"Orcas" is the codename for the next release of Visual Studio, which will allow you to develop applications using .NET versions 2.0, 3.0 and the up-and-coming .NET 3.5. The .NET Framework 3.5 introduces no breaking changes, but it does include some exciting new functionality. You can explore the new features in "Orcas" using its March Community Tech Preview (CTP) . The CTP is conveniently distributed as a Virtual PC (VPC) image that contains a full install of Visual Studio codename "Orcas," as well