Are you interested in C++ in the .NET world, but don't want to run out and buy Visual Studio just to try the compiler? Have you heard that the Microsoft compiler is actually a powerful, fast compiler for native applications as well as those targeting the runtime? Have you even wondered about using the Visual C++ compiler to build code that you'll actually deploy onto other operating systems?

Well, how about a free copy of the Visual C++ compiler? And linker of course, exactly the same tools that ship with Visual Studio. And libraries: the C Runtime Library and the Standard Template Library. Of course you can produce either native code or code that targets the Common Language Runtime. And to round out the toolkit there are four samples that show off some specific features of the tools, with accompanying whitepapers that explain those features and the samples.

Get yours today at http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/, where you'll also find links to the whitepapers.

Absolutely Seen and Recommended, with the disclaimer that some of the work in there is my own