Preferred tools/setup/etc for AC 7 .net development?

[ksolito]

I am going to be doing enough customization to my customers AC 7 web store to invest the time for a more efficient development suite.

Currently I'm just coding using the text editor and FTP from Dreamweaver CS3 and I need a better tool set. While I've been away from it for about two years, I have long experience with the MS Visual Studio suite but I'm only passingly familer with the Express products. I don't know how the various Express pieces will interact as compared to VS Pro that I previously worked with. I realize that some Express features are disabled.

At this point, I suspect it's sufficient to use the Express series of tools instead of investing in the full VS pro product. Should I use Visual Web Developer Express or Visual C# Express? Do I want to star with the Microsoft Web Platform Installer? My main needs are the use of the object browser, to be able to exploit IntelliSense, and the debugger though I may get into some database work in the future so SQL tool discussion is helpful too.

I'd be grateful to hear comments and discussion about building the Project, publishing, etc. Anything that can cut my reading time and get me up and running a bit faster.

Comments about any other development tool sets, techiques, etc that are useful, are welcome as well.

[Mike718NY]

If you look on eBay, you might get lucky and get Visual Studio 2005 or 2008 cheap.

[igavemybest]

If you are a student, or have a student ID you can get Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition and a bunch of other stuff for free. My ID never expires so thats what I did. www.dreamspark.com Free, Legal, and unbeatable!

[AbleMods]

Alot depends on how you plan to develop modifications. If you have no interest in compiling class files into DLLs, the free Web Express edition will work just fine for you. You'll have all the same advantages like Intellisense and the debugger without the cost.

I live in the Pro version for a few reasons. First, my modules are far easier to deploy when I can compile them into a single DLL. Plus, there are a variety of "extensions" to Visual Studio that enhance your development experience. The Web Express version doesn't support VS extensions.

I used the free web express version for many months - only when I needed to compile DLLs did I make the leap to VS 2008 Professional.