Hello -
I'm an SQL Developer, so I have a familiarity with Visual Studio via SQL Server BIDS.

That said, on a clean laptop that I plan to use as a developer sandbox, what do you recommend I install for developing along with the book?

Web Matrix, Visual Web Developer Express, or Visual Studio 2010 Express?

Do you recommend SQL Server 2008 R2 Express or SQL Server 2012 Express?

Thanks in advance

P.S. - I had installed SQL Server 2012 Express and had VS 2010 Express installed, but when I tried to create a web site, I found there were no templates. I tried using the web platform installer to install templates, but no luck; so I uninstalled everything and am now wondering what the "best" set of stuff to install and use with this book might be.

Hi there,

Check out the first chapter of the book that explains the requirements. You need at least Visual Web Developer Express 2010 along with SQL Server 2008 Express. Other versions, such as the full version of Visual Studio or SQL Server 2012 Express would work as well.

Cheers,

Imar

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Imar Spaanjaars
http://Imar.Spaanjaars.Com
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Author of Beginning ASP.NET 4.5 : in C# and VB, Beginning ASP.NET Web Pages with WebMatrix
and Beginning ASP.NET 4 : in C# and VB.
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I already have the web express install done, I'll try that first. If not, I'll give the VS install another shot. I recall now that when setting it up the first time, I picked 'SQL' as the default, that is most likely why the templates were not there.

Regards