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The VC++ Information Center is one of my newest sites and is under
development (July, 2007) in parallel with my C# and VB.NET sites.
I've decided to learn all three of the languages and to build web sites
for each to help others benefit from the experience.
This introductory page covers the basic resources available from Microsoft to help
you get the most out of VC++. The topics covered include:
I've been a VB6 programmer for years and while I'm quite happy with the language I keep
running into cases where it would be helpful to either understand code in other languages
or to be able to program in the language in order to have access to a feature or component
offered only by that language. These needs have driven me to the decision to learn several
new languages.
In addition to having all three sites under development at the same time, I'm putting
together a side by side comparison of the VB.NET, C#, VC++, and
VB6 languages.
I'm also adding tutorials and sample code for the
Top 100 Code Snippets found in my freeware
code librarian.
Downloading Visual Studio 2005 - the Express Editions
Visual Studio 2005 is available in Standard ($299) and Professional ($799) versions.
However free versions, called Express Editions, of the individual languages are also
available at the Microsoft
Visual Studio Express Editions home page.
There is no download which contains the entire Visual Studio Express Editions. You have
to download each language separately.
If you want, you can download an
ISO image
of the language file, from which you create an installation CD.
Registration Benefits
Online registration is required or else the language will stop working in 30 days.
In the registration verification email you will receive from Microsoft, there is a "Visual Studio 2005 Registration Benefits" link. There are not very many freebies on the page, but a few of them
are very useful, especially the two free eBooks. I downloaded the following:
- SpreadsheetGear - spreadsheet component
- IconBuffer Studio Suite - free icons
- Corbis Images - free images
- eBook - "Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition - Build a Program Now"
- eBook - "Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition - Build a Program Now"
- Graphics Server .NET - charting component
Getting Started
As a first step to learning a new language, I'm a strong believer in reading all
available materials. The Express Editions home page provides access to several
materials to get you started using VC++.
- Online Tour
Great overview and high-level introduction to VC++
- Video Tour
Great overview and high-level introduction to VC++
- Online VC++ Tutorials
Though brief, these tutorials cover beginner to advanced topics. I've provided
more information on the tutorials further down this page.
- eBooks
There is no VC++ eBook, as was provided for C# and VB.NET.
In addition to the information provided by Microsoft I provide lists of
online tutorials which you will find helpful.
Finally, I've written my own VB.NET Information Center tutorials which I highly recommend <g>. I've found that by creating my own tutorials, I get
a better grasp of how all the pieces of a language fit together.
Visual Studio Express Editions Home Page
The Express Editions home page is found within the Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN)
website. MSDN contains a section for each of the Visual Studio languages, covering
the following four general areas of interest.
- Language Sections (Web Developer, VB.NET, C#, VC++, J#, SQL)
A page for each language is available, each divided into the following sections. Each
language page contains the following commonly titled sections, but each section
contains slightly different information.
- Easy to Use
Introductory information and a Video Feature Tour.
- Fun
Description and download of example projects for common applications
- Easy to Learn
Video tour, online help, MSDN Express Library (part of installation)
- Beginning Developer Learning Center
Tutorials, with two learning tracks - one for web developers and one for
application developers.
- Coding4Fun
Sample projects, highlighting useful/popular capabilities of the language,
categorized by windows, web, gaming, or hardware applications.
Be sure to note that multiple pages of examples are available within
each category (use the 'Next' link at the bottom of each page).
- Support
Includes FAQs and other information.
Also gives the link for
manual installation, which allows you to download an ISO image
to use in creating a CD for manual installation.
If you don't already have the tool/knowledge to create the installation
CD from the ISO image, then check out this freeware tool,
ISO Recorder
which you can use to burn the CD.
Beginner Developer Learning Center
When the reading is long, I prefer books over online tutorials. But if you like
online tutorials, which tend to be shorter and less detailed, Microsoft has done
a reasonable good job with this set of tutorials.
The tutorials are split into two 'tracks', corresponding to the type of programming
is required. I've simply copied the descriptions Microsoft uses to describe the
tracks. Microsoft provides a
side-by-side comparison of the tutorials contained in the two tracks.
- Web Track
Are you interested in creating dynamic web sites, or building online applications and
services? Then this is the Development Track for you!
- Windows Track
Would you like to customize your desktop with cool utilities or build fun Windows
applications and PC games? Then you should explore this Development Track.
Within each of the tracks, the tutorials are broken into 3 levels of difficulty. Here's
how Microsoft describes the different tiers.
- Tier 1
Tier 1 Lessons are a great place to start if you're brand-new to programming.
Most of these lessons don't assume any prior software development knowledge
and will take the time to introduce basic concepts.
- Tier 2
Tier 2 Lessons assume you understand the foundations of .NET development.
These lessons will proceed at a faster pace, and cover a lot of the core
concepts of Windows and Web development. By the end of these lessons, you
should be able to create a basic, working application!
- Tier 3
Tier 3 Lessons follow up on the skills learned in Tier 2. These lessons expand
your knowledge of Windows and Web development with more advanced concepts such
as data access and debugging. If you finish the Tier 3 lessons, Congratulations –
you've graduated from the Beginner Developer Learning Center and can officially
call yourself a Software Developer!
Kid's Corner
A part of the Beginner Developer Learning Center, the
Kid's Corner
has several learning tools for the younger programmer, including two free eBooks
(C# for Shark Kids and VB for Very Bright Kids), links to kid-friendly sites,
and other learning aides.
Express Edition Forums
There are 4 Visual Studio Express Editions
forums available.
- Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition
- Visual C# 2005 Express Edition
- Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition
- Installing and Registering Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition
MSDN - Microsoft Developers Network
In addition to the content available at the Microsoft
Visual Studio Express Editions
home page, you'll want to check out Microsoft's flagship site for developers - MSDN.
MSDN is huge and you'll want/need to spend a lot of time browsing around to get a better feel
for what content is important to you. The following section is my attempt to help familiarize
you with the key areas of MSDN.
MSDN is the Microsoft Developer Network, a set of online and offline services designed to help
developers write applications using Microsoft products and technologies. Offline subscription
Library and magazine services are also available.
As a beginner you don't need to spend a lot of time here. But as your skills progress you'll
find MSDN to be a gold mine of information and downloads. You'll want to come here regularly
to check out new content (or use the RSS feed capability to watch for new content).
The Online MSDN site consists of five major sections.
- Home Page
The latest Microsoft developer headlines.
- Library
An online reference library for all developer topics including documentation, technical
- Learn
MSDN Training and Certification Resources
- Downloads
Download all developer-related tools, add-ons, service packs, products updates,
and SDKs, as well as beta and preview releases.
- Support
Online search of MSDN, Knowledge Base and MSDN Blogs. Assisted support links.
You can also search the Knowledge Base at
Microsoft Support page.
- Community
Forums, blogs, shared code, technical chats, newsgroups, events and webcasts
Some of the other key areas on the MSDN website include
- RSS
RSS feeds for new MSDN content.
- Developer Centers
Focused exclusively on language-specific developer topics.
- MSDN Subscriptions
MSDN Subscriptions is a premier software service for developers providing priority access to over
1,000 continuously updated product downloads, DVDs or CDs, with the latest tools, platform, and
server technologies. For more information:
The subscription is in the form of a delivered MSDN Library, with regular updates. It is
available in $199 and $599 yearly subscription levels.
A free version of the MSDN Library is installed with the Express Editions, but is not
as complete as the subscription versions. The subscription versions also provide
for regular updates from Microsoft.
- MSDN Magazine
The Microsoft Journal for Developers, available at a cost of $50 per year (free if you have
a Library subscription).
There's also a
free newsletter, sent out every two weeks.
My Personal Progress
I'm keeping a record of events/comments related to my progress in learning C#, VC++, and VB.NET.
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