MSBuild is the build platform that Microsoft is using across all developer and related tools moving forward. Visual C++ is the last major compiler offering from Microsoft to move onto the MSBuild platform, with the Visual C++ 2010 release using MSBuild as its native project format. Explore the MSBuild basics from a C++ perspective, and see how it can improve your build process.
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C++ CLR Compilation
The Visual C++ compiler has a number of switches that control the generation of native and managed instructions within an executable image. Choosing the correct setting is an important consideration for application performance, deployment, and execution, as well as having implications about which development toolkits can be used.
A Quick Look at Visual C++ Orcas
Take a quick look at the upcoming release of the new Visual C++ release slated for release in late 2008—Visual C++ Orcas. The Orcas release builds on the heritage of C++, offering great new features for achieving deep integrating with Windows Vista and better support for interoperating with managed code.
Head-Spinning Continued: COM Interop
Learn how to convert an ordinary unmanaged class to a COM component, and then use that COM component from both unmanaged and managed code.
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MFC Integration with the Windows Transactional File System (TxF)
The Transactional File System (TxF), which allows access to an NTFS file system to be conducted in a transacted manner through extensions to the Windows SDK API. MFC 10, has been extended to support TxF and related technologies. This support allows existing MFC applications to be easily extended to support kernel transactions.
.NET Framework: Collections and Generics
The original release of the .NET Framework included collections as .NET was introduced to the Microsoft programming world. The .NET Framework 2.0 introduced generics to complement the System.Collections namespace and provide a more efficient and well performing option. Read on to learn more...

How to Determine Which Office Version is Installed with VB.NET and C#
Knowing which version of MS Office is installed on the client computer is vital; unfortunately, many programmers see this as an afterthought. Hannes du Preeze shows you four different ways to determine the Office versions installed so that you don't make this mistake.

Building an Azure Queuing Message Pipeline
A developer building messaging solutions with Azure Queuing and Azure Service Bus should follow a Pipeline pattern when processing a significant number of different messages. One approach to building a Pipeline is to layer a message following an Envelope pattern.