Click here to Skip to main content
15,891,136 members

Welcome to the Lounge

   

For discussing anything related to a software developer's life but is not for programming questions. Got a programming question?

The Lounge is rated Safe For Work. If you're about to post something inappropriate for a shared office environment, then don't post it. No ads, no abuse, and no programming questions. Trolling, (political, climate, religious or whatever) will result in your account being removed.

 
GeneralRe: Choosing a development environment Pin
Mycroft Holmes1-Feb-14 20:42
professionalMycroft Holmes1-Feb-14 20:42 
GeneralRe: Choosing a development environment Pin
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 21:47
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 21:47 
GeneralRe: Choosing a development environment Pin
Danny Martin2-Feb-14 22:18
Danny Martin2-Feb-14 22:18 
GeneralRe: Choosing a development environment Pin
stadelma3-Feb-14 3:05
stadelma3-Feb-14 3:05 
GeneralRe: Choosing a development environment Pin
Dragonranger3-Feb-14 3:20
Dragonranger3-Feb-14 3:20 
GeneralRe: Choosing a development environment Pin
BrainiacV3-Feb-14 5:31
BrainiacV3-Feb-14 5:31 
GeneralRe: Choosing a development environment Pin
RafagaX3-Feb-14 5:32
professionalRafagaX3-Feb-14 5:32 
GeneralRe: Choosing a development environment Pin
ClockMeister3-Feb-14 6:59
professionalClockMeister3-Feb-14 6:59 
It's certainly up to you but I have boilerplated an environment that has (and continues) to work well.

1) Windows 7
2) Visual Studio 2008 Standard
3) Active Reports 6
4) Sandcastle help system
5) SQL Server 2008R2 "Express"
6) CodeSmart for Visual Studio (I think the 2009 edition).
7) A few miscellaneous utilities like icon editors, etc.

With that set up I can develop to desktop or web. (I still find web development to be really labor intensive and not nearly as rich as the desktop is). I have bought a custom control or two (or written my own) to replace ones in Microsoft's default stack. I have also a general library that I have developed (and is constantly being extended) that I use in my projects. I try to keep the third party things to a minimum and deliver my applications as "click once" deliverables.

There are a lot of developers out there that are chasing the "bleeding edge" by getting new technology all the time. OK, that's fine but my approach was to assemble a set of mature tools, lock them down and quit tweaking it. Instead of playing with the tools I can get real work done and develop massive competency in my tool set. I feel like the technology has started reaching a real plateau and this tool set can target several billion machines (including Win8, etc.). Besides, when was the last time you had a client that even CARED what your tool set was? They're interested in a solution, that's all. They don't give a rip if you craft the thing with an axe just as long as the thing gets done!

Don't let anyone talk you into believing that writing to the desktop is in some way obsolete. Most users I run into in the field just want solutions that work and the desktop is a really rich platform on which to do that. SQL Server Express? Fantastic solution. DB's can be as much as 10GB. Unless you're writing really HUGE enterprise level stuff it's really top-drawer.

I just finished developing a system that automates the membership needs of a local farm cooperative, and they absolutely love it. It's saved them countless hours. The kiosk portion runs on a small machine (still desktop) that users can check in while the owner can get reports and stuff from her laptop. She's in clover. Sounds like the kind of stuff you're working on.
GeneralRe: Choosing a development environment Pin
WLGfx3-Feb-14 12:37
WLGfx3-Feb-14 12:37 
GeneralThis is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 1:14
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 1:14 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
OriginalGriff1-Feb-14 1:17
mveOriginalGriff1-Feb-14 1:17 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 1:20
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 1:20 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
OriginalGriff1-Feb-14 1:39
mveOriginalGriff1-Feb-14 1:39 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 1:46
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 1:46 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
OriginalGriff1-Feb-14 2:07
mveOriginalGriff1-Feb-14 2:07 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
harold aptroot1-Feb-14 2:01
harold aptroot1-Feb-14 2:01 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
OriginalGriff1-Feb-14 2:05
mveOriginalGriff1-Feb-14 2:05 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
Pete O'Hanlon1-Feb-14 1:30
mvePete O'Hanlon1-Feb-14 1:30 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 1:33
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 1:33 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
OriginalGriff1-Feb-14 1:40
mveOriginalGriff1-Feb-14 1:40 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 1:47
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 1:47 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
DaveAuld1-Feb-14 2:09
professionalDaveAuld1-Feb-14 2:09 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
DaveAuld1-Feb-14 2:11
professionalDaveAuld1-Feb-14 2:11 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 2:17
Sampath Lokuge1-Feb-14 2:17 
GeneralRe: This is About What ? Any Guess ? Pin
Erudite_Eric1-Feb-14 2:58
Erudite_Eric1-Feb-14 2:58 

General General    News News    Suggestion Suggestion    Question Question    Bug Bug    Answer Answer    Joke Joke    Praise Praise    Rant Rant    Admin Admin   

Use Ctrl+Left/Right to switch messages, Ctrl+Up/Down to switch threads, Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right to switch pages.