   VC++ 2008 When it comes out
  Well I was reading on the microsoft website that VC++ 2008 is coming out in February and am debating on whether I should upgrade to 2005 (I have 2002 right now... yeah I know, it's old) now or just wait till 2008 comes out (I will be getting 2008 regardless of whether I upgrade to 2005 now). It looks like about $200 US to upgrade from 2002 standard to 2005 but I'm not sure how much it will be from 2002 to 2008 or 2005 to 2008. I don't really want to use $200 on software that will be out of date in 4½ months. On the other hand I am finding that I'm having trouble compiling some newer libraries with 2002 (well, one, but it is pretty important). Microsoft doesn't offer any, you know, free 1 week upgrade period when a product first comes out, heh heh, do they? =D2002 so far has worked for the most part but there's one library (cml) which seems to need 2005 (unless I can somehow find a temporary way around that until February) to compile. And it seems like kind of a waste to spend $200 on a free math library now and then another $200 (or whatever the price will be to upgrade) in February rather than just waiting till February... Then again I can't say if I will need another 2005-specific library for something else within the next few months.Anyone have any recommendations on this?   
  Isn't there a free version of VC++ 2005? Or is that no longer available?   ;  The Express edition I think? I guess that would probably do until 2008 comes out... I found a feature comparison with the standard edition, and the main difference I saw (only one affecting me I think) is that Standard edition has "Win32 SDK" but Express only has "Win32 SDK (Core Only)". What does that mean?Says it has STL but it doesn't have "ATL", which I looked up and that is "active template library"... I'm assuming that isn't anything too vital?Anyways if those things aren't anything important maybe I'll go with that.Unless, I'm looking on the microsoft website and it looks like they are offering the express edition of 2008 beta for free.Does anyone know when the beta of that "expires"?   ;  Basically the Express Edition includes everything you need to write games. You need to manually install the Win32 SDK but that should not cause any problems, and no, you don't need ATL. AFAIK the 2008 version will be released in February so perhaps the beta releases expire then. But really, I don't think you need the new version. 2005 Express includes everything you need (especially if you are a beginner) + much more. So my advice is, install 2005 now and when 2008 is released, upgrade if you want.//chinc   ;  When I reviewed the list of improvements made to C++ a few months ago, I wasn't really impressed. Like the 2003->2005 update, 2008 seems to mostly add features to managed languages. In particular, there's still no C++ refactoring.   ;Quote:Original post by SneftelWhen I reviewed the list of improvements made to C++ a few months ago, I wasn't really impressed. Like the 2003->2005 update, 2008 seems to mostly add features to managed languages. In particular, there's still no C++ refactoring.Yes, too bad. Though they are promising it to Orcas + 1 release. The C++ front-end and IntelliSense support is mostly driven with regular expressions and similar "hacks" and the VC++ team is frantically, as I've let to believe, building a new front-end that practically builds an AST out of the C++ code. This should provide similar refactoring support as there is for managed languages. We'll see how this goes as there is also the new C++09 out there and Herb Sutter is beating the big drum on superb concurrency implementations -- still in makings by the C++ standards committee.;  Yeah, from what they're saying, it's Orcas+1 that's going to contain all the goodies on the C++ side.Supposedly, that's when VC++ will start picking up speed again;  There is a possibility for getting Visual Studio 2005 Professional for free for 180 days. It's an evaluation version. If you'd like that you can get it here:https://www.tryvs2005.com/profile.aspxGood luck.   