Microsoft adds Windows 8 Desktop support to Visual Studio 2012 Express

[JMH]

Summary: The free Express version of Microsoft’s Visual Studio 2012 tool suite will allow developers to build more than just Metro-Style, Win RT-based apps for Windows 8.

The team building the next release of Visual Studio has responded to developer criticism and is adding support for building Windows 8 Desktop apps to VS 2012 Express.





Last month, there was quite a bit of developer outcry when Microsoft officials revealed the decision to limit Visual Studio 2012 Express — the free, entry level version of its product — to development of Windows 8 Metro-Style, Win RT-based apps only. “No-cost desktop software development is dead on Windows 8,” wrote Ars Technica at the time of the announcement.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft...p-support-to-visual-studio-2012-express/12892

 

[JMH]

[h=1]Microsoft to offer version of Visual Studio Express 2012 that supports desktop apps[/h]

Back in May, it looked like Microsoft was intent on pressuring developers into focusing on the Metro UI by reserving the ability to develop desktop apps to the paid versions of Visual Studio. In response to community feedback, Microsoft has backed off from this decision and will be offering "Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Desktop" as part of the larger Visual Studio Express lineup after all.

The developer backlash stemmed from the fact that before now, the least-expensive version of Visual Studio which could be used to create desktop apps would have started at $499 - and prices move up quickly from there. Microsoft has made it abundantly clear that Metro is the future, but even so it apparently doesn't want to burn developers who aren't willing give up the desktop UI. The development software should be available sometime this fall, and presumably Windows 8 itself won't be much further behind.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/9/3073734/microsoft-visual-studio-express-2012-windows-desktop