Microsoft Visual Studio

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Microsoft Visual Studio is an IDE (integrated development environment) that supports C++, C#, and a bunch of other dumb languages that nobody cares about. It has a sweet-ass debugger and generally gives you the least painful experience for developing Windows applications, so that's what we use in the tutorials.

Versions Used in the Tutorials

Visual C++ 2010 Express

  • Old Version of Beginner Series
  • Old Version of Intermediate Series

This version shipped without the Windows SDK, so you needed to download the DirectX SDK separately to build Direct3D application (and thus, to build the Framework and follow the tutorials).

Visual Studio 2013 Express for Windows Desktop

  • Old Version of Advanced Series
  • H.U.G.S. Series
  • SSE Optimization Series

This release has (incomplete) support for C++11 features.

Visual Studio 2015 Community

  • Beginner Series (Reboot)

Visual Studio 2015 Community has (almost) complete support for C++11.

Express and Community Editions

Microsoft provides a free version of their Visual Studio IDE, traditionally in the form of the 'Express' edition. It features the same compiler as the paid versions, but lacks tools such as a profiler for profile-guided optimization or the ability to use plug-ins. Starting in 2013, Microsoft has provided a second free version called the 'Community' edition, which has more features than Express. The only real downside to Community is that, while the Express edition has no limitation in terms of usage, the Community license only extends to individuals or small groups of less than 5 people.