Visual Studio Express Editions now Free

[2600]

So, VS 2005 is now out.  I've been looking at it as I wanted to mess around with C# and noticed they changed it to Free instead of $49.  I remembered there was discussion about it here for the Beta editions and thought this may be of some interest to others as well.

[MameJunkie]

Not bad.

Just keep in mind, you get what you pay for.  There will be components you may want to use.  Just make sure its supported int the express version.

For example, it has no MFC & ATL support for C++.

[SirPoonga]

10.    How much will these products cost?
   

We are announcing a pricing promotion for Visual Studio Express

[SirPoonga]

http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/downloads/starterkits/

Cool!!!!


Well, I will have to grab this and I will probably start using VS2005.  Which means set49mode is going to change....

[Howard_Casto]

There's a reason m$ is giving away free versions of this product.  They are having a hard time getting people to switch to vs7 much less 8.  Granted for big programs it can be better but for little things (like your set 49 way app) all it does is bloat the install horribly. 

[SirPoonga]

Yeah, I'm going to see how much it bloats set49mode.  I don't have to make an install for it, just zip it up

[MameJunkie]

I'm going be installing the VC 2005 Pro this week.  We'll see if its really worth it.

[SirPoonga]

If you acquire Visual Studio Express products within the one-year promotional period, you will enjoy the rights granted in the applicable license at no cost for the term of that license.

I read through the eula, didn't see term of license

[2600]

No one said Microsoft isn't good at marketing. 

Not only will they get the people relunctant to switch, but now they are going to get a lot of new programmers hooked into VS and the "Microsoft way" of programming.  It's sad in a way for young programmers, good for people who have more experience and just want to screw around.

[2600]

If you acquire Visual Studio Express products within the one-year promotional period, you will enjoy the rights granted in the applicable license at no cost for the term of that license.

I read through the eula, didn't see term of license

I wonder if it's just bad wording on their part.  They have that same question answered on at least three different pages all saying the same thing, but worded differently.  I'm not doing anything for work so I don't really care.  If I do something for work then I'd buy a copy anyways.

Edit: This link explains more of what they meant.
http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=126606&SiteID=1

[SirPoonga]

No one said Microsoft isn't good at marketing. 

Not only will they get the people relunctant to switch, but now they are going to get a lot of new programmers hooked into VS and the "Microsoft way" of programming.  It's sad in a way for young programmers, good for people who have more experience and just want to screw around.

Why is it sad?
Other than java most business's only use m$ products.  I found out that is a much needed to know skill.  My college only taught standards, like ansi c++, etc..  I get out of college, I didn't know wtf an MFC is or how to use visual basic.

[2600]

No one said Microsoft isn't good at marketing. 

Not only will they get the people relunctant to switch, but now they are going to get a lot of new programmers hooked into VS and the "Microsoft way" of programming.  It's sad in a way for young programmers, good for people who have more experience and just want to screw around.

Why is it sad?
Other than java most business's only use m$ products.  I found out that is a much needed to know skill.  My college only taught standards, like ansi c++, etc..  I get out of college, I didn't know wtf an MFC is or how to use visual basic.

I just finished interviewing college students, trust me when I say it is sad.  Basic understanding of simple concepts is hard for them to understand.  It's the same with the hardware guys.  I respect what your college taught you and how you are applying it, but the colleges I went to started at a much higher level and didn't understand the fundamentals.

Another thing, not everyone is learning programming in college.  I imagine there are going to be a good number who are going to be teaching themselves with this.  I doubt they will decide to teach themselves ansi C++.

But then again, this is coming from someone whos work does not use Microsoft Compilers so that skill is lost on us.  GCC and Python here.   

[Spartan]

Every other major OS maker provides a compiler with their OS.  It's about time MS did the same....  (this coming from a guy who routinely uses xlC on AIX, aCC on HP/UX, CC on SunOS, and yes, cl on Windows)

[u_rebelscum]

I might sound MS bashing, but I don't really mean it that way. 

Have you guys heard anything about bugs with the new VS?  Arstech talked about bugs with the last Release Canidate that were not fixed so that, supposedly, VS could be released on time.

I'm interested in whether VS still have those problems, if the free express versions also still have those problems, if the problems are as bad as it sounds like, if express will be updated as quickly as the rest of VS, and when such fixes will come out.  (And if it came out free because of the bugs?)

I'd like to try the free stuff, but I don't want to mess up my home (or especially work ) computer, or spend hours of my rare free time rebooting, rewritting, etc.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah, I'm going to see how much it bloats set49mode.

[RayB]

It's only free if you download it BEFORE NOVEMBER 7th.

[SirPoonga]

Yeah, I'm going to see how much it bloats set49mode.  I don't have to make an install for it, just zip it up

By bloat the install, I meant your user has to have the .net crap pre-installed, thus turning a 68k program into a 20 meg one.  That and the fact that the average vs6 app ported to .net or beyond doubles or evne triples it's memory footprint. 

Well, the current version needs 1.1 anyway. 

[SirPoonga]

It's only free if you download it BEFORE NOVEMBER 7th.

yes, already mentioned.

[papaschtroumpf]

Looks like you can still download the individual CD images for free:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/support/install/

[nipsmg]

Yeah, I'm going to see how much it bloats set49mode.  I don't have to make an install for it, just zip it up

By bloat the install, I meant your user has to have the .net crap pre-installed, thus turning a 68k program into a 20 meg one.  That and the fact that the average vs6 app ported to .net or beyond doubles or evne triples it's memory footprint. 

Being that the .NET languages are interpreted, this draws a direct parallel to Java.  "Your 68k program becomes a 20 MEG one because you have to install the Java virtual machine".  It's a one time install, and being that .NET languages are becoming a standard for windows development, before long you'll be hard pressed to find a Windows machine (2000 or higher) without the .NET framework installed.  I believe that the installers pop up a box allowing you to choose to download the .NET framework if it's not installed, thus keeping your distribution to a very small size.

[krick]

Yeah, I'm going to see how much it bloats set49mode.

[krick]

I might sound MS bashing, but I don't really mean it that way.

[Lilwolf]

MS has always had their command line only versions free of charge.  They dont' really mention it around because they want people to purchase their development sweet.

But in the past, we used it a lot at my last job since we only where using C++ for low level device drivers... And the gui wasn't all that useful.  We where a java house but sometimes we needed to some low level stuff.

But all in all... there are TONS of free compilers out there.  Sure they might not be as good.. but they are close... and their GREAT if your looking for cheap.

I believe some of the free development IDEs will plug into the free MS compilers if you need and integrated IDE.

[versapak]

It's only free if you download it BEFORE NOVEMBER 7th.

Yes...

November 7th, 2006