Learning C# 3.0

Chapter 2. Visual Studio 2008 and C# Express 2008

In Chapter 1, you learned that you can create your C# applications using Notepad. In this chapter, you’ll learn why you never will. Microsoft developed Visual Studio 2008 to facilitate the creation of Windows and web applications. You will find that this integrated development environment (IDE) is a very powerful tool that will greatly simplify your work.

Visual Studio 2008 offers many advantages to the .NET developer, among them:

• A modern interface, using a tabbed document metaphor for code and layout screens, and dockable toolbars and information windows.

• Convenient access to multiple design and code windows (this will make more sense when you are creating web applications, as shown in Chapter 20).

• WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) visual design of Windows and Web Forms.

• Code completion, which allows you to enter code with fewer errors and less typing.

• IntelliSense, which displays tips for every method, providing the return type and the types of all the parameters.

• Dynamic, context-sensitive help, which allows you to view topics and samples relevant to the code you are writing at the moment. You can also search the complete SDK library from within the IDE.

• Immediate flagging of syntax errors, which allows you to fix problems as they are entered.

• A Start Page, which provides easy access to new and existing projects.

• The same code editor for all .NET languages, which shortens the learning curve. Each language can have specialized aspects, ...