Visual C++ is an Integrated Development Environment product for the C and C++ programming languages engineered by Microsoft. It has tools for developing and debugging C++ code, especially that written for the Microsoft Windows API, the DirectX API, and the Microsoft .NET Framework.

Visual C++ boasts advanced features such as syntax highlighting, IntelliSense (a coding autocompletion feature) and advanced debugging functionality. For example, it allows for remote debugging using a separate computer and allows debugging by stepping through code a line at a time. The "edit and continue" functionality allows changing the source code and rebuilding the program during program debugging, without restarting the debugged program.

The compile and build system feature, precompiled header files, "minimal rebuild" functionality and incremental link: these features significantly shorten turn-around time to edit, compile and link the program, especially for large software projects.

The latest version of this IDE available separately is Visual C++ .NET 2003 Standard Edition. Visual C++ .NET 2003 Professional is distributed as part of Visual Studio .NET. Microsoft has also made the command-line compiler from Visual C++ .NET 2003 Professional available for download as the Visual C++ Toolkit 2003. The Visual C++ Toolkit version does not include the Integrated Development Environment, only the command line tools (e.g. the C++ compiler, linker, and related tools).

External links

• Microsoft's Visual C++ Developer Center
• Microsoft's Visual C++ Developer Center Community
• The Visual C++ Toolkit 2003 download