Exploring Visual Studio ..............................................................................
Several years ago, starting in 1997 with Visual Interdev, Microsoft managed to
merge all of its programming languages and programming tools into a single
suite of tools, now called Visual Studio. You’ll find lots of ways to create Web
sites, attach databases to them, build modules in several languages (that can
work together), and otherwise simplify life for programmers and people cre-
ating Web sites. CSS was not omitted from this suite.
Although many Web developers and programmers in other fields are rather
unhappy with Microsoft, the company remains difficult to ignore. For good or
ill, Microsoft sets the standards and will continue to do so for the foreseeable
future. Developers and programmers who refuse to use Microsoft products
are a bit like drivers who refuse to use highways. It’s possible to do but
inconvenient.
If you haven’t looked it over, you might want give Visual Studio a try.
Inexpensive versions are available on eBay. Sure, other CSS editors are out
there, but none offers the huge number of features built into Visual Studio.
None comes remotely close. We’re talking advanced debugging, macro facili-
ties, direct connection to databases, and hundreds of tools, wizards, controls,
add-ins, and other features that make the journey from idea to finished Web
site much easier and faster. If you prefer the back roads, more power to you
(and I mean that literally). If you want the highway, no other programming
suite is even worth considering.
Some may say that this book is too Microsoft-centric, but my only response is
to look at the marketplace. The huge majority of users (as opposed to some
computer professionals for whom Microsoft can do nothing right) are over-
whelmingly Microsoft-centric too.
Figure 19-1 provides a look at some of the features in the CSS design area of
Visual Studio.
During 2005, Microsoft is rolling out a set of programming products it calls
Express versions. Microsoft touts these technologies — including Visual Web
Dev 2005 Express (ASP.NET) — as products that expand the Visual Studio line
to include easy-to-use tools for hobbyists and novices who want to build
dynamic Windows applications and Web sites. All the same, these are power-
ful products. For example, the Visual Basic Express version is actually capa-
ble of doing what the “professional” version can do. The primary difference is
that the Express version has a friendlier user interface (fewer options are
immediately visible, so you don’t get overwhelmed) and a less technical slant
(so beginners can get acquainted without feeling threatened). Give these
products a try. The beta versions are free for the download now at
http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/
Chapter 19: Ten Topics That Don’t Fit Elsewhere in the Book (But Are Important) 335
