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Visual Studio 2005 Editions
There are many different Editions of Visual Studio 2005 and only after careful consideration can you determine which one is right for you.
Editions Profiled in this Guide
- Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions
- Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition
- Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
- Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Testers
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Developers
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Architects
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Test Load Agent
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server
- MSDN Library Subscription
- MSDN Operating Systems Subscription
- Visual Studio 2005 Professional with MSDN Professional Subscription
- Visual Studio 2005 Professional with MSDN Premium Subscription
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Testers with MSDN Premium Subscription
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Developers with MSDN Premium Subscription
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Architects with MSDN Premium Subscription
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite with MSDN Premium Subscription
- Microsoft Volume Licensing
- The Microsoft Partner Program
- Microsoft Empower for ISVs
- Visual Studio Industry Partner Program
- MSDN Academic Alliance
Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions
Licensing: Proprietary
The Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions are intended to provide an affordable, easy-to-learn, entry-level programming environment for "hobbyists, enthusiasts, and students." There are five Express Editions:
- Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition
- Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition
- Visual C# 2005 Express Edition
- Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition
- Visual J# 2005 Express Edition
Microsoft has also developed the free SQL Server 2005 Express Edition as an entry-level database to work with the Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition products.
The Express Editions have a number of limitations when compared with other Visual Studio editions. Their database design tools can only connect to local databases. The documentation is geared to beginning programmers and does not include the full MSDN Library (there is an optional 200MB subset called MSDN Express).
The following features are omitted from the Express Editions:
- The Class Designer,
- XSLT support,
- Deployment tools,
- Source code control,
- Extensibility features,
- Reporting tools, and
- Remote debugging.
The lack of source code control support in particular makes the Express Editions unsuitable for serious development work.
Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition
Licensing: Proprietary
Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition is the entry-level edition for professional programmers. The Standard Edition includes the full line of Visual Studio languages (Visual Basic, C#, C++, and J#), and can create Windows, Web, and mobile applications. It shares a streamlined user interface with the Express Editions, lacking some of the windows and tools of the higher-end editions, but it does allow you to use (although not create) add-ins, and it includes source code control interfaces.
The Standard Edition can work with both local and remote databases, and includes a full copy of the MSDN Library for documentation. It has the Click Once deployment tools and SQL Server Reporting Services, but lacks support for remote debugging.
Experienced developers will probably find Standard Edition useful for small or single-computer applications. If you're working with distributed applications, or used to the full set of tools supported by Visual Studio Professional, you'll inevitably run into annoying limitations trying to use Standard Edition.
Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition
Licensing: Proprietary
Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition is the top single-developer edition of the product. Available as a standalone package or in conjunction with an MSDN subscription (we'll discuss the subscription options later in this Guide), the Professional Edition contains everything in the Standard Edition as well as some additional tools.
Specifically, the Professional Edition adds:
- The full Visual Studio user interface,
- The full set of deployment tools,
- Crystal Reports,
- Remote debugging,
- 64-bit compilers,
- A "Servers" node in Server Explorer, and
- SQL Server 2005 integration.
Professional Edition also includes a licensed copy of SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition. This edition of SQL Server has all of the capabilities of the high-end SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition, but is licensed solely for development and testing use.
Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System
Licensing: Proprietary
Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System is a special version of Visual Studio that's priced at the professional level but that targets developers who are building solutions to work with Microsoft Office specifically. The only languages in the package are Visual Basic and C#, and it lacks some of the features of Visual Studio Professional (such as mobile device support and 64-bit compiler support).
But it includes project types that are not available in the Express, Standard, or Professional editions of Visual Studio. These project types allow you to build solutions that work with Microsoft Word, Excel, InfoPath, or Outlook. Microsoft's Office Developer Center has an entire section devoted to these project types, with articles and sample code.
The package also contains some additional software to provide a complete Office development environment:
- Windows Server 2003 Developer Edition,
- SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition,
- Microsoft Office Access 2003 Developer Extensions, and
- The Access 2003 Runtime license.
Note that it does not include a license for Microsoft Office itself, which must be purchased separately.
Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Testers
Licensing: Proprietary
Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Testers is one of the three role-based editions of Visual Studio 2005 Team System. In addition to the functionality of Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition and the Microsoft Office project types from the Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System, this edition includes integrated load testing tools for Web applications and servers, as well as Web test authoring tools.
Like the rest of the Team Editions, it also comes with:
- Visual SourceSafe,
- A five-user version of Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server,
- The Client Access License for Team Foundation Server, and
- A licensed copy of SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition.
This package is marketed for testers who are working in relatively large development teams and who have adopted Team System as their overall development environment.
Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Testers is not offered for individual retail sale. You can buy licenses to the product through the various Microsoft volume licensing programs, or you can purchase a single copy with an MSDN Premium subscription. As a point of reference, the price per license in quantities of five licenses when purchased through the Microsoft Open License Program is $4,040.
Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Developers
Licensing: Proprietary
Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Developers is one of the three role-based editions of Visual Studio 2005 Team System. In addition to the functionality of Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition and the Microsoft Office project types from the Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System, this edition includes integrated unit testing and code profiling tools. You also get static code analysis and code coverage tools in this edition.
Like the rest of the Team Editions, it also comes with:
- Visual SourceSafe,
- A five-user version of Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server,
- The Client Access License for Team Foundation Server, and
- A licensed copy of SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition.
This package is marketed for developers who are working in relatively large development teams and who have adopted Team System as their overall development environment.
Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Developers is not offered for individual retail sale. You can buy licenses to the product through the various Microsoft volume licensing programs, or you can purchase a single copy with an MSDN Premium subscription. As a point of reference, the price per license in quantities of five licenses when purchased through the Microsoft Open License Program is $4,040.
Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Architects
Licensing: Proprietary
Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Architects is one of the three role-based editions of Visual Studio 2005 Team System. In addition to the functionality of Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition and the Microsoft Office project types from the Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System, this edition includes integrated application design tools for service-oriented development.
This edition includes a full set of advanced modeling tools that cover Web services application design, logical infrastructure design, and deployment design. Like the rest of the Team Editions, it also comes with:
- Visual SourceSafe,
- A five-user version of Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server,
- The Client Access License for Team Foundation Server, and
- A licensed copy of SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition.
This package is marketed for architects who are working in relatively large development teams and who have adopted Team System as their overall development environment.
Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Architects is not offered for individual retail sale. You can buy licenses to the product through the various Microsoft volume licensing programs, or you can purchase a single copy with an MSDN Premium subscription. As a point of reference, the price per license in quantities of five licenses when purchased through the Microsoft Open License Program is $4,040.
Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite
Licensing: Proprietary
Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite is a bundle that contains Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Testers, Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Developers, and Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Architects in a single integrated product. It includes all of the tools from the three role-based editions of Team System, as well as the other Team System pieces:
- Visual SourceSafe,
- A five-user version of Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server,
- The Client Access License for Team Foundation Server, and
- A licensed copy of SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition.
Team Suite is aimed at developers whose duties require them to move among multiple roles in the course of their jobs.
Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite is not offered for individual retail sale. You can buy licenses to the product through the various Microsoft volume licensing programs, or you can purchase a single copy with an MSDN Premium subscription. As a point of reference, the price per license in quantities of five licenses when purchased through the Microsoft Open License Program is $8,079.
Visual Studio 2005 Team Test Load Agent
Licensing: Proprietary
Visual Studio 2005 Team Test Load Agent is an add-on product for Visual Studio Team System, designed specifically to generate more realistic loads when testing Web applications and servers. It's licensed on a per-processor basis. The product can simulate the load of roughly 1,000 real users per processor on which you run it.
Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server
Licensing: Proprietary
Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server is the piece that enables the team collaboration features of Visual Studio Team System. If you purchase a license to one of the Team Editions or the Team Suite product, it includes a five-user version of Team Foundation Server. But if there are more than five users on your team, you'll need a separate Team Foundation Server license.
Team Foundation Server includes Microsoft's new enterprise-grade source code control system (a higher end alternative to Visual SourceSafe), work item tracking and reporting, and the ability to manage the entire software development process using either an agile methodology or a more traditional methodology.
Users who access Team Foundation Server require a client access license (CAL). When you purchase one of the Team Editions or Team Suite, you get a single Team Foundation Server CAL. CALs can also be purchased separately for $499. Team Foundation Server access is not limited to users of the Team Editions of Visual Studio 2005. Provided you have purchased a CAL, you can also use the team collaboration features from Visual Studio 2005 Standard Edition or Visual Studio 2005 Premium Edition.
MSDN Library Subscription
Licensing: Proprietary
The MSDN Library Subscription is the introductory level MSDN subscription. This subscription does not include any version of Visual Studio. Instead, it offers the latest Microsoft programming information and resources on CD or DVD (you can choose either physical delivery format). The Library is updated four times per year.
MSDN Operating Systems Subscription
Licensing: Proprietary
The MSDN Operating Systems Subscription builds on the MSDN Library Subscription to offer continuous access (through monthly CD or DVD shipments as well as online access) to the major Microsoft operating systems, currently:
- Windows 2000 Professional,
- Windows 2000 Server,
- Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Windows XP Home Edition
- Windows XP Professional Edition
- Windows Server 2003
- Windows XP Media Center 2005
It does not include any edition of Visual Studio. The subscription however does include:
- Access to the MSDN Online Concierge
- Private newsgroups, and
- And two support incidents.
Software included in MSDN subscriptions provides limited usage rights for development, testing, and demonstration purposes only. You can't use the software from an MSDN subscription in production use.
Visual Studio 2005 Professional with MSDN Professional Subscription
Licensing: Proprietary
The Visual Studio 2005 Professional with MSDN Professional Subscription bundles a full copy of Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition with an MSDN Professional subscription. This means that in addition to the full Visual Studio 2005 Professional package, you also get a variety of other Microsoft software (through monthly CD or DVD shipments as well as online access.) This includes:
- The MSDN Library,
- The major Microsoft operating systems, currently:
- Windows 2000 Professional,
- Windows 2000 Server,
- Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Windows XP Home Edition
- Windows XP Professional Edition
- Windows Server 2003
- Windows XP Media Center 2005
- Microsoft Visual FoxPro, and
- Microsoft Virtual PC
The bundle also includes:
- The Office project types from Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System,
- Access to the MSDN Online Concierge,
- Private newsgroups, and
- And four support incidents.
Software included in MSDN subscriptions provides limited usage rights for development, testing, and demonstration purposes only. You can't use the software from an MSDN subscription in production use.
Microsoft Volume Licensing
Licensing: Proprietary
If you need to acquire five or more copies of any of the Visual Studio or MSDN products, you should investigate Microsoft's volume licensing programs. There are a wide variety of such programs, depending on whether you're in a corporate, academic, or government organization, on the size of your organization, and on precisely what benefits you wish to receive. For example, some of the volume licensing programs include rights to new versions of software over a specified period of time, spread payments, technical support, or even source code licenses to selected Microsoft products.
The volume licensing options are so diverse and complex that it's nearly impossible to choose the best program for your circumstances without a staggering amount of research. That's why Microsoft provides ways for you to contact a volume licensing specialist or locate a volume licensing reseller. These professionals can help you choose the best volume licensing program for your organization.
All of the volume licensing programs offer substantial discounts over the estimated retail pricing for Microsoft products. For example, here are some of the base prices from the Microsoft Open License Program for licenses purchased in quantities of five, compared to estimated retail prices:
- Visual Studio 2005 Professional: ERP $799, MOLP $536
- Visual Studio 2005 Professional with MSDN Professional Subscription: ERP $1,199, $799 renewal, MOLP $567 per year for a 2-year term
- Visual Studio 2005 Professional with MSDN Premium Subscription: ERP $2,299, $1,999 renewal, MOLP $1,285 per year for a 2-year term
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Edition for Software Developers with MSDN Premium Subscription: ERP $5,469 first year, $2,299 renewal, MOLP $3,191 per year for a 2-year term
- Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite with MSDN Premium Subscription: ERP $10,939 first year, $4,598 renewal, MOLP $6,382 per year for a 2-year term
The Microsoft Partner Program
Licensing: Proprietary
The Microsoft Partner Program offers a formal structure in which Microsoft works with technology companies that use Microsoft software for building and distributing software or hardware solutions or as the building blocks for value-added services. There are three levels of participation in the Partner Program:
- Registered Member
- Certified Partner
- Gold Certified Partner
The requirements and membership benefits differ at the different levels of the program. The Registered Member benefits do not include any copies of MSDN or Visual Studio, and so this level is not useful if your goal is to get copies of Visual Studio (although being a Registered Member is a stepping stone on the way to the Microsoft Empower for ISVs program, discussed next in this Guide).
Certified Partners receive five concurrent MSDN Universal licenses. Gold Certified Partners receive ten concurrent MSDN Universal licenses. As of July 2005, Microsoft has not yet announced whether or how these licenses will qualify for transition to the new Visual Studio 2005 versions.
Becoming a Certified Partner requires that you achieve 50 Partner Points, have two Microsoft Certified Professionals on staff or sell an eligible hardware or software product, or achieve a Microsoft Competency, and pay a $1,450 annual fee. Becoming a Gold Certified Partner requires that you achieve 120 Partner Points and a Microsoft Competency, and pay a $1,450 annual fee. You gain Partner Points for activities such as Microsoft certifications, business wins using Microsoft solutions, and sales of Microsoft software licenses.
A Microsoft Competency is a particular area of focus (such as Information Worker Solutions or Learning Solutions) demonstrated through customer references, employee certifications, and partner-tested, certified software based on Microsoft technology. The actual requirements are fairly complex, so refer to the Microsoft Partner Web site for more information and application details.
Microsoft Empower for ISVs
Licensing: Proprietary
Microsoft Empower for ISVs is a program for independent software vendors (ISVs) who are working to develop packaged software solutions supporting Microsoft technologies. When you join the Empower program, you get a variety of benefits, including five
- Internal-use licenses for Windows XP,
- Five internal-use licenses for Microsoft Office,
- One license and five client access licenses for each of four server products
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003,
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2003,
- Microsoft SQL Server 2000, and
- Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003
- five MSDN Universal licenses, and
- Ten hours of phone-based consultation with Microsoft's ISV Advisory Service.
As of July 2005, Microsoft has not yet announced whether or how these MSDN licenses will qualify for transition to the new Visual Studio 2005 versions.
To join the Empower program, you must first enroll in the Microsoft Partner program at the Registered Member level (this is free). You must also submit your Web site URL and other profile information, pay a $375 fee, and commit to developing a packaged software product that meets the Empower program requirements.
Empower membership is limited to two years because it is intended to support new ISVs only.
Visual Studio Industry Partner Program
Register here
Licensing: Proprietary
The Visual Studio Industry Partner Program is designed for developers and organizations interested in integrating tools, components, and languages into the Visual Studio IDE. It provides access to the VSIP Software Development Kit (SDK), which contains software and technical information needed for integrating components with Visual Studio, as well as a variety of marketing benefits depending on your participation level.
For example, if you join at the Alliance Marketing level or higher, you are eligible to use the "Optimized for Visual Studio .NET" logo and eligible to participate in Microsoft partner promotions and developer events. There are four levels of participation:
- Affiliate, which is free and provides only access to the VSIP SDK
- Alliance Marketing, which is $3,000 per year and is targeted at tools and component ISVs, systems integrators, and shareware developers interested in a technical and marketing relationship with Microsoft
- Premier Marketing, which is $10,000 per year and is targeted at enterprise ISVs and systems integrators interested in a closer technical, business and marketing relationship with Microsoft including opportunities to engage with Microsoft technical evangelists
- Premier Partner Edition, which is $10,000 per year and is targeted at enterprise ISVs and systems integrators interested in redistribution of Visual Studio .NET and/or the Visual Studio .NET Premier Partner Edition (IDE) with their integrated products
To join at the Alliance Marketing, Premier Marketing, or Premier Partner Edition levels, you must also fill out an online request form, supplying information on your product and plans. If you are accepted into the program at one of these levels, the program benefits include a one-year MSDN Universal subscription.
As of July 2005, Microsoft has not yet announced whether or how this subscription will qualify for transition to the new Visual Studio 2005 version.
MSDN Academic Alliance
Licensing: Proprietary
The MSDN Academic Alliance is a program designed to put Microsoft software into the hands of academic departments in the United States and Canada at low cost. Participating departments receive a subscription to software including:
- A special academic version of Visual Studio (Visual Studio Professional with some extra tools for managing classes and assignments as well as extra sample code),
- .NET Enterprise servers,
- Microsoft operating systems,
- Microsoft Visual FoxPro,
- SharePoint Portal Server,
- The Microsoft eLearning Library, and
- The MSDN Library.
These products are licensed under a special agreement that allows installing the software on any number of lab machines for classroom and research use, as well as a license to provide the software to students taking courses that lead to credit or a certificate within the department, so they can load the software on their personal computers for use in coursework and personal projects.
Membership in the MSDN Academic Alliance is limited to departments within accredited educational institutions in the US and publicly funded schools in Canada. The software may be used only for instruction and not-for-profit research—not to run the infrastructure of the department.