SharpDevelop Community

Hello

I may have missed it, but I didn't see this question answered in the Features, Wiki, or TechNotes sections.

As a VB.Net newbie, besides its being open-source, are there technical reasons why I should consider using SharpDevelop as the IDE instead of MS' VisualStudio?

Thank you.

Well, i'm leading an open source project (DAoC server emulator) and i have posted one day a pamphlet for SharpDevelop.

I'll copy paste it here - there are certainly some i forgot ;)

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To those using visual c# express, considers trying SharpDevelop. Does i speak you about SharpDevelop ? If you don't have a complete visual studio and plan to download an express edition, please think twice. This is a VERY interesting IDE; of course it lacks some features, but only for TortoiseSVN integration, it is better than VC# express (where plugins are not supported). When i talk about 'real VS', it targets a feature present in visual studio but not in visual studio express editions (free).

pros, compared to VC# express
- subversion direct integration
- similar to real VS: support many languages:  vb, c#,  even f#, iron python, plus their code converters from and to
- native fxcop, stylecop support
- localized in many languages (from thai to english)
- similar to real VS: multi target and multi project options (not limited to debug, release)
- WiX support
- Native code profiler
- Native unit tests support
- Next version support WPF designer, XAML completion, and is entirely written in WPF
- Native code coverage
- include a db browser with report explorer
- extensible via addins
- bindings availables for c++ (experimental), php (hmmm... never used) etc...
- open source project - feel free to re-use the framework for your own projects !
- open source philosophy - personally i have an huge consideration for this.
- and more !

cons, related to VC# express
- Do not support Ado.net wizard
- no edit and continue
- no click once support

http://www.sharpdevelop.net

Well, if you are using vc# express, give it a try, really, really.
I'm in charge of the FR translation, and i got an heart love for this project.

The pane manager is pretty amazing (sliding panes, docking, etc... similar to VS)

The SharpDevelop 4.0 alpha is totally written in WPF, and i prefer the wip xaml designer compared to VS. The old wpf designer was stopped due to the incoming .net 4 assembly which 'll allow to handle natively the actually coded WPF designer issues.

Seriously, give it his chances ! i can totally understand thoses working with VS are using it - and VS is an excellent product - but if you don't want to buy VS, if your are not MSDNAA or simply what to support a valuable project (monodevelop is a fork of #D ! previously, there was no Express edition availables !), replace your express edition with #D.

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Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for the feedback.

It is Open Source, I prefer OS software as there is always an extra effort put in!

And I believe it has a much smaller foot print on your computer?

Yes, it starts faster and uses less memory than even VB Express. Thank you.

For one, SharpDevelop is completely free, whereas Visual Studio will put you out about $250 if you buy it retail.

Another great reason to use SharpDevelop is that it writes standards-compliant code.  This means that any of the C# tutorials you'll find on the Internet (and that includes on the MSDN) will work in SharpDevelop.

Thanks for the tip. I'll use #Develop to write VB.Net apps, but it's good to know it generates strict C# code.