Microsoft Visual Studio - Free

[Animal]

Over the last couple of years Microsoft has made "express" editions of their Visual Studio product. The latest batch is recently out of beta and can be had at http://www.microsoft.com/express/.

Visual Studio is Microsoft's IDE for programming in Visual Basic, C, C#, ASP, etc. If you're at all curious about programming it's an excellent way to get your feet wet. They have lots of nice tutorials on the website and the free versions are just about the same as the full version.

Getting started is easy. Anyone can make a "calculator" like the one that comes with Windows in a matter of minutes.

[zero]

Any idea how does this "express" version compares to the full Standard or Enterprise Architect VS?

If it's at all decent it might be worth using over the old VC++ 6.0 I still have, not that I've used it recently.

[Animal]

It's almost the same... I haven't come across anything that has prevented me from doing something yet. Most of the stuff I play around with is connecting to SQL Server and databinding. I've also played around with a command line "RPG" where you type in things like "go north" etc to accomplish things.

Here is a link to the FAQ:
http://www.microsoft.com/express/support/faq/

I have a copy of VS 2005 Pro that I got from a friend who is a developer and has an MSDN subscription. I do like to remain legal with my software wherever possible and these Express editions haven't given me a reason to go back yet.

And, it's definitely more than "decent" as you put it, LOL! Give it a try!

[papa smurf]

i have the full version hehe Torrent FTW

[Animal]

You wouldn't know what to do with the express edition much less the full version, dippy.

[Hae-Yu]

I posted the link to MS's dreamspark program where you can get the full version 2005 AND 2008 for free + a bunch of other full versions of developer apps if you or your spouse happens to be a student at any institution of higher learning.

Legit program, I used it for my school. SQL Server 2005 Dev Ed, Windows Server 2003, Visual Studio,...
As many as you can dl for as long as you are student. They only check once a year.

edit: my thread - great deals a couple weeks ago

[Animal]

This is true but your links only work if you're in school or know someone who is willing to do it for you... this is available to anyone. No authorization or any of that nonsense required.