Visual Studio 2012 Update 1 (KB2707250): New Features
In my last post I wrote about installation and the list of bug fixes in Update 1:
In this post I’ll just re-show the new features mentioned in the KB article found here:
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2797915/EN-US
In later posts I’ll show more of these in detail and explore them like I usually do for new features. So, with all that said, here are the new features introduced in Update 1:
Microsoft SharePoint Development
To improve quality, scalability and agility, additional application life cycle management (ALM) capabilities are added to SharePoint development, such as load testing and coded UI testing support.
IntelliTrace collection for SharePoint applications
(https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/hh398365.aspx)
This feature can change and access data, and provides a rich analysis experience for SharePoint applications.
The ability to create coded UI testing for SharePoint 2010 applications
These tests simulate user interaction and validate the functionality and behavior of an application’s UI.
Web performance testing
Web performance testing on SharePoint solutions can verify performance. The tests can be recorded, and then run and analyzed against the SharePoint solutions.
Load testing support for SharePoint applications
This feature enables stress testing of a SharePoint application. It can simulate high user loads, different network topologies, and some other conditions.
SharePoint emulators provide the basic behavior of the SharePoint 2010 server object model
(https://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudioalm/archive/2012/11/26/introducing-sharepoint-emulators.aspx)
SharePoint emulators provide a Microsoft Fakes framework. The framework enables developers to write unit tests that stub-out the required SharePoint dependencies.
Windows Development
Enable Windows XP targeting for building Visual C++ applications
(https://blogs.msdn.com/b/vcblog/archive/2012/10/08/10357555.aspx)
You can target Windows XP by using Visual Studio’s C++ multi-targeting feature. This feature enables you to use the Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 compiler in Visual Studio 2012.
JavaScript memory analysis tool
(https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/jj819177.aspx)
The JavaScript memory analysis tool helps you understand memory usage and find memory leaks in your Windows Store app that is built for Windows by using JavaScript.
Memory profiling for JavaScript applications
(https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh696636.aspx)
The profiler can help you find the performance bottlenecks in your JavaScript functions and algorithms.
Windows Store C++ unit testing improvements
You can add references to C++ Windows Store executables and custom Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) controls in your C++ Windows Store unit test libraries.
Support for debugging the ARM-based native dump file
You can debug dump files of native C++ apps from ARM-based computers and devices with the same dump-debugging functionality that you are accustomed to on x86-based or x64-based computers.
Support for debugging mixed managed and native Windows Store apps.
Agile Teams
You can use Web Access for your Agile plan easily, and new Kanban support is available alongside existing Scrum support.
Kanban board for tracking project progress
(https://tfs.visualstudio.com/en-us/home/news/2012/aug-13)
Kanban support improves teams’ existing processes. It sits alongside the existing task boards, and offers a new range of project-tracking options: a Kanban board with fully-customizable work in process (WIP) limits, and a cumulative flow diagram to clearly show the team’s delivery of value over time.
Assign tasks to user stories through drag-and-drop in the taskboard
Assign ownership through dragging in the people view of the taskboard
New Test Features in Microsoft Test Manager (MTM)
Code coverage for web applications in MTM
Testers can now know how much of the application code is being covered by test cases executed within MTM, and developers can now know whether their code is being accessed by the application and is a valid test case.
Cross browser testing support for coded UI test
You can use coded UI tests help automate browser based applications that are built on Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome.
Create an image action log from exploratory tests
Populate test suites using hierarchical queries in MTM
Directly edit test case properties from the Test Runner of MTM
Data collectors populate Trait information for Visual Studio unit test grouping
You can now organize and filter the test runs based on several conditions in Test Explorer. Traits is a new concept, a common denominator for several underlying terms: Test Category, Test Property, Priority, and Owner.
The ability to pause and resume manual test sessions in MTM
Automatic updates for MTM and Microsoft Feedback Client
Usability improvements for coded UI testing
No need to manually install SQL Server Express for load testing (By default, use LocalDB)
Use command-line functionality to deep copy test plans to better support release management
Publish test results to Team Foundation Server (TFS) from the command line
New Features in Team Foundation Server
Navigation and usability improvements for Web Access
(https://blogs.msdn.com/b/bharry/archive/2012/06/26/team-foundation-services-updates-6-25.aspx)
Work item forms now support "Next" and "Previous" buttons in TFS Web Access.
Usability improvements for Version Control
Updated TFS Web Access navigation styling
(https://blogs.msdn.com/b/bharry/archive/2012/07/16/team-foundation-service-updates-7-16.aspx)
Counts shown for links and attachments in TFS Web Access
(https://blogs.msdn.com/b/bharry/archive/2012/06/26/team-foundation-services-updates-6-25.aspx)
Drag-and-drop queries and query folders in TFS Web Access
(https://blogs.msdn.com/b/bharry/archive/2012/06/04/team-foundation-services-updates-6-4.aspx)
Ability to expand and collapse the left navigation pane in TFS Web Access
VVersion control TFS server-side path limit changed from 260 characters to 400 characters
Other improvements
Enable building code maps to easily understand relationships, and locate between different locations
New start page videos for Visual Studio Premium and Ultimate editions
You can watch three new videos that show how to use Code Map, new SharePoint development features, and many of the new improvements for testing applications.
Code analysis for Windows Phone apps
Code analysis rules are tuned to reduce the quantity of false warnings.
Test Explorer can group and filter tests
Visual Studio IntelliTrace integration with Microsoft System Center for IntelliTrace analysis ofApplication Performance Monitoring (APM) exception alerts
Improvements for loading symbols and source
End MSBuild processes when Visual Studio exits