Some of the new features and enhancements in Visual Studio 2008 are listed below:
- Manage and build applications that target multiple versions of the .NET Framework. For the first time, you can use one tool to work on applications that run on .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5.
- New HTML Designer which includes Split View Support that enables you to see both the HTML/ASP.NET code and the graphical representation like Macromedia Dreamweaver.
- Rich support to CSS. It includes a CSS, CSS Manager and Preview panes that allows working with CSS styles easier than ever.
- It includes framework support, syntax coloring, libraries, Intellisense and debug to develop Ajax and JavaScript applications.
- It includes Language Integrated Query (LINQ). LINQ is a general addition to the language, and can be used to query any database server without directly writing SQL code.
- ClickOnce deployment is enhanced to support the deployment of WPF Web Browser Applications. You can build and deploy Visual Studio Tools for Office applications by using the Project Designer's Publish page or the Publish Wizard. ClickOnce also supports manifest generation under User Access Control (UAC) on Windows Vista.
- Windows Installer deployment has been updated for Windows Vista and the latest .NET Framework versions 3.0 and 3.5.
- It includes WPF designer which provides developers with a great environment for developing rich applications with WPF, through its Rich XAML navigation and editing, Split View editor and Visual Design Surface.
- Create connected applications using new visual designers for Windows Communications Foundation and Windows Workflow Foundation.
- Some of new features are added to C# 3.0 like Automatic Properties, Object Initializers, Collection Initializers, Extension Methods, Lambda Expressions, Query Syntax, Anonymous Types, etc.
For more details visit following links:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb386063.aspx#IDE
http://vidmar.net/weblog/archive/2007/10/09/real-world-visual-studio-2008-beta-2-test.aspx
http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/john_charles/WhatnewinVisualStudioNET200802012008121831PM/WhatnewinVisualStudioNET2008.aspx