VB Express

[kiwis]

Is VB Express worth using to make basic programs?? why is it free it's not as good as VB.Net for example...

[woodyz]

Is VB Express worth using to make basic programs?? why is it free it's not as good as VB.Net for example...

VB Express is great for making basic programs.

It is merely a "lightweight" version of VB.NET. We can only guess at why Microsoft would offer it for free, but it seems to me that "the first one is always free" as the old saying goes - that is, they want you to become hooked on it and soon need a more powerful version.

[RobDog888]

VB Express is VB.NET just the Express version. Its less powerful as compared to the Standard or Pro versions but you can do allot with it.

[dev.rogee]

hi... uhm, RobDog888... could you give a significant example of what the express version can't do that the standard or pro versions can?

coz i would like to download it.. but if it isn't really worth it, i won't.

thanks

[edited part]

oh! i'd also like to insert the web developer express for ASP.net into this... if you guys don't mind.. since this probably might be a discussion of benefits, pros&cons, etc.. of the express versions versus the standard studio..

[woodyz]

VB Express is an introductory version of the .NET product. It is limited in a number of ways. For example, it doesn't have the class designer or Object Test Bench. No macros, addins, and packages. It has simplified menu options and defaults. The IDE is single language. The database design tools only work locally. The deployment tools are limited. Debugging is local only... and so on.

It is a great learning environment and it is free. You can do a great deal with it, and it should not interfer in any way when you decide to upgrade.

[Hack]

It is a great learning environment and it is free. You can do a great deal with it

That really is its purpose....a kind of introduction to the .NET world. You will discover yourself outgrowing it fairly quickly, however, if you spend time playing around with it the move to the actual .NET platform will not be too dramatic.

You will have a reasonble handle on what is going on in the .NET world.

It is free, so you can't go wrong!

[RobDog888]

Check this link for a comparison of features/support.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/products/compare/

And this one for pricing on everything but Express (as its free).
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/aa700832.aspx

[Dnereb]

in short Express lacks a lot of tools but no commands these are defined in the framework
B.T.W you can write .Net in Notepad if you want to and compile it.
because the compilers are part of the framework not the editor(s).