REDMOND, Wash., June 29, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today announced version 6.0 of the Microsoft Visual C++ development system, the world’s most popular C++ development tool and a member of the Microsoft Visual Studio
™
6.0 development system. Visual C++ 6.0 brings the growing C++ development industry an array of new productivity features that will improve turnaround without sacrificing the power and performance for which Visual C++ is famous. In addition, Visual C++ 6.0 will provide improved Web and enterprise development support.
The addition of IntelliSense® technology to Visual C++ enables developers to write code faster and more easily. New Edit and Continue debugging allows C++ developers to do the unprecedented – edit code without leaving the debugger, cutting project turnaround time dramatically.
“The development team has taken Visual C++ to the next level,”
said Paul Gross, vice president of developer tools at Microsoft.
“Visual C++ 6.0 delivers on productivity never thought possible with C++ and, at the same time, improves performance and lets developers retain full control of their code.”
Complete Projects Faster
Microsoft IntelliSense technology has been a favorite feature for developers using the Visual Basic® development system. Now in Visual C++, it aids developers by monitoring what is typed and assisting with code syntax, parameter information, APIs and more. For example, one aspect of IntelliSense, Complete Word, automatically completes the rest of a variable or function after the developer types a few characters.
Edit and Continue debugging enables developers to make code changes on the fly without having to stop the debugger, change the code, recompile or rebuild, restart the debugger and return the application to the precise state it was in when the problem occurred. Changes to code are now simply recompiled and applied to the executable image in memory, so the debugging session continues uninterrupted.
“Edit and Continue debugging surprised us; it’s a feature that we didn’t even think was possible in a C++ tool. Visual C++ 6.0 will really reduce development turnaround time for my team,”
said Michael Boudreaux, principal architect at Bridge Telerate Inc. (formerly a division of Dow Jones Inc.). Bridge Telerate uses Visual C++ to build enterprise decision support systems and financial reporting systems for Dow Jones and Bridge Information Systems Inc., a financial services company that is also known for producing
“The Nightly Business Report”
on public television.
In response to the needs of C++ developers, Microsoft has taken a number of steps to improve application performance. New compiler keywords optimize performance in key areas, Thread-Safe shutdown adds stability and robustness to multithreaded applications, and Delay Load Imports speeds applications by loading dynamic-link libraries only when and if they are required to continue execution.
In Visual C++ 6.0, Microsoft has improved compiler throughput by as much as 30 percent on large projects. With smaller projects, many developers will see throughput improvements of 15 percent and more.
Power and Performance on the Web
Companies like The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. and Dow Jones handle huge numbers of transactions on their Web sites, but a traditional Web development tool cannot create server-side applications powerful or fast enough to keep the sites running smoothly. They need the power of C++. New support for Dynamic HTML, and new Composite ActiveX® Controls bring the power of Visual C++ to the Web. With Composite Control support in Visual C++ 6.0, developers can easily make optimal use of existing ActiveX and Windows® operating system-based controls by graphically combining and modifying them to create new controls. New Internet Explorer Common Controls enable developers to build user interfaces that look and work just like those in Internet Explorer 4.0, cutting down on end-user training and making applications easier to use.
Microsoft has also enhanced its industry-leading class library, the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), by reducing dependencies for greater granularization and smaller code. Similarly, the Active Template Library (ATL) has been improved with new wizards and templates to build even smaller, faster and more scalable server-side components and ActiveX Controls.
Extending Enterprise Development
Visual C++ is one of the most commonly found tools in the enterprise. Microsoft research indicates that over 78 percent of C++ developers use Visual C++ as their primary tool. Currently, Visual C++ is at the forefront of the enterprise, offering new integration with existing systems such as Oracle servers and AS/400, CICS, SAP R/3, Baan products, and the Microsoft BackOffice® family. Enhanced support for OLE DB and new OLE DB Consumer and Provider Templates gives applications built with Visual C++ access to data anywhere in the enterprise. With Visual Studio, developers using Visual C++ get a new set of tools for enterprise development like Visual Modeler, Visual Studio Analyzer, Visual Component Manager and an improved object repository. In addition, within Visual C++ Enterprise Edition, developers will have access to the Visual DataBase Tools, which will provide direct support for Microsoft SQL Server
™
6.5 and higher and Oracle 7.3.3 and higher. Also included is new support for the latest enterprise technologies Microsoft Transaction Server, Management Console and Cluster Server, enabling developers to get the most out of their networks and the Windows platform.
Pricing and Availability
Visual C++ 6.0 will be available in Standard, Professional and Enterprise editions as a standalone product and will also be available as part of the Visual Studio 6.0 development system, the comprehensive suite of Microsoft developer tools for the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Web. Visual C++ 6.0 and Visual Studio 6.0 are scheduled to be available in late summer through resellers or from Microsoft by calling (800) 426-9400.
The Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 development system Professional Edition is a comprehensive suite of industry-leading development tools for building business applications for the Windows NT® Server operating system, including client/server, multitier and Web-based solutions. Visual Studio 6.0 Professional Edition features Visual C++ 6.0, Visual Basic 6.0, the Visual J++
™
6.0 development system for Java, the Visual InterDev
™6.0 Web development system, the Visual FoxPro® 6.0 database development system, Windows NT Option Pack and the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN
™
) developer program library CD-ROM.
Visual Studio 6.0 is scheduled to launch officially Sept. 2, 1998, at Developer Days ’98. For more information on this conference, visit the Developer Days Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/devdays/.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, Visual C++, Visual Studio, IntelliSense, Visual Basic, ActiveX, Windows, BackOffice, Windows NT, Visual J++, Visual InterDev, Visual FoxPro and MSDN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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