No-cost desktop software development is dead on Windows 8

[JMH]

Microsoft wants Windows developers to write Windows 8-specific, Metro-style, touch-friendly applications, and to make sure that they crank these apps out, the company has decided that Visual Studio 11 Express, the free-to-use version of its integrated development environment, can produce nothing else.

If you want to develop desktop applications—anything that runs at the command line or on the conventional Windows desktop that remains a fully supported, integral, essential part of Windows 8—you'll have two options: stick with the current Visual C++ 2010 Express and Visual C# 2010 Express products, or pay about $400-500 for Visual Studio 11 Professional.
A second version, Visual Studio 11 Express for Web, will be able to produce HTML and JavaScript websites, and nothing more.

http://arstechnica.com/information-...op-software-development-is-dead-on-windows-8/

 

[niemiro]

This would mean that I couldn't write John's BSOD apps on the latest Visual Studio without paying more money than I can afford.

Fortunately, I get the Professional version of Visual Studio for free from Microsoft because I am a student.

I can see what they are trying to do, but I don't have to like it!