Introducing Visual Studio

Visual Studio is a complete set of development tools for building ASP.NET Web applications, XML Web Services, desktop applications, and mobile applications. Visual Basic, Visual C#, and Visual C++ all use the same integrated development environment (IDE), which enables tool sharing and eases the creation of mixed-language solutions. In addition, these languages use the functionality of the .NET Framework, which provides access to key technologies that simplify the development of ASP Web applications and XML Web Services.

In This Section

• Getting Started with Visual Studio
  Discover the best way to learn the basics about Visual Studio.

• Using Team Foundation to Manage Development Processes
  Learn how to plan and manage the software development process by using Application Lifecycle Management.

• Visual Studio Technologies and Languages
  Read about key technologies, languages, and application types that are supported in Visual Studio

• Security and User Permissions
  Learn about the features and installation scenarios that require elevated permissions, and also learn about how to plan for security in applications that you create.

• Samples and Walkthroughs (Development Environment)
  Read through example code, sample applications, and enhanced project templates that illustrate the syntax, structure, and techniques that are used to solve various programming challenges.

Related Sections

• Installing Visual Studio
  Provides information about how to obtain Visual Studio, install it in various configurations, maintain it, and uninstall it.

• Overview of the .NET Framework
  Provides conceptual overviews of the key features of the .NET Framework. These include the common language runtime (CLR), the .NET Framework class library, and cross-language interoperability.

• Getting Started with Visual Basic
  Provides information about new features and resources for learning Visual Basic, and also lists the features included in various editions.

• Getting Started with Visual C#
  Provides information about new features in Visual C#.

• Getting Started with Visual C++ 2010
  Provides information about new features and supported operating systems, and also provides basic information about the IDE.

• Getting Started with JScript
  Provides conceptual information about JScript, new features, and upgrading projects.

• ASP.NET Overview
  Provides background information about the elements and capabilities of ASP.NET.

• Getting Started (Office Development in Visual Studio)
  Provides information about new features, installation, and basic tasks for Office development in Visual Studio.

• Getting Started (SharePoint Development in Visual Studio)
  Provides information about new features, and also provides overviews about how to develop applications for SharePoint in Visual Studio.

• Getting Started with Smart Device Projects
  Provides information about new features, and also provides overviews about how to develop applications for smart devices.

• Availability of Features in Visual Studio Versions
  Lists certain features that are supported in various versions of Visual Studio Professional.