Java

The common runtime is language-neutral so, for example, Visual Basic programmers can use components written in C# and vice versa. Other languages, such as COBOL and FORTRAN, can plug into Visual Studio, and Microsoft provides a version of the Java language called J#.

Overall, Visual Studio .NET is a radical break from the past for Microsoft. C# is an entirely new language, aimed at C and C++ programmers looking for something safer and more productive. Visual Basic .NET is a new twist on the old Microsoft favorite, losing compatibility with earlier versions, but gaining full object orientation as well as access to all the .NET libraries. These two languages, along with J#, have full support for the visual design tools in Visual Studio .NET. Also included is JScript .NET, Microsoft's version of JavaScript, although this comes without a form designer. Visual C++ is similar to earlier versions and is the only compiler included that can build old-style Windows executables. With a compiler switch, it can also target .NET, making it particularly flexible.

Visual Studio .NET has two distinct form designers. Windows Forms are for traditional Windows applications, but managed by the common runtime. Web Forms are ASP.NET pages, which means they run on Web servers and work over the Internet. Microsoft has made designing and coding Windows Forms and Web Forms as similar as possible so that both types of applications can share components and much of the complexity of coding Web applications is kept hidden. Another key feature is Web services, which lets developers create an XML interface for an application so that it can be called across the Web or from any platform or language. XML support generally is strong, with a range of classes for parsing and transforming XML data. There is also a visual designer for XML Schema.

There are a few points against Visual Studio .NET. One is that, like earlier versions, it only creates applications that run on Windows. Web applications are a partial exception, in that they support cross-platform clients, but deployment requires a Windows Web server. Another factor is that, with its multiple compilers and mountains of documentation, Visual Studio .NET eats up gigabytes of disk space, and the IDE tends to be slow with less than around 384 MB RAM. Serious developers will take this in stride, but casual users could have difficulty. Fortunately, the applications created have more modest system requirements, although Windows 95 is not supported. Finally, developers coming from earlier editions face a lot of learning due to radical changes in both Visual Basic and ASP.

Despite these minor issues and a steep learning curve, Visual Studio .NET is an extremely versatile, sophisticated, and capable development tool. --Tim Anderson, Amazon.co.uk

• PC with a Pentium II 450-MHz processor Pentium III 600-MHz processor recommended
  
• 96 MB of RAM for Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP Home Edition 160 MB for Windows XP Professional and Windows .NET Server 2003 192 MB for Windows 2000 Server
  
• 900 MB of available hard-disk space on system drive 3.3 GB on installation drive additional 1.9GB for optional MSDN Library Documentation
  
• CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
  
• Super VGA, 256-color monitor supporting 1024 x 768 or higher resolution
  
• Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, or Windows .NET Server 2003
  
• Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

Development teams can safely version and share source code and documentation using Microsoft Visual SourceSafe. Development guidelines and best practices can be shared across development teams using XML-based Template Description Language and Enterprise Template projects. Teams can analyze performance and scalability of XML Web services and applications using Application Center Test (ACT). Rapidly build, test, and deploy scalable and reliable enterprise applications that harness the power of servers, including full-featured developer versions of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft SQL Server.

Visually build server-side and database components using Server Explorer, Component Designer, and Visual Database Tools. Use the new Web Services Development Kit (WSDK) to support several core Web service scenarios, including message-based security (WS-Security). Create secure, reliable, high-performance applications using the Visual Studio .NET 2003 integrated development environment (IDE) and the Windows Server 2003 programming model. Choose from a broad range of integrated third-party tools.