For individual developers and small teams looking to create connected applications with next-generation user experiences, Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition is a great fit.

  • Build applications using the latest Web technologies with improved support for AJAX and Web controls with the Microsoft AJAX Library.
  • Build Web applications easily with support for cascading style sheets (CSS), JavaScript, IntelliSense and a split code/design view.
  • Build data-driven applications smoothly with LINQ, a set of language extensions to Visual Basic® and Visual C#®.
  • Manage and build applications that target multiple versions of the .NET framework with a single tool.
  • Build stunning user experiences with integrated designers for Windows Presentation Foundation.
  • Create connected applications using new visual designers for Windows Communication Foundation and Windows Workflow Foundation.
  • Simplify the design, development and debugging process with handy editor features, such as Edit and Continue and Microsoft IntelliSense®.
  • Deploy client applications easily with ClickOnce, which deploys an application and its prerequisites, and ensures that your client applications remain up-to-date.

Developers! Take a peek at what you can do. Browse some of our how to videos.

Get Microsoft Silverlight

Use the LINQ-Enabled XML API

Create a Rich Client Application with MFC

Integrated Development Environment How To Video

Standard Edition system requirements

To install Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition, you need:

Software requirements:

32 bit OS: Windows® XP Professional with Service Pack 2 installed, Windows Server 2003®, or Windows Vista®

64 bit OS: Microsoft Windows Server® 2003 with SP1, Standard x64 Edition (WOW)

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Enterprise x64 Edition (WOW)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Datacenter x64 Edition (WOW)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, Standard x64 Edition (WOW)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, Enterprise x64 Edition (WOW)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, Datacenter x64 Edition (WOW)
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition (WOW)
  • Windows Vista

Client software prerequisites: Internet Explorer® 6.0 with Service Pack 1,
Microsoft Office 2003 with Service Pack 1
or Microsoft Office 2007, MDAC 9.0, .NET Framework 2.0

Hardware requirements:

Minimum: 2.0 GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, 8 GB HDD
Recommended: 2.6 GHz CPU, 1 GB RAM, 20 GB HDD

Buy now and save $350 for switching from Visual Studio Express!

Switch now and pay only the upgrade price – you'll save $100 instantly! No code needed, no strings attached. Plus, we'll throw in over 8 hours of .NET Training from InnerWorkings, worth another $250. This hands-on training happens right in Visual Studio's IDE, which you can't access in Express.

Upgrade Offer: Offer subject to change. This offer is not available in any Microsoft Volume Licensing programs. No coupon or offer code required to purchase upgrade editions through any reseller or online store.

Training Offer: Offer good only to named recipients of this letter who are U.S. residents and upgrade from an existing development tool to a licensed version of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Standard or Professional. Limit one training offer per person. This offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer. This offer expires on June 30, 2009 or while supplies last, and is not redeemable for cash. Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the recipient.

Notice to Government Employees: the training offer is not intended for use by government (including public education and military) agencies or employees. Microsoft made extensive efforts to ensure that the training offer was not delivered to government agencies or employees. If you are a government agency or employee and received the training offer inadvertently, please destroy this email immediately or notify Microsoft.