Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect 2003

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Programming Suite
Review: Microsoft Visual Studio.NET Enterprise Architecht enables programmers to take full advantage of the .NET platform. Visual Studio.NET allows programmers to utilize the newer .NET framework 1.1, which contains enhancements in security and performance.

This version of Visual Studio includes: Visual Basic.NET 2003, Visual C++.NET 2003, Visual C#.NET 2003, and Visual J#.NET 2003. Having access to all of the .NET languages means that you have the ability to code in whichever language is most appropriate to your project.

A few language enhancements have also been included in this version. One of the most useful is the ability to declare a variable inside a loop using VB.NET 2003. For example:

For each var1 as string in varArray
'Do action
Next

Microsoft also bundles a handful of useful utilities with this package. These utilities will enable you to monitor your applications, benchmark web services, obfuscate your code, and much more.

.NET has a slightly different syntax than earlier versions of the languages (ie version 6), so if you are new to .NET a reference book would be handy.

Visual Studio.NET 2003 is worth the upgrade.

If you are a developer using several Microsoft technologies, a MSDN subscription is very helpful. MSDN Universal subscriptions include Visual Studio Enterprise Architect, developer licenses for all Microsoft operating systems, developer licenses for all Microsoft server systems, Microsoft Office Professional Enterprise edition, and more. MSDN subscribers have access to support via managed newsgroups and phone support.