Visual Studio 2008
July 25th, 2007 Posted in Programming, Software Dev., Tech Corner 
Visual Studio 2008, code-named Orcas is the successor to Visual Studio 2005, and it would be launch together with Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 at 27th February, 2008, in Los Angles.
The next version of Visual Studio, Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2008 (formerly known as, Microsoft Visual Studio code name “Orcas”), will provide an industry-leading developer experience for Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and the Web. In addition, it will continue in the Microsoft tradition of development language innovation. To enable early feedback, this page provides links to Community Technology Preview (CTP) and Beta releases of Visual Studio 2008, and for technologies that we plan to include in it.
Visual Studio 2008 is focused much on the development of Windows Vista, 2007 Office System and Web Applications. However, it will bring a new language feature, LINQ, new versions of C# and Visual Basic languages. Besides that, Visual Studio 2008 also delivers Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) visual designer and some improvements on .NET Framework.
Visual Studio 2008 also features a new HTML/CSS editor influenced by Microsoft Expression Web. In fact, XAML based designer, workflow designer, LINQ to SQ designer XSLT debugger, XSD designer, JavaScript Intellisense and Debugging Support will be included. This new version of Visual Studio will be shipped with an enhanced set of UI widgets, both for WinForms and WPF.
Visual Studio 2008 requires .NET Framework 3.5 to run and you can check the Feature Specifications for Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 from here. The latest Beta version, Beta 1 was released on 19th April, 2007 and Beta 2 will be released later in this summer. According to the feedbacks from other users, it would be advisable to wait for Beta 2 as Visual Studio 2008 Beta 1 is not yet stable and buggy.
