The Next Wave Happens Feb 29th: Windows 8 Consumer Preview, Visual Studio 11 beta, an

[brad jones]

Today it arrives. It is the next milestone for the next Windows operating system as well as the next version of the Microsoft tools and web platform to help you get more out of your development efforts.

With Visual Studio 11, Microsoft is continuing to expand on the concepts around team and enterprise development. The updates include changes to help span the entire lifecycle around software creation. With more coverage of ALM happening, Microsoft has followed suit by adding more lifecycle support into VS 11.



Figure 1: Google Trends for ALM

The specific focus points for VS 2011 also include simplifying the user interface. As developers, we often want more and more information at our fingertips. In the past iterations of Visual Studio, Microsoft has worked to provide that information. At some point, however, that information starts getting in the way. With the new release, the plan is to help de-clutter the interface where possible. You'll see a reduced number of toolbar commands, simplified graphics (how much color coding in the IDE is really needed), better use of tabs, and more. One big change is the use of Search to navigate within Visual Studio. You'll find that the Solution Explorer has a search bar that can be used to find about anything you want within your applications or solutions.

Figure 2: New streamlined user interface in Visual Studio 11 beta

Within the .NET Framework there has been a number of changes as well. Microsoft has been talking about asynchronous code for quite a while. With .NET 4.5, there is built-in support. There is also better support for connected applications as well as support that spans HTTP libraries as well as WebSockets.

I could write a long post on what some of the changes are in Visual Studio 11 beta, or I can point you to what S. Somasegar and Jason Sander at Microsoft said. The following video was a sneak peak they did for a group of us last week:



Of course, as a developer, you want to get your hands on the product. You should be able to download the Visual Studio 11 Beta and .NET Framework 4.5 Beta starting on Feb. 29 by visiting http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio.

As a side note, you'll find as well that there is a release of TFS coming that will be targeted to small groups that will be freely available. Check out the video to hear about this as well.





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[Shaggy Hiker]

The real question is what will be included in the Express Edition, and what will it be called. Microsoft will probably be too stodgy, but they shouldn't pass up the opportunity to hit on an excellent name:

ALMs for the Poor.

[DataMiser]

I am curious as to what type of smart device support it will have in the pro version.

[chris128]

Worst UI ever.

[Max Peck]

Worst UI ever.

Ahh ... so "streamlined" is the term they're using to describe the new GUI? First they "greyed" everything in VS2010 now it's going monochrome. This and Metro are, IMHO, steps backward on a desktop system. They can have it.

No thanks. I'm keeping my copies of Win7 and VS2008 under lock and key.

-Max

[chris128]

Same here. I'm not one of those people that just doesn't like change, I'm usually very keen to embrace new UIs and new systems but this really is about 10 steps backwards. If they keep this horrible grey UI with icons that all look identical because they have no colour, it doesn't matter how many great new features the IDE has, I will never buy it.

EDIT: and anyone who feels the same, be sure to vote up the "Add some colour to VS 11 Beta" suggestion here: http://visualstudio.uservoice.com/fo...-visual-studio

[Max Peck]

Same here. I'm not one of those people that just doesn't like change, I'm usually very keen to embrace new UIs and new systems but this really is about 10 steps backwards. If they keep this horrible grey UI with icons that all look identical because they have no colour, it doesn't matter how many great new features the IDE has, I will never buy it.

Agreed. If I didn't accept change then I'd still be writing C under DOS. I am just getting tired of change FOR THE SAKE of change. It's getting to the point now where you can't finish tooling up and learning how to produce with said tools before someone is trying to sell you another one.

You don't see this rate of change in corporate environments. I guess MS and others are counting on the consumer who seems to want a "new one" every time someone advertises it.

Oh well ... I could ramble on this for hours. Suffice it to say I'm not inclined to "upgrade" this time around. I think I'm going to sit Windows 8 out.

-Max

[moti barski]

does vs 2011 have a volume meter ?