| Year | Event | |------|-------| | 2005 | First Visual Studio Express released (C#, VB, C++, Web) | | 2008 | Added support for .NET Framework 3.5 | | 2010 | Improved UI and multi-targeting basics | | 2012 | Introduced Windows 8 Store app edition | | 2013 | Last major Express release | | | Express line discontinued – Replaced by Visual Studio Community 2017 |
While it has since been supplanted by the more robust edition, its legacy remains a pivotal chapter in the democratization of software development. The History of Visual Studio Express