View source for Microsoft Visual Studio Express

{{Short description|Integrated development environment}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Microsoft Visual Studio Express
| logo = Visual Studio 2012 logo and wordmark.svg
| screenshot = Visual Studio Express 2012 for Desktop.png
| caption = Visual Studio Express 2012 for Desktop, developing a Windows app called ''Wikipedia Recon Drone''
| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| discontinued = yes
| latest_release_version = 2017<ref name="homepage">{{Cite web |url=https://visualstudio.com/products/visual-studio-express-vs |title=Visual Studio Express |website=VisualStudio.com |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref>
| latest_release_date = {{release date and age|2017|3|7}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/install/visual-studio-build-numbers-and-release-dates?view=vs-2017 |title=Visual Studio build numbers and release dates |website=Visual Studio documentation |via=[[Microsoft Docs]] |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref>
| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows]]
| genre = [[Integrated development environment]]
| license = [[Freeware]], [[registerware]]<ref name="registration" />
| website = {{url|https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/express/}}
}}

{{update|date=September 2022}}
'''Microsoft Visual Studio Express''' was a set of [[integrated development environment]]s (IDEs) that [[Microsoft]] developed and [[freeware|released free of charge]]. They are function-limited version of the non-free [[Visual Studio]] and require mandatory registration.<ref name="registration">{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/express/support/RegFAQ/ |title=Registration FAQ |website=microsoft.com |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205213222/http://www.microsoft.com/express/support/RegFAQ/ |archive-date=5 December 2007}}</ref> Express editions started with Visual Studio 2005.

In 2013, Microsoft began supplanting Visual Studio Express with the more feature-rich Community edition of Visual Studio, which is available free of charge<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/news/vs2013-community-vs.aspx |title=Visual Studio Community 2013 Announcement |website=VisualStudio.com |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |date=12 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113011704/http://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/news/vs2013-community-vs.aspx |archive-date=13 November 2014}}</ref> with a different license that disallow some scenarios in enterprise settings. The last version of the Express edition is the desktop-only 2017.

==2005–2010: Language-centric editions==
===History===
Visual Studio 2005 Express, the first version of the Express edition, was released in October 2005. It runs on [[Windows 2000|Windows 2000 SP4]] and later. The first [[service pack]] for 2005 Express was released in December 2006. This version is freeware and requires no registration.

Visual Studio 2008 Express reached general availability in November 2007. Its first service pack was first publicly available in on 11 August 2008. This version requires [[Windows XP SP3]], although it can develop apps compatible with Windows 2000. Microsoft introduced mandatory registration in this version.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/express/Support/ |title=Support |website=microsoft.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205213222/http://www.microsoft.com/express/support/ |archive-date=5 December 2007 }}</ref>

Visual Studio 2010 Express was released in April 2010, alongside Visual Studio 2010. While most of its components (see below) ran on Windows XP, its [[Windows Phone]] component needed [[Windows Vista]].

===Characteristics===
The 2005, 2008, and 2010 versions of Visual Studio Express consist of several standalone IDEs, each of which is focused on a single programming language:

* Visual Basic Express (the [[Visual Basic .NET]] language)
* Visual C++ Express (the [[Visual C++]] language)
* Visual C# Express (the [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]] language)
* Visual J# Express (the ill-fated [[J Sharp|J#]] language, 2005 only)
* Visual Web Developer Express ([[ASP.NET]])
* Visual Studio Express for Windows Phone (2010 only)

===Visual Basic Express===
Visual Basic Express has the following limitations:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/b4z62wxz(VS.80).aspx|title=Visual Basic 2005 Editions |publisher=Microsoft Corporation|access-date=2007-07-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/b4z62wxz.aspx|title=Visual Basic 2008 Editions |publisher=Microsoft Corporation|access-date=2009-04-30}}</ref>
* No IDE support for databases other than [[SQL Server Express]] and [[Microsoft Access]]
* No support for web applications with [[ASP.NET]] (although, it is supported by Visual Web Developer Express)
* No support for developing for mobile devices (no templates or [[Emulator|emulators]])
* Absence of [[Crystal Reports]]
* Fewer project templates (e.g. Windows services template and Excel Workbook template are unavailable)
* Limited options for [[debugging]] and [[breakpoint]]s
* No support for creating [[Windows Service]]s (needs a separate project template)
* No support for [[OpenMP]]
* Limited deployment options for finished programs
* No [[code folding]]

Visual Basic 2008 Express includes the following improvements over 2005:
<!-- ## NOTE: Information still needs updating. ## -->
* Includes the visual [[Windows Presentation Foundation]] designer codenamed "Cider"
* [[Debugging|Debugs]] at runtime
* Better [[IntelliSense]] support
**Fixes common spelling errors
**Corrects most forms of invalid [[Syntax (programming languages)|syntax]]
**Provides suggestions to [[Class (computer science)|class]] names when specified classes are not found
Visual Basic 2005 and Visual Basic 2008 Express feature a Visual Basic 6.0 converter that makes it possible to upgrade Visual Basic 6.0 projects to Visual Basic.NET. The converter is not included with the Visual Basic 2010 Express.

===Visual Web Developer Express===
Visual Web Developer Express is a freeware [[web development]] tool<ref name="vse_faq">{{cite web|url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/express/aa718399.aspx |title=Visual Studio 2005 Express Developer Center - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - questions 23 to 35, especially question 28 |access-date=2011-12-06 |url-status=dead<!--human checked--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406140317/http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/express/aa718399.aspx |archive-date=April 6, 2008 }}</ref> that allows developers to evaluate the web development and editing capabilities of the other Visual Studio editions at no charge. Its main function is to create [[ASP.NET]] websites.  It has a [[WYSIWYG]] interface, drag-and-drop user [[interface designer]], enhanced [[HTML]] and code editors, a limited database explorer, support for [[Cascading Style Sheets|CSS]], [[JavaScript]] and [[XML]], and integrated, design-time validation for standards including  [[XHTML]] 1.0/1.1 and CSS 2.1.

Visual Web Developer 2005 Express lacks certain features, such as the Accessibility Checker, the ability to create standalone class library projects, third-party add-ins and macros.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/mikhailarkhipov/archive/2006/06/26/647516.aspx |title=Which features are missing from Visual Web Developer Express: Mikhail Arkhipov's blog |publisher=Blogs.msdn.com |access-date=2009-06-28}}</ref> Visual Web Developer 2008 Express SP1 supports both class library and web application projects.<ref>{{cite web |author=Scott Guthrie |url=http://aspalliance.com/1664_Visual_Studio_2008_and_NET_Framework_35_Service_Pack_1_Beta_.3 |title=Scott Guthrie's post on VS2008/.NET Framework 3.5 SP1 Beta (bottom of page) |publisher=Aspalliance.com |access-date=2009-06-28}}</ref>  It also includes a new integrated HTML designer based on [[Microsoft Expression Web]]. However, this edition cannot publish self-developed websites.{{clarify|reason = What can it publish then?|date=August 2013}}

===Visual C++ Express ===
Visual C++ Express compiles [[Microsoft .NET|.NET]] and [[Win32]] applications in [[32-bit]] only.<ref>[https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hs24szh9%28v=vs.100%29.aspx Visual C++ Editions (Visual Studio 2010)]</ref><ref>[https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hs24szh9%28v=vs.90%29.aspx Visual C++ Editions (Visual Studio 2008)]</ref> It includes [[Windows SDK]]'s compilers and core files, which developers can use to build Win32 applications.

Limitations of Visual C++ Express:
* No support for [[Microsoft Foundation Class Library|MFC]] or [[Active Template Library|ATL]]. These libraries can, however, be installed from an older version of the Windows SDK and [[Windows Driver Kit]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg487438.aspx#EZLAE|publisher=Microsoft|title=Windows Driver Kit (WDK) Version 7.1.0 Release Notes|date=2010-02-26|access-date=2013-04-27}}</ref> or a Visual Studio Trial installation.
* Lack of a [[Resource (Windows)|resource]] editor, which is available in commercial editions of Visual Studio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hs24szh9(VS.90).aspx|title=Visual C++ Editions |publisher=Microsoft Corporation|access-date=2007-09-29}}</ref>
* No [[Profiling (computer programming)|profiling]] support.
* No support for add-ins or IDE macros.
* No option for crash dump generation.
* No "list of all breakpoints" window.
* No support for cross-language debugging, for example, a C# application calling a [[C++]] DLL.

Limitations in earlier versions:
* No out-of-box support for developing [[64-bit]] applications (prior to 2012).
* No support for [[OpenMP]] (prior to 2012).
* The debugger cannot be attached to a running process (prior to 2010).

While Microsoft lists memory windows as unavailable in Visual Studio 2010 Express,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/s3aw423e.aspx|title=Memory Windows|publisher=Microsoft Corporation|access-date=2011-09-27}}</ref> third parties have reported that they are available when Expert Settings are enabled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kipirvine.com/asm/debug/vstudio2010/index.htm|title=Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Debugger|access-date=2011-09-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://williams.comp.ncat.edu/overflow/MSVShints.htm|title=Visual Studio Hints|publisher=Williams, Kenneth A.|access-date=2011-09-27}}</ref>

Many open-source projects have started providing project files created with Visual C++ Express; noteworthy examples include the [[OGRE Engine|Ogre]] and [[Irrlicht Engine|Irrlicht]] engines. Modding kits for commercial engines, such as Valve's [[Source engine]], also support this development system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Compiler_Choices|title=Source SDK wiki: Compiler Choices|access-date=2009-08-12}}</ref>

===Visual C# Express===
Visual C# Express is a free, lightweight, integrated development environment (IDE) designed for novice developers, students and hobbyists to create applications and (when combined with the [[XNA Game Studio]]) video games for Windows, [[Xbox 360]] and [[Zune]]. It can build [[Command-line interface|console]], [[Windows Forms]] and [[Windows Presentation Foundation]] applications, and class libraries.

Microsoft has found that a substantial community of game players are taking up C# programming.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.csharp-online.net/Visual_CSharp|title=Visual C# at C# Online.NET (CSharp-Online.NET)|publisher=Csharp-online.net wiki|access-date=2010-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csharpfriends.com/|title=C# C Sharp and Tutorials on C# Friends.com|publisher=www.csharpfriends.com/|access-date=2010-02-09|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206115752/http://www.csharpfriends.com/|archive-date=2010-02-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/aa937791.aspx/|title=XNA Developer Center|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=2010-02-09}}</ref>

Visual C# Express does not have a breakpoint control panel; breakpoints can only be toggled. The following [[refactor]]ing modes were also unavailable:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msdner.com/dev-archive/0/35-24-2723.shtm|title=Technologies site about MSDN|publisher=MSDNER|access-date=2007-10-21}}</ref>
* [[Encapsulate Field|Encapsulate field]]
* Promote local to parameter
* Reorder parameters
* Remove parameters
* Extract interface

The limitations effectively reduce the refactoring capabilities of Visual C# Express to renaming and extracting [[Method (programming)|methods]]. According to Microsoft, the reason the listed features are absent is "to simplify the C# Express user experience". Some users remarked that the omission of refactoring capabilities removed useful functionality without actually simplifying use.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2004/10/20/245413.aspx|title=Aaron Stebner's WebLog|publisher=Microsoft Corporation|access-date=2004-10-20}}</ref>

The ability to attach the debugger to an already-running process is also unavailable, hindering scenarios such as writing Windows services and re-attaching a debugger under [[ASP.NET]] when errors under the original debugging session cause breakpoints to be ignored.

==2012–2017: Ecosystem-centric==
For the 2012 release of Visual Express, Microsoft changed its distribution of editions so that each version is geared toward an overall solution type, and can contain more than one project type. (This is unlike previous Express editions, each of which was geared around a single programming language.) For example, a web solution might consist of a web application project and a couple of C# class-library projects. This change was made to reflect the wide diversity of applications available for [[the web]] and the new [[WinRT]] platform used on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

Microsoft has released five Visual Studio Express 2012 products:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Edition
! Description
! Desktop OS
! Server OS
|-
| Visual Studio Express 2012 for Web<ref name="d-2012-web">{{cite web |title=Visual Studio Express 2012 for Web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/products/visual-studio-express-for-web#product-express-web-details |work=Visual Studio portal |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd537667.aspx |title=Visual Studio Express 2012 for Web |work=[[MSDN]] |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref>
| Allows development of [[web application]]s. Includes integrated features for deploying to Microsoft's [[Windows Azure]] [[cloud computing]] platform.
<!-- No need to comment on CPU architecture when all possible combinations are supported -->
| {{Plainlist|
*[[Windows 7 SP1]]
*[[Windows 8]]}}
| {{Plainlist|
*[[Windows Server 2008 R2]] (only [[x64]])
*[[Windows Server 2012]]}}
|-
| Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows 8<ref name="d-2012-8">{{cite web |title=Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows 8 |url=http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/products/visual-studio-express-for-windows-8#product-express-windows-details |work=Visual Studio portal |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/apps/br211384 |title=Develop Windows Store apps using Visual Studio 2012 (Windows) |work=[[MSDN]] |publisher=Microsoft |date=2 November 2012 |access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref>
| Allows development of [[Metro (design language)|Metro-style]] applications for [[Windows Store]] in [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]], [[VB.NET]], [[C++]] and [[JavaScript]]. ''Note: This edition runs only on [[Windows 8]].''
<!-- No need to comment on CPU architecture when all possible combinations are supported -->
| [[Windows 8]]
| {{n/a}}
|-
| Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop<ref name="d-2012-desk">{{cite web|title=Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop|url=http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/products/visual-studio-express-for-windows-desktop#product-express-desktop-details|work=Visual Studio portal|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudio/archive/2012/09/12/visual-studio-express-2012-for-windows-desktop-is-here.aspx |title=Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop is Here |work=The Visual Studio Blog |publisher=Microsoft |date=12 September 2012 |access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref>
| Allows development of conventional Windows [[desktop application]]s in [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]], [[VB.NET]] and [[C++]], targeting Windows client technologies such as [[Windows Presentation Foundation]] (WPF), [[Windows Forms]], and the [[Windows API|Win32 API]]. Unlike previous Express editions, it has built-in support for compiling [[64-bit]] applications through IDE. Update 1 adds support for [[Windows XP]] in C++ applications.
<!-- No need to comment on CPU architecture when all possible combinations are supported -->
| {{Plainlist|
*[[Windows 7 SP1]]
*[[Windows 8]]}}
| {{Plainlist|
*[[Windows Server 2008 R2]] (only [[x64]])
*[[Windows Server 2012]]}}
|-
| Visual Studio Team Foundation Server Express 2012<ref>{{cite web|title=Visual Studio Team Foundation Server Express 2012|url=http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/products/visual-studio-team-foundation-server-express#product-express-tfs-details|work=Visual Studio portal|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref>
| Provides [[Revision control|source control]], work-item tracking, [[application lifecycle management]] and [[build automation]] for teams of up to five developers.
| {{Plainlist|
*[[Windows 7 SP1]]
*[[Windows 8]]}}
| {{Plainlist|
*[[Windows Server 2008#Service Packs|Windows Server 2008 SP2]] (only [[x64]])
*[[Windows Server 2008 R2#Service Pack|Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1]] (only [[x64]])
*[[Windows Server 2012]]}}
|-
| Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Phone<ref>{{cite web|title=Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Phone|url=http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/products/visual-studio-express-for-windows-phone#product-express-phone-details|work=Visual Studio portal|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=30 November 2012}}</ref> 
| Consists of the Windows Phone 8 [[Software development kit|SDK]] that enables developing applications for [[Windows Phone 7.5]] and [[Windows Phone 8]] and testing them on an [[emulator]]. Supports C++, [[.NET Framework]] and [[DirectX]]. As part of its .NET Framework support, it can integrate with [[Microsoft Expression Blend]].
| [[Windows 8]] ([[x64]] only)
| {{n/a}}
|}

In October 2013, Microsoft released four new versions of its Visual Studio Express products. Like the 2012 Express edition, they are geared toward an overall solution type that may mix different types of projects. However, different IDEs are still offered for different destination platforms. They are:<ref>{{cite web|title=Visual Studio 2013|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd831853.aspx|access-date=2014-01-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=What's New in Visual Studio 2013|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb386063.aspx|access-date=2014-01-15}}</ref>
* Visual Studio Express 2013 for Web<ref name="vstudio list" />
* Visual Studio Express 2013 for Windows:<ref name="vstudio list" /> ''Note: Works on Windows 8.1 only ([[x86]] and [[x64]]).''
* Visual Studio Express 2013 for Windows Desktop<ref name="vstudio list" />
* Visual Studio Team Foundation Server Express 2013<ref name="vstudio list">{{cite web |url=http://www.visualstudio.com/downloads |title=Download Overview |website=Visual Studio |access-date=2014-01-31}}</ref>

Note that Visual Studio Express for Windows Phone was not released in the set of 2013 products, but Visual Studio Express for Windows Phone is now merged with Visual Studio Express for Windows 2013.2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dev.windowsphone.com/en-us/downloadsdk|title = Microsoft Developer}}</ref> With this new release, Windows 8.1 [[x86]] is now supported for [[Windows Phone 8.1]] development, but not for [[Windows Phone 8]].0 development or the Windows Phone Emulator, the latter of which also requires a processor that supports Client [[Hyper-V]] and [[Second Level Address Translation]] (SLAT).

The Visual Studio Express 2015 editions are:
* Express for Desktop – for creating desktop Windows programs<ref name="vs-express-2015">{{cite web|title=Visual Studio Express|url=https://www.visualstudio.com/products/mt238358|access-date=29 August 2016|ref=vs-express-2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827144718/https://www.visualstudio.com/products/mt238358|archive-date=27 August 2016}}</ref>
* Express for Web - for creating responsive websites, web APIs, or "real-time online experiences"<ref name="vs-express-2015" />
* Express for Windows – core tools for creating [[Universal Windows Platform apps]]. Requires [[Windows 10]].<ref name="vs-express-2015" />
* Team Foundation Server 2015 Express – platform for source code control, for project management, and for team collaboration<ref name="vs-express-2015" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Overview of Visual Studio 2015 Products|url=https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/vs-2015-product-editions.aspx|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801090008/https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/vs-2015-product-editions.aspx|archive-date=1 August 2016}}</ref>

Microsoft terminated the Visual Studio Express lineage with the release of Visual Studio Express 2017 for Windows Desktop. This last release has no siblings specialized in Web or UWP projects. Developers interested a free solution for those projects were instead directed towards [[Microsoft Visual Studio|Visual Studio Community Edition]] or [[Visual Studio Code]].<ref name="homepage" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/express/}}
* [http://www.hanselman.com/blog/DownloadVisualStudioExpress.aspx Semi-official listing for Visual Studio Express 2013 downloads]

{{Integrated development environments}}
{{MS DevTools}}
{{JavaScript}}

[[Category:2005 software]]
[[Category:Microsoft Visual Studio|Express]]