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38 Microsoft Visual Studio 2010: A Beginner’s Guide
Along the very top center of the dialog shown in Figure 2-1, the .NET Framework
is the set of class libraries, runtime, and languages that is the development platform
supported by VS. VS allows you to target multiple versions of the .NET Framework,
including versions 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0. VS will compile your code against the version
you choose. Generally, you’ll want to begin all new projects with the latest version, 4.0,
because you’ll want to be able to use the newest and most productive .NET features.
The
primary reason for using an earlier version is if you must perform work on code that is
already written for an earlier version of .NET. The sorting and searching features to the
right of this selection enable you to find project types in different ways, whichever is most
comfortable for you.
Clicking OK will produce a Console application project in the programming language
you chose, which you can see in the Solution Explorer, shown in Figure 2-2. The Solution
Explorer in Figure 2-2 contains a solution, which is a container for multiple projects.
Later, you’ll gain a stronger appreciation for the role of the solution when organizing
projects to support a software application. Under the solution is the FirstProgram project.
Within the FirstProgram project are project items, such as files and settings. Many
different types of project items can go into a project, and the specific project items that go
Figure 2-2 A Console application in the Solution Explorer