In Chapter 1, you learned that you can create your C# applications using Notepad. In this chapter, you’ll learn why you never will. Microsoft developed Visual Studio 2008 to facilitate the creation of Windows and web applications. You will find that this integrated development environment (IDE) is a very powerful tool that will greatly simplify your work.
Visual Studio 2008 offers many advantages to the .NET developer, among them:
A modern interface, using a tabbed document metaphor for code and layout screens, and dockable toolbars and information windows.
Convenient access to multiple design and code windows (this will make more sense when you are creating web applications, as shown in Chapter 20).
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) visual design of Windows and Web Forms.
Code completion, which allows you to enter code with fewer errors and less typing.
IntelliSense, which displays tips for every method, providing the return type and the types of all the parameters.
Dynamic, context-sensitive help, which allows you to view topics and samples relevant to the code you are writing at the moment. You can also search the complete SDK library from within the IDE.
Immediate flagging of syntax errors, which allows you to fix problems as they are entered.
A Start Page, which provides easy access to new and existing projects.
The same code editor for all .NET languages, which shortens the learning curve. Each language can have specialized aspects, but all languages benefit from shared features, such as incremental search, code outlining, collapsing text, line numbering, and color-coded keywords.
An HTML editor, which provides both Design and HTML views that update each other in real time.
A Solution Explorer, which displays all the files that make up your solution in outline form.
An integrated debugger, which allows you to step through code, observe program runtime behavior, and set breakpoints, even across multiple languages and multiple processes.
Customization capability, which allows you to set user preferences for IDE appearance and behavior.
Integrated support for source control software.
A built-in task list.
The ability to modify your controls’ properties, either declaratively or through the Properties window.
The ability to integrate custom controls that you create or purchase from a third party.
Rapid and easy deployment, including the ability to copy an entire website development project from one machine to another.
The ability to integrate third-party tools into Visual Studio.
The ability to program extensions to Visual Studio.
The ability to rename methods, properties, and so forth and have them renamed automatically throughout the program.
A Server Explorer, which allows you to log on to servers that you have network access to, access the data and services on those servers, drag-and-drop data sources onto controls, and perform a variety of other chores.
Integrated build and compile support.
The ability to drag-and-drop controls onto your web page, either in Design mode or in HTML mode.
Visual Studio 2008 and Visual C# 2008 Express are highly useful tools that can save you hours of repetitive tasks. They are also large and complex programs, so it is impossible for us to explore every nook and cranny in this chapter. Instead, we’ll take you on a quick tour of the interface and lay the foundation for understanding and using C# Express, which is our IDE of choice for this book, as well as point out some of the nastier traps you might run into along the way.