Thank you for choosing the
Visual C++ Toolkit!
Use the free Visual C++ Toolkit to build your ISO C++ Standard code, to
evaluate new compiler features, and to get a feel for some of the capabilities
included with Visual Studio .NET
2003. The tools and libraries
included with the Toolkit are a subset of the features and capabilities of
Visual Studio .NET 2003
Professional. Buy Visual Studio .NET 2003 Professional and get a full Integrated
Development Environment (IDE), an award-winning debugger, additional C++
libraries including ATL and MFC, and much more.
Learn more about Visual C++ at http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc
Learn more about Visual Studio at http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/
What’s Included, and What’s Not Included
The Visual C++ Toolkit 2003 is a free download and does not include
customer support or specific documentation. Please refer to documentation
for the Visual C++ compiler and libraries online at:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/vcedit/html/vcorivisualcmainnode.asp
Please refer to the End User License Agreement (EULA.TXT) and
Redistributable File List (REDIST.TXT) for complete licensing
information. In general, applications and components built using the
Visual C++ Toolkit may be redistributed without restriction.
The Visual C++ Toolkit includes the core tools and libraries necessary
to build basic C++ applications and programs:
- Microsoft
C/C++ Optimizing Compiler and Linker. These are the same compiler
and linker that ship with Visual Studio .NET
2003 Professional!
- C Runtime
Library and the C++ Standard Library, including the Standard Template
Library. These are the same static-link libraries included with
Visual Studio. Visual Studio also ships these libraries in
dynamic-link versions, and with full source code.
- Microsoft .NET Framework Common Language Runtime.
Visual C++ can optionally build applications that run on the Common
Language Runtime (CLR).
- Sample
code. The toolkit includes four samples designed to showcase the
powerful new features of the 2003 version, including new optimization capabilities,
features to improve code-security and robustness, enhanced ISO C++
standards support, and the ability to use the .NET
Framework library and target the CLR.
The Visual C++ Toolkit does not include several core features found in
Visual Studio .NET 2003.
- Visual Studio
Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The Visual Studio IDE
incorporates multitudes of developer tools
including code editors, the Visual Studio debugger, and a project
system. Learn more about Visual Studio at http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio.
- Microsoft
Foundation Class (MFC) and Active Template Libraries (ATL). These
robust and mature libraries provide C++ developers with encapsulated
functionality for building Windows-based applications. In
Visual Studio these are provided with complete source code.
- Advanced developer tools, including compilers and tools
for developing using other languages like Visual Basic and C#.
Visual Studio provides developers with a complete toolset for building all
types of applications and components for Windows and .NET.
Using the Visual C++ Toolkit
The Visual C++ Toolkit installs the “Visual C++ Toolkit 2003 Command
Prompt” into the Start Menu. This command-shell window is configured to
enable compilation and linking of C++ programs using the toolkit-provided
tools.
A batch file (vcvars32.bat) in the Toolkit installation directory sets
the environment variables (PATH, INCLUDE, LIB) to point at Toolkit
directories. Execute this batch file from any command prompt to configure
for compilation using the Toolkit compiler.
There are four samples included with the Toolkit, located in the
Samples subdirectory. These short samples showcase new or updated
capabilities of the Visual C++ compiler. Each sample includes a short
whitepaper explaining the sample, and one or more batch files that can be used
to compile the sample code.
Next Steps
Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the Visual C++ compiler and the
samples included with the Toolkit, you’re ready to build! You can use the
Toolkit to build a variety of C++-based programs, using core C++ libraries and
the .NET Framework. If you like,
you can augment the toolkit with additional free developer
tools and resources. For example, you can download any of
the following:
If you have any questions about the C++ programming, or the Toolkit
itself, we highly recommend visiting a C++ newsgroup or community site.
The free Toolkit does not include technical support, but many questions about
Visual C++ are answered online. Start by checking the Visual C++ FAQ:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/productinfo/faq
When you’re ready, we suggest you check out Visual Studio .NET 2003 Professional, which includes lots of
additional functionality for C++ developers, including an award-winning IDE and
code debugger, additional libraries, and much more! You can try out Visual Studio for free,
online. Visit http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/tryit/
for more information.
Uninstalling the Visual C++ Toolkit
Use the Add/Remove Programs tool in the Windows Control Panel to
uninstall the Visual C++ Toolkit.
The Toolkit installs the ‘Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1’ if it is not previously
installed. The uninstaller does not remove this shared component, but it
may be removed manually using the Add/Remove Programs tool.