Re: Variable not Showing in Debugger

Peter Duniho wrote:
On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:34:37 -0700, Arcticool <arcticool@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

[...]
I just thought that the debugger could show everything that's happening in the code as you step through. If it is only selectively showing me information, I wonder what else I'm *not* seeing.

Well, one other obvious thing missing from Express is the lack of threaded debugging. That is, you can debug any thread in Express, but it has no UI for switching your view from one thread to another.

Express is a limited version of Visual Studio. It stands to reason that there will be things it doesn't show you.

Now I'm also wondering if 'Express' is as good of a learning tool as the other versions...

If the Express version had all of the features that the retail versions had, there wouldn't be much point in the retail versions, would there? And surely the determining factor for what features make it into the Express version and what features don't is not strictly "which ones support the IDE as a learning tool?" That is, obviously given that some features are missing in the Express version, some of the missing features would be ones that are useful for learning.

In other words, I have no idea why you would expect that the free version of Visual Studio be every bit as effective a "learning tool" as the retail version, at least with respect to your apparent implication that features in the IDE equate to it being a "learning tool" (personally, I think that one of the things that may help the Express version be a good learning tool is the relative simplicity, leaving out features that could confuse a beginning programmer).

Now, all that said...I'm still surprised that it doesn't have the "Autos" window. I've used the Express version in the past, and that's the sort of feature that I'd think I'd notice if it were missing. But I guess I'll take your word for it that that's one of the features that's been left out of the Express version (I definitely don't care enough to install the thing now just to check :p ).

But surely this is not a critical feature for being able to use the debugger as a "learning tool". It's really only a matter of slight inconvenience. It's not like the debugger won't let you see whatever variables you want to see. You just need to be a bit more explicit about it.

Pete

Well free is free so I guess I can't complain, just a little surprised this feature is missing. Apparently there is quite a bit more missing as well:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/products/cc149003.aspx
http://www.programmingforums.org/post146811.html

It looks like the 2005 Express was missing the Watch window, but had Autos, now in the 2008 edition its reversed.
Anyway, the good news is that items added to the Watch window are saved with the project. If I close VS then re-open the Watched items previously added are still there.

Jack
.

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