo: Dancing4Fun

The Dancing4Fun demo is a homemade version of the popular Dance, Dance, Revolution arcade game using Phidgets touchpad sensors to time your dancing just right.

 

Maker Faire Demo: MSN Spaces Photo Booth

The MSN Spaces Photo Booth demo shows how you can integrate a pan-and-tilt web cam, and an Xbox 360 controller to dynamically upload pictures to your MSN Spaces Web site.

 

Maker Faire Demo: Skype Home Automation

The Skype Home Automation extends the Skype Starter Kit to show how you can use an instant messaging application to communicate with a home server for the purposes of automation and monitoring, like checking if the lights are on, or even play your favorite music.

 

How-To Videos: Windows Forms Controls

These bite-sized 5-15 minute videos that show how to use common Windows Forms controls including the SoundPlayer, FlowLayout, NotifyIcon, Button, and other controls using Visual Basic or Visual C# Express.

 

Video Series: SQL Server 2005 Express for Beginners
This four-hour video series is designed for beginners who are interested in learning the basics of how to create and manage data using SQL Server 2005 Express.

 

Video Series: Learn how to create Rocket Commander

Watch and learn how to create professional looking 3D games like RocketCommander using Managed DirectX and Visual C# Express in this 10-part instructional video series. 

 

Webcast Series: Tools for the Hobbyist Developer
The Tools for the Hobbyist Developer webcast series covers the spectrum of Express content including game development, programming for hardware, database development and more.

 

Meet the Express and Coding4Fun Team at Maker Faire
For those of you in the San Mateo, California area on April 22nd and 23rd, stop on by Maker Faire and say hello to us in person!

 

Made In Express Contest

The Made In Express contest is your chance to shine and win $10,000 in prizes by building a cool, fun project using Visual Studio and SQL Server Express. To enter, just submit your idea.

 

Our thanks again to you, the Visual Studio Express community, for making Express so successful and we hope to continue building great tools and samples to enable the next generation of developers.

 

Happy coding,

- Visual Studio Express & Coding4Fun Team
  Shiv
  Nothing is forever, So try to extend the something
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 1:28 PM
Dan wrote:

Since many of you are Visual Studio Express users, I thought you all would want to hear that we are making Express free permanently and we have plenty of new code for you to play with


Though expected and long awaited announcement it is great to hear none the less. only today one of my friend came to know about express editions he will get one copy from me tomorrow. it is a true gift to all students. thank you for all those involved in this effort.
  littleguru
  sun is back...
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 1:33 PM

Hey. This is cool



  ddewbofh
  Code you infidels, code!
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 1:35 PM
It's indeed a cool thing to do, visual studio is my all-time favourite IDE. Keeping it free is great for weekend coders like me, good call.
  billh
 
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 1:37 PM
Well, it's about time!

I've thought about downloading an Express version for a while. I've been using SharpDevelop and I'm wondering how the two compare...guess I'll have to find out.

btw, I'm going to start filling your Sandbox, Charles, with some whiz-bang C# programs, yo.
  littleguru
  sun is back...
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 1:37 PM
One thing that bothers me (just a tiny little bit): Why aren't the samples in all language the same? I ses that there are samples in C++ that aren't available in other languages, for example.
  Manni
  The Force be with You
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 1:40 PM
Nice, nice!

And thanks.
  Dan
 
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 2:36 PM
littleguru wrote:
One thing that bothers me (just a tiny little bit): Why aren't the samples in all language the same? I ses that there are samples in C++ that aren't available in other languages, for example.



Good question

We certainly drive to have language equality where possible. It's amusing because VB, C#, and Visual Web Developer Express have had Starter Kits since November, and the C++ community at that time was feeling left out, now the reverse is true

The short answer is that those kits are in C++ because the C++ team created them. We don't have a central cross-group "Starter Kit" team, although individual teams meet weekly. A lot of time it just comes down to whether the individual teams have the resources or not.

Thanks,
-Dan
  rjdohnert
  Homo Sapien 2.0 RC1
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 2:50 PM
Its like Christmas in April!!!!  It feels like we won the "Price is Right" without the beautiful women of course.
  CannotResolveSymbol
  [insert catchy phrase here]
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 3:06 PM
I'm actually doing a project with Lego Mindstorms right now for a freshman engineering class.  If only the .Net Interface for Mindstorms could make autonomous programs...  then I could actually use it.  As is, infrared communication is too slow to meet the requirements of our project (and the robot has to be autonomous anyways).
  rjdohnert
  Homo Sapien 2.0 RC1
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 3:18 PM
Heres your chance to make the improvements you need and to do what you want with the project.  Your creativity is the only limitation

CannotResolveSymbol wrote:
I'm actually doing a project with Lego Mindstorms right now for a freshman engineering class.  If only the .Net Interface for Mindstorms could make autonomous programs...  then I could actually use it.  As is, infrared communication is too slow to meet the requirements of our project (and the robot has to be autonomous anyways).
  DoomBringer
  Doom!
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 3:20 PM
Spiffy.
  Xaero_Vincent
  Evil has awaken...
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 3:30 PM

Now thats news to dance around about!!




Regards,
Vincent
  Dan
 
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 6:27 PM
rjdohnert wrote:
Its like Christmas in April!!!!  It feels like we won the "Price is Right" without the beautiful women of course.


I think you win the award for best Express quote

  blowdart
  ILOVEBUNNY32=1
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 6:28 PM
Dan wrote:
rjdohnert wrote:
Its like Christmas in April!!!!  It feels like we won the "Price is Right" without the beautiful women of course.


I think you win the award for best Express quote


Now please fix the SQL Express upgrade process. Please!
  ZippyV
  Fired Up
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 6:29 PM
Happily playing on my Xbox with Halo 2 (and PGR 2 and Fable) !

  Sven Groot
 
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 6:34 PM
Dan wrote:
Microsoft .NET Interface for Lego Mindstorms Starter Kit

My god, where was this 4 years ago when I had to do an assignment for the course in AI with a Lego Mindstorms robot? Having to program in NQC (Not Quite C, which in practice is actually Nothing Like C) nearly lobotomized me!
  Charles
  Welcome Change
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 6:48 PM
This is wonderful news!!!

Thank you VS Team!!!



C

PS: billh, please add to the Sandbox. Often!
  BruceLee
 
 
  Wed, Apr 19 2006 10:12 PM
This is good news to many people. A right decision.
  androidi
 
 
  Thu, Apr 20 2006 3:49 AM
This is bad news!


The implied reason for the 1 year of free downloads was that after that time was over, there would be VS "Orcas" Express for free.

What I make of this news:

VS "Orcas" Express might not be free. (Or might never come)

VS "Orcas" won't be here in the previously implied time.




  die-Sel
 
 
  Thu, Apr 20 2006 3:57 AM
This is great news for part-time coders.

As for SharpeDevelop, its a good IDE but just isnt ready for mainstream use to be honest. I would guess that within the next 2 versions, it will be a serious challenge for VSE.

I have just picked up VS Professional 2 weeks ago but berfore that i used the Express Copies.




  Dan
 
 
  Thu, Apr 20 2006 1:30 PM
androidi wrote:
This is bad news!


The implied reason for the 1 year of free downloads was that after that time was over, there would be VS "Orcas" Express for free.

What I make of this news:

VS "Orcas" Express might not be free. (Or might never come)

VS "Orcas" won't be here in the previously implied time.




Hmm, not sure I follow, the free for one year had nothing to do with Visual Studio "Orcas". We've never talked about when Visual Studio "Orcas" (Express or otherwise) would be released so I don't know how you can imply something when we've literally said nothing about it.

Thanks,
-Dan
  emaroudas
 
 
  Thu, Apr 20 2006 5:01 PM
Cool! Present of the year. Are you guys at Microsoft getting all soft on us?

Thanks Visual Studio Express & Coding4Fun Team, you guys ROCK!

Rock on!

  sgomez
  Yada yada yada!
 
  Thu, Apr 20 2006 5:42 PM
cool! very cool!
Thax guys, great job!

.seb
http://sgomez.blogspot.com
  Shark_M
  HP fan
 
  Thu, Apr 20 2006 6:05 PM
Hey Dan.

I am really really really happy to hear this news. It will make Visual Studio Express a hit among young developers and especially students world wide.

But I gotta ask. What is the catch ? What is the benifit side for microsoft in making the express editions free? Is it promoting .NET Framework 2.0? or are there good economical reasons for doing so.


But yeah, I am happy to hear this news...
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