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Microsoft frees "express" Visual Studio tools
Apr. 21, 2006

Effective April 19th, all "express" editions of Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 and related tools will remain free permanently, the company has announced. This includes express versions of Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual J#, Visual C++, and Visual Web Developer.

Microsoft describes the express editions as lightweight, easy-to-use, easy-to-learn tools for hobbyists, students, and novice developers who want to build Windows applications, Web sites, and Web services. They feature "streamlined" user interfaces, and include targeted documentation that helps beginning programmers quickly learn the concepts required to build useful applications.

Significantly, Microsoft imposes no licensing restrictions on applications built with the express edition tools -- in addition to educational and recreational use, they can even be used commercially.

When Microsoft launched Visual Studio 2005 last fall, the company said it would offer express editions of the product for free, for one year on a "promotional" basis, and that the express editions would be available at nominal cost thereafter. Microsoft says that a "strong community" of recreational and hobbyist developers has grown up around the products, with various express editions already being downloaded more than 5 million times.

Microsoft also recently released new learning content in the Coding4Fun area of its MSDN developer website, including a .NET interface and sample applications for Lego Mindstorm robots. The free Mindstorm tools and application examples leverage the free Visual Studio express edition, and other related express tools.

S. Somasegar, vice president of Microsoft's "Developer Division," stated, "Software has the potential to transform everyday lives. By making the Visual Studio 2005 Express editions available free of charge, we're putting the power of programming into the hands of an exploding community of recreational programmers. This community has asked for it, and we are excited to provide it."

For more details on the Visual Studio 2005 and related tools express editions, read the extensive Express Edition FAQ.



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