“M.S. Visual Studio 2005” – A Software Review
By Dr. M.V.S. Peri Sastry. B.E, Ph.D.
1. Introduction:
Visual
Studio 2005(VS 2005) is the latest software released from the stables of
Microsoft, the software giant whose name is synonymous with windows operating
system. On 9th December 2005, Mr. Bill Gates, the founder and chief
Architect of Micro Soft (MS) was in Bangable to launch M.S. Visual Studio 2005
as part of Global launch of the software product. I was one of the selected
groups of about 4000 software developers to participate in this event. I have
got free 90 day trial version of this software at that event, as part of the
launch kit.
The purpose of this article is to give a brief introduction to this mamoth software product which makes development of windows based application software an enjoyable exercise A secondary objective is who want to develop application using VS 2005.
2. Microsoft
Visual Studio 2005 :
VS 2005 is an Integrated Development Environment(IDE). This only means, that you can type-in your program code, drag-and drop the objects like ‘log-in Vies’ etc; modify the code, run and test your application software; in an integrated way; from this IDE. It is similar to the way one works from a table (similar to IDE) which has all functional tools like telephone, computer, calling bell, letter pad, pen, pencil, eraser, text books etc; all within arms reach; without even leaning from your chain.
This IDE idea is not new to VS 2005 alone. There are many other IDEs like Java Sun 1 Studio, IBM Websphere Application Server and BETA Weblogic Application server etc; core main advantage of VS 2005 is that it can be used to develop standalone application for windows or for use on World Wide Web; using a host of languages like ASPdotNet, Visual Basic 2005, C# and Jscript…
So in VS 2005, we have a jumbo jet that
All this way look like a bit of hype, but it is real. While one can think that this makes VS 2005 a huge animal, others can see beauty and grace in a software of elephantine proportions. This is all of the more so, because each of these languages themselves comprise of multi million line code compilers and other system software.
Let us understand the context of all this. We live in an era, where computer applications are really complex and large. Just think of an Integrated Banking Application consisting of Bank Branches, many products, services, Automatic teller machine networks, internet enabled banking, Credit Cards etc; software developers who work on such large projects its need equally huge (functionality wise) development tools (IDEs) to achieve good productivity and deliver application software solutions on time and within budgets.
I will provide my comments of VS 2005 under two headings
- IDE & Tool Box
- Visual Basic 2005 ( Which I choose as
default language in the IDE) as
compared
to Visual Basic 6 (which is
earlier version of Visual Basic )
3. Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 IDE & Tool Box
Now to some of the details that make VS 2005 a good IDE:
¨ It has a good Graphical User Interface(GUI) with tool bars, solution explorer (which gives a view of your application software or solution Like ERP or Banking software or Website etc as a free), forms and programs in VB, ASP.Net, C# etc.
¨ It has new objects like Master Templates and enterprise templates, to give uniform and standard look and feel to your web applications.
¨ The ‘code behind’ of the controls are neatly packaged into separate files. Eg: login.topx.vb which you can see in figure 2 on the right hand side under solution explorer of my c:\website 4\application
¨ It has default.aspx as start page. But gives the facility to make some other form as the start page.
¨ If you see on the left extreme of figure 2, you will see neatly laid out Tool Box with groups of web-control objects under the groups Standard, Validation, Navigation, Login (which incidentally supplies the create user wizard) when we see the create wizard table selected by me in my Web Site 1 example.
¨ Down below in figure 2 you see ‘debug window’. It cause you don’t see any errors; but cannot miss “0 Errors warnings 0 messages” error list.
¨ The properties window seen at right hand side bottom area of figure 2 is very useful in setting the properties of object selected.
¨ The main work area which is called form area is having nice tabs ‘Design’ and Source’ which when we click give us Design/Code. In figure 2 ‘Design’ is selected and ‘Code is hidden, as you can see.
Figure 1 tries to capture the world of Application Software development in this internet age.
ERP E-Com etc;
C , C ++
Microsoft Clients
Java, PERL
SUN
BASIC, VB
Figure-1 World View of Web Based Applications(See Previous page)
Figure-2 (above) The IDE Screen Of MS Visual Studio 2005 (Blank WebSite2403 )
Figure 3 (above)
Figure 4 (above)