Visual Web Developer Express 2005
If you want to get a look at the new version of ASP.Net which is now in Beta 2, a great way to get started is to download Visual Web Developer Express 2005. It can be downloaded for free from http://beta.asp.net/, and acts as an entry level to the Visual Studio 2005 suite of development tools. Even after the full release of Visual Studio 2005 in November 2005, it should remain freely available via download.
It's a highly sophisticated development tool, especially for being free. It comes with SQL Server Express 2005, which is the new replacement for MSDE. Furthermore, you can test locally developed applications using a lite, local-access-only webserver which comes with VWDE 2005, which means that you don't have to enable IIS on your local workstation to test locally. This will allow even Windows XP home edition (which doesn't allow IIS) to be able to develop rich ASP.Net web sites and test locally.
Go check it out today!
I'll also warn you of a installation "feature" that had me frustrated for a little bit before figuring it out. On my home network, I follow security best-practices and log in via a non-privileged user. When I need to install applications or perform maintenance on my system which requires elevated privileges, I will use the "runas" command to run the installer or program under an administrator account. Unfortunately, this isn't a "supported scenario" for the installer for Visual Web Developer Express 2005 :(. From the Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 Readme, I quote:
1.3.2. Installing Visual Studio 2005 using the runas command fails.
When logged in as a non administrator, attempting to install Visual Studio 2005 using the runas command will fail. This is not a supported scenario. Running Visual Studio 2005 as a non administrator after it is installed is supported.
To resolve this issue
Please install Visual Studio 2005 while logged in as an administrator. |
Another thing to help you along to see the power of the development tools are "starter kits". These are pre-built web sites that you can use as a starting point. You can find a personal website starter kit, along with several others at http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/vwd/starterkit/default.aspx.
