Visual C++ Tools and Templates in Visual Studio Editions

Article
02/22/2013

The following tables show Visual C++ features that are available in Visual Studio. An X in a cell indicates that the feature is available; an empty cell indicates that the feature is not available. Notes in parentheses indicate that a feature is available, but restricted.

Compilers

Compiler	Visual Studio Express for Windows 8	Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop	Visual Studio Professional	Visual Studio Premium	Visual Studio Ultimate
32-bit X86 compiler	X	X	X	X	X
X86_arm cross-compiler	X		X	X	X
64-bit x64 compiler			X	X	X
X86_ x64 cross-compiler	X	X	X	X	X

Libraries and Headers

Library or Header	Visual Studio Express for Windows 8	Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop	Visual Studio Professional	Visual Studio Premium	Visual Studio Ultimate
Windows headers and libraries	(X)	X	X	X	X
CRT library	(X)	X	X	X	X
STL	X	X	X	X	X
ATL			X	X	X
MFC			X	X	X
.NET Framework class library		X	X	X	X
C++ Support Library for .NET		X	X	X	X
OpenMP	X	X	X	X	X

Project Templates

Template	Visual Studio Express for Windows 8	Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop	Visual Studio Professional	Visual Studio Premium	Visual Studio Ultimate
Blank App (XAML)	X		X	X	X
Grid App (XAML)	X		X	X	X
Split App (XAML)	X	X	X	X	X
Direct2D App (XAML)	X		X	X	X
Direct3D App	X		X	X	X
DLL (Windows Store apps)	X		X	X	X
Static Library (Windows Store apps)	X		X	X	X
Windows Runtime Component	X		X	X	X
Unit Test Library (Windows Store apps)	X		X	X	X
ATL Project			X	X	X
Class Library (CLR)		X	X	X	X
CLR Console Application		X	X	X	X
CLR Empty Project		X	X	X	X
Custom Wizard			X	X	X
Empty Project		X	X	X	X
Makefile Project		X	X	X	X
MFC ActiveX Control			X	X	X
MFC Application			X	X	X
MFC DLL			X	X	X
Test Project	X	X	X	X	X
Win32 Console Application		X	X	X	X
Win32 Project		X	X	X	X

Tools

Tool	Visual Studio Express for Windows 8	Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop	Visual Studio Professional	Visual Studio Premium	Visual Studio Ultimate
Incremental Linker (Link.exe)	X	X	X	X	X
Program Maintenance Utility (Nmake.exe)		X	X	X	X
Lib Generator (Lib.exe)	X	X	X	X	X
Windows Resource Compiler (Rc.exe)	X	X	X	X	X
Windows Resource to Object Converter (CvtRes.exe)		X	X	X	X
Browse Information Maintenance Utility (BscMake.exe)	X	X	X	X	X
C++ Name Undecorator (Undname.exe)	X	X	X	X	X
COFF/PE Dumper (Dumpbin.exe)	X	X	X	X	X
COFF/PE Editor (Editbin.exe)	X	X	X	X	X
MASM (Ml.exe)			X	X	X
Spy++			X	X	X
ErrLook			X	X	X
AtlTrace			X	X	X
Devenv.com			X	X	X
Inference Rules			X	X	X
Upgrade VCBuild .vcproj projects to MSBuild (VCUpgrade.exe)	X	X	X	X	X
Profile Guided Optimizations			X	X	X

Debugging Features

Debugging Feature	Visual Studio Express for Windows 8	Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop	Visual Studio Professional	Visual Studio Premium	Visual Studio Ultimate
Native Debugging	X	X	X	X	X
Graphics Debugging			X	X	X
Managed Debugging		X	X	X	X
Remote Debugging	X	X	X	X	X
SQL Debugging			X	X	X
Static Code Analysis	Limited	Limited	X	X	X

Designers and Editors

Designer or Editor	Visual Studio Express for Windows 8	Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop	Visual Studio Professional	Visual Studio Premium	Visual Studio Ultimate
XAML Designer	X		X	X	X
CSS Style Designer/Editor	X	X	X	X	X
HTML Designer/Editor	X	X	X	X	X
XML Editor	X	X	X	X	X
Source Code Editor	X	X	X	X	X
Windows Forms Designer		X	X	X	X
Data Designer			X	X	X
Resource Editors	X	X	X	X	X

Data Features

Data Feature	Visual Studio Professional	Visual Studio Premium	Visual Studio Ultimate
Data Designer	X	X	X
Data Objects	X	X	X
Web Services	X	X	X
Server Explorer	X	X	X

Build and Project Systems

Build or Project Feature	Visual Studio Express for Windows 8	Visual Studio Express for Windows Desktop	Visual Studio Professional	Visual Studio Premium	Visual Studio Ultimate
Command line builds (msbuild.exe)	X	X	X	X	X
Native Multi-targeting	X	X	X	X	X
Managed Multi-targeting		X	X	X	X
Parallel Builds	X	X	X	X	X
Build Customizations	X	X	X	X	X
Property Pages Extensibility	X	X	X	X	X

Automation and Extensibility

Automation and Extensibility	Visual Studio Professional	Visual Studio Premium	Visual Studio Ultimate
Extensibility Object Models	X	X	X
Code Model	X	X	X
Project Model	X	X	X
Resource Editor Model	X	X	X
Wizard Model	X	X	X
Debugger Object Model	X	X	X