Visual Studio 2008 Gets Its Date
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Microsoft will release to manufacturing the newest version of its developer tool suite—and .NET Framework 3.5 with it—later this month. |
Microsoft is set to launch Visual Studio 2008, along with 2008 versions of SQL Server and Windows Server, on Feb. 27 (why not Feb. 29; it's a leap year). RTM will put to rest one of the three products; the other two are delayed, and their February availability is uncertain.
Today's announcement is much bigger than Visual Studio. Microsoft also released the Microsoft Sync Framework first CTP (Community Technology Preview) and updated Popfly Explorer.
Microsoft Sync Framework is a huge release. I've read some commentary calling the synch technology Microsoft's response to Google Gears. Not so. With Synch Framework, Microsoft is finally delivering on synchronization capabilities chucked from Windows Vista, to make its late ship date. Developers should have been able to tap into Vista for the synchronization foundation, which would have been better for operating system adoption.
See eWEEK review: "Will Microsoft's Orcas Make a Splash?"
That said, the current approach offers more synchronization capabilities across more Microsoft and third-party products. Microsoft has taken into account offline data and collaboration scenarios, which go beyond the previous synchronization vision for Windows Vista.
While seemingly approaching the same kind of offline data access problem, Google Gears and Sync Framework start from opposite ends. Google is trying to extend its Web services, which need constant connectivity, to the desktop. Microsoft is trying to extend its desktop software capabilities to the Web. Additionally, Microsoft is taking more of a peer-to-peer approach to synchronization and collaboration, which is quite sensible and consistent with past product development strategy.
Popfly Explorer is important for related, but different, reasons. Popfly is the little incubation project that could. The service didn't seem like much more than a Microsoft Max—here today, gone tomorrow technology—when put it into limited beta little more than six months ago. Popfly is now in broad beta and more closely aligned with Silverlight and Visual Studio, as Microsoft makes a big play for next-generation Web applications. Popfly is mashup on steroids, but more: It increasingly is Microsoft's glue for sticking together its products and Web services with those form Web 2.0 providers such as Flickr.
Closer alignment with Visual Studio is a first step. I'm watching for closer Popfly alignment with Expression Studio, which would bring together both ends—developer and designer—of the broader Web development process.
More broadly, Visual Studio 2008 is all about integration, of even more closely aligning development tools with existing applications, with .NET Framework 3.5 as the core. Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 are centerpieces of Microsoft's software plus services strategy—at least for the 2008 and early 2009 product release cycles.
Related Posts:
- Microsoft Makes Way for Oslo, Microsoft Watch, Oct. 30, 2007
- Microsoft's .NET Poison Pill?, Microsoft Watch, Oct. 3, 2007
- Windows Server 2008 Delayed, Again, Microsoft Watch, Aug. 29, 2007
- Can Microsoft be the Wrench in Google Gears?, Microsoft Watch, June 6, 2007
- Digital Media Bundling 2.0, Microsoft Watch, April 16, 2007
- What Is Microsoft's Services Platform, Microsoft Watch, March 1, 2007
- March Orcas CTP Shows Some Expression?, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 28, 2007
Comments (9)
LINQ!!!
Where is it, I don't see it in your review and I don't see it in the eWeek review. But let me continue there is more you missed.
It is not VS2008 but .NET 3.5 and that vs2008 is the way to program for that target vs2005 will not.
It will all be about LINQ
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_Integrated_Query
Then we could talk about Extension methods. Where is that in the reviews and try to do that with VS2005.
One can't review an IDE based on what it has on the menus . You review the IDE based on what new code it takes in and what it can output and if that can be done in the previous product. Like new Method Extensions or being able have LINQ logic that work with your Entity Objects or database with out code changes. Did you review the Entity Data Model Designer? Joe, do you even use VS2005 to know what it is and what it is not?
Joe three things I can think of that are missing:
1. LINQ
2. Method Extensions
3. Entity Data Model Designer
Joe, please why don't you and the other eWeek employee take another look, and update your review. Because let me tell you there is more there than just the menu item change.
Joe, here is something to get you started with besides my three things I pointed out.
blogs.msdn.com/walterst/archive/2007/11/05/what-s-new-in-visual-studio-2008.aspx
Posted by anonimo | November 5, 2007 6:26 PM
Joe, do you think that Microsoft so dumb that they would put out more .Net products before a settlement is reached with VCSY? I think it would be suicidal to all of their .Net products. Especially because without a settlement and licensing agreements to use VCSY's SiteFlash(744) patent, an injunction would be the next step.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.vcsy.com/press/releases.php?year=2007&month=04&day=20&num=00
FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2007
Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Microsoft Corporation
Fort Worth, TX, April 20, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE)? Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: VCSY)(www.vcsy.com) announced today that on April 18, 2007, Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. filed suit for patent infringement against Microsoft Corp. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. VCSY claims that the Microsoft .Net System infringes U.S. Patent No. 6,826,744.
Posted by I-Man | November 5, 2007 7:35 PM
Microsoft spends Billions on attacking smaller companies and stealing their patents. Then they dragg'em through the courts to see if they can outlast them, if not they settle like they did with Eolas and others.
http://www.vcsy.com/press/releases.php?y...
FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2007
Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Microsoft Corporation
Fort Worth, TX, April 20, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE)? Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: VCSY)(www.vcsy.com) announced today that on April 18, 2007, Vertical Computer Systems, Inc. filed suit for patent infringement against Microsoft Corp. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. VCSY claims that the Microsoft .Net System infringes U.S. Patent No. 6,826,744.
Posted by I-Man | November 5, 2007 8:06 PM
Wake me when they stuff the fud.
.Net is not exactly tightly woven. Its the biggest memory hog I know of. Its also bad a cross platform.
KDE 4 development env is looking like it will kick the crap out of this. Even if I have to pay some money for a comerical QT license.
Posted by oiaohm | November 5, 2007 8:19 PM
i-man
i have patent for breathing. did you get you lawsuit in the mail yet? why is that you kewp breathing with out a settlement? you owe me money stop breathing or else.
Posted by somjo | November 6, 2007 10:10 AM
i-man
good thing they drag it on because what other sensless drab would you write about if it was over so soon? what will you be posting once it is over? of course any thing good for vcys we will here "i told you so" what if the loose? crickets
Posted by somjo | November 6, 2007 10:23 AM
For more on the Sync Framework, see Microsoft Releases Sync Framework CTP1.
--rj
Posted by Roger Jennings | November 6, 2007 12:26 PM
@anonimo,
I agree with you on LINQ and its related C# 3.0 and VB 9.0 language extensions.
But the Entity Framework and Entity Data Model Designer aren't included in Visual Studio 2008. They scheduled to appear as a Web release in mid 2008.
--rj
Posted by Roger Jennings | November 6, 2007 12:30 PM
Microsoft spends Billions on attacking smaller companies and stealing their patents. Then they dragg'em through the courts to see if they can outlast them, if not they settle like they did with Eolas and others.
Posted by oyun | February 25, 2008 10:28 PM