Visual Studio is the latest version of Microsoft's flagship IDE. Along with it comes the .NET Framework 3.5, new versions of Visual Basic and C#, a data query model known as LINQ, improvements to the .NET Framework technologies that were released alongside Windows Vista, and out-of-the-box access to ASP.NET AJAX and Visual Studio Tools for Office.
Since there is so much for developers and architects to absorb from the release of VS 2008, we present this Visual Studio 2008 Learning Guide while the product remains in beta. Here we offer an introduction to the language, performance, testing and data management improvements in VS 2008.
Check back often for updates to this Learning Guide, especially as the software leaves beta and reaches general release. And feel free to send your favorite Visual Studio 2008 resources.
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Visual Studio 2008
Quick Start
 |
Visual Studio 2008 Quick Start |
This section offers a quick look at the new features and functionality in VS 2008. After giving this section a glance, move on to the next section of the Visual Studio 2008 Learning Guide, which links to general tips and tutorials.
Visual
Studio 2008 first look now available (Scott Guthrie)
The head of ASP.NET development at Microsoft has posted a detailed look at Visual Studio 2008 on
his blog. Among the upcoming features, which Guthrie demonstrated during presentations in Europe,
are the ability to still work in .NET 2.0, improved support for Cascading Style Sheets and
JavaScript tool support to assist with ASP.NET AJAX development.
What's New in Visual
Studio 2008 (MSDN)
This document outlines the new and improved management, design, deployment and reporting features
of VS 2008.
Visual Studio 2008 New
Features (The Code Project)
Meanwhile, this document focuses on multi-targeting, Web design and ASP.NET AJAX support in VS
2008.
An
overview of Visual Studio 2008 (MSDN)
This is a downloadable white paper that covers the ins and outs of VS 2008.
Getting started with
Visual Studio 2008 (MSDN)
This page links to resources for developers and architects who have existing applications they wish
to migrate to VS 2008 and .NET 3.5 or those who want to start building new applications. There are
some Visual Basic, C# and C++ samples as well.
The Visual Studio
2008 stack and The .NET
Framework 3.5 stack (Daniel Moth)
Blogger Daniel Moth provides a quick look at the evolution of both Visual Studio and the .NET
Framework and how they got to where they are today.
Visual Studio 2008 forum (ASP.NET Forums)
This forum gives developers and architects a place to ask each other questions about the new IDE
and to give the VS 2008 group feedback on what works and what needs improvement.
*** Go on to the next section of the Visual Studio 2008 Learning Guide: Visual Studio 2008 Tips and Tutorials
This was first published in November 2007