Visual Studio .NET

Managed Code:

 .NET uses managed code that is written to target the services of the common language runtime. In order to target these services, the code must provide a minimum level of information (metadata) to the runtime. All .NET supported languages like C#, Visual Basic .NET, and JScript .NET code is managed by default. Visual Studio .NET C++ code is not managed by default, but the compiler can produce managed code by specifying a command-line switch (/CLR).

Managed data:

Closely related to managed code is managed data. data that is allocated and de-allocated by the common language runtime's garbage collector. C#, Visual Basic, and JScript .NET data is managed by default. C# data can, however, be marked as unmanaged through the use of special keywords. Visual Studio .NET C++ data is unmanaged by default (even when using the /CLR switch), but when using Managed Extensions for C++, a class can be marked as managed by using the __gc keyword. As the name suggests, this means that the memory for instances of the class is managed by the garbage collector.

IDE:

Integrated Development Environment is a new feature in VS .NET.  This helps a great deal in developer’s productivity in using short cuts, hot keys, cross-language debugging.  Visual Studio training materials and information is available from:

·        http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/

 

Whatever language is selected, the flexibility of using .NET class library is almost the same except in Managed C++ .NET where “un-managed” C++ can be mingled together in the same code.

VB .NET

If you are a Visual Basic programmer then VB.NET should be the language of choice. The UI building tools in VS .NET has evolved from Visual Basic UI builder. The easiest way to get started with VB.NET is going through online tutorials like the following:

http://www.msdnaa.net/technologies/gettingstarted/vbasic/

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic

 

C# .NET

If you are a C, C++ or Java programmer or want to learn yet another language then C# should be the selected. C# has become everyone’s language of choice. The following site and many other online tutorials on C# is helpful:

http://www.msdnaa.net/technologies/gettingstarted/VCSharp/

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vcsharp

 

C++ .NET

C++ is it also supported in .NET environment.  The industry is not accepting C++ as the de-facto language like COM. C# is emerging as the programmer’s and also industry’s choice of language. C++ .NET environment can mix the “managed” and “un-managed” code together thereby making it flexible for existing C++ code base to move quickly into .NET environment. For new-comers of Visual C++, the learning curve may be long, but the following sites may be helpful:

http://www.msdnaa.net/technologies/gettingstarted/vcppm/

http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc

 

J# .NET

Java is supported in .NET environment. Not much information (like books or online tutorial) is available on J#.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vjsharp/