Editorial Review
Visual C++ .NET is the most flexible of Microsoft's languages. The compiler primarily targets native-code Windows executables, but a switch also enables compilation to MSIL (Microsoft intermediate language). This managed code runs on the .NET Framework's common language runtime, with full access to the Framework's class library.
Developers can include both managed and unmanaged code in the same project: the compiler does the necessary internal translation automatically. This feature is particularly valuable for those with existing applications that cannot be ported all at once to the .NET platform.
The Visual C++ .NET product consists of an IDE, class libraries, compiler, and tools. The compiler in the Standard edition is nonoptimizing, so professional developers may prefer Visual Studio .NET Professional or higher. The key libraries are the MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes), which wrap the Windows API, and the ATL (Active Template Library), for efficient development of COM or ActiveX components. In addition, the bundled .NET Framework SDK has command-line compilers for Visual Basic, JScript, and Visual C#, and you can also compile C# from the IDE. Despite its managed extensions, Visual C++ .NET does not support the Windows Forms designer or the Web Forms designer, although there is a visual dialog editor for native Windows applications.
The two big changes in Visual C++ .NET, when compared to Visual C++ 6.0, are support for the .NET Framework and a brand-new IDE. There are minor updates to MFC and ATL, and the ability to do COM programming using attributes is a strong feature. The Standard C++ Library is updated in this version, with improved standards compliance for those building portable applications, although Visual C++ .NET is still not the best in this respect. On the other hand, it excels as a tool for building Windows applications and components, where its huge flexibility compensates for the lack of a visual form designer.
The Visual C++ IDE is outstanding, although you need to double the minimum system requirements for good performance, and note that it does not run on Windows 98 or Me. Online help is now fully integrated into the main workspace, wizards have been streamlined, and the XML designer will be useful even to those not working with the .NET Framework. --Tim Anderson, Amazon.co.uk
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Customer Reviews
The Ultimate 
2002-09-18
This Product will help make video games great.
Why do they call it visual? 
2002-05-30
I bought this to take advantage of the ability to quickly visually design dialogs as in 6.0 which was recommended to me only to find out that the designers are not included in C++ as they are in C# and Visual Basic. Good luck finding that out on the MS website. So with the premier MS C++ development tool, you are still counting pixels for a simple dialog box!
Can you use XP Home Edition as Developement Environment? 
2002-05-26
Has anybody installed this product on XP Home Edition? Does it work OK? I'm talking about actually compiling/linking on Home Edition, not compiling on XP Professional and running the resulting executable on Home Edition.
OS requirements 
2002-04-26
Note well that this requires NT! It is not installable on ME, 98, nor 95.
Wait for the service patches to come out. 2002-04-10
As with all MSFT software the program has a clean ui, and it is pretty easy to figure out how to do stuff.
However, this is the first release of a new version, and the resulting teething problems mean you should pause before purchasing this if you already have a C++ compiler.
My primary complaints about the software are:
- Libraries and software that compiled in MSVC++ 6.0 no longer compile in .NET. Worse, the errors listed by the compiler do not provide meaningful clues as to what is wrong(error C1001, internal compiler error). In the newsgroups, the standard MSFT response has been that the problem is with your source, not the compiler.
- The help and the ui are not in synch. For instance, the names used in the help files for project properties, and the actual naming in the dialog are different. This makes it hard to determine what you need to change when trying to configure your project.
Summary: Stay away unless you like living on the bleeding edge.
Great if you just want to tinker. 2003-10-15
Note after spending a good bit of time with this software, I felt compelled to rewrite my review.
I use Visual Studio as an editor when I write code for Linux/Unix, and also to develop native XP/2000 device drivers and windows application code.
This version is basically an upgrade of Visual C++ 6, with .NET, managed classes, and better template and ANSI standards adherence. Any problems you had with STL are resolved with this version. Note, on some code you will get some errors on code that compiled without warning under VC6, due to a stricter compiler.
Unfortunately, there are some negatives. The biggest is a rewrite of the Visual Studio IDE. The Visual Studio C++ class wizard is gone. Yes. Gone. You will have to spend time (and a large amount of it) to relearn how to add events, message handlers, and otherwise get up to speed with the VB-ish property window.
What would take me five minutes (drag and drop of an ActiveX control) ended up taking several hours of sifting through the help files.
This version is basically the academic version, with some crippled functionality. This version will not allow you to generate optimized code (/Ox switches are disabled), and some other functionality has been removed.
Also, you will want to have at least 512 MB, or it will crawl. I keep reverting back to Visual Studio C++ because of the .NET's lethargy. Luckily, unlike previous versions of Visual C++, the two versions can coexist on your system peacefully.
Further, if you intend to do any .NET development, you may be somewhat disappointed as .NET support is primarily focused on C# and VB. There are no examples for C++ using .NET assemblies, etc.
Help, please 2003-07-13
Please please help!!
I've learned c++ very well but I don't know!!
should I go with c++ .net or c++Builder??
Which one is better?????
Please help...
Answer to the Question? 2002-12-20
Visual C++ .Net is a Upgrade of sorts to Visual C++ 6 it has added features and the .net framework If you plan to go with a book that is made for visual c++ 6 i would go with visual c++ 6 because the book is
product specific. Iwould suggest ditching the book Grabbing Visual C +++.net and getting C++ Primer a book that will teach you to program c++ and not just to use Microsoft version 6 of the IDE.
Help with the difference... 
2002-11-05
Hello. I was planning to buy Visual C++ 6 a while back but then Microsoft came out with Visual C++.NET. I bought the book Visual C++ 6 for Dummies and that is when Microsoft switched. I was hoping that someone who has Vusyal C++.NET or someone who is knowledgable about this subject could help me out. Is Visual C++.NET just an upgraded verison of C++ 6? Would C++ 6 for Dummies still work with C++.NET? I do not know where else I could get an anwser for this. If anyone knows where I could ask my question, that would be great too. Thanks for your help.
Bad Support .... 2002-09-22
I just received my MS C++ .NET and I am not happy with it. The help function does work AT ALL (it's Explorer-Based, and all it does is tell me my server is offline), despite several attempts at re-installation. When I go to Microsoft's support page, it tells me my support options have expired, effectively telling me where to go if I actually want their product to work.
Let's see what Borland has to offer ...
