Hi Earl,
Visual Studio is a Programming IDE (Integrated Development Environment) which one can create and deploy software.
Visual Studio 2015 Programming IDE Community Edition
There are two major parts to the program which are:
- The Designer, which is seen in the above Screenshot
- The Code (Text) Editor
And for Windows programs this is what is normally used.
Visual Studio has several programming languages built into it, which are, C#, C++, Java Script, Visual Basic, F# and Python, just to name a few.
Visual Studio 2015 Community Edition - Code Editor
With Visual Studio 2015, one can also create software (Apps) for both Android and iOS devices using Xamarin. And its this capability that really make this IDE an exceptionally handy tool because it takes away the need to write code separately for the different platforms. Because of having Xamarin built into Visual Studio, using C# as the backbone, it is now just a matter of designing and writing code once, then compile it for the required platform.
But it doesn't end there.
Because of the fact that Microsoft has gone with Universal Windows, which means Windows now covers all of their devices. It is now just a matter of just writing code once, and then compile and deploy for the various platforms. This includes:
- Windows PC
- Windows Xbox
- Hololens
- Windows Mobile (which includes the Surface Phone).
Microsoft is also seriously looking at developing for AI (Artificial Intelligence) devices. And so, in the next update of VS2015, one may possibly see what one can do in that respect.
Since having this version of Visual Studio, I began to take a serious renewed interest in programming especially in the areas one can go into. And one of the areas that has increasingly become more interesting to me is both Virtual and Augmented Reality, ergo the Hololens. What one can do with that baby is only limited to one's imagination.
Now, getting to the significance of what this all means.
From my perspective, it would not be difficult for Rick Meyers to create e-Sword for Android. To do this all he needs to do is get a grasp of C#, (if he hasn't already), and then create a Xamarin project in Visual Studio, design the UI (User interface), write the code, then compile and deploy for:
- iOS devices, both Phone and Tablet
- Android devices, both Phone and Tablet
- Windows Phone.
Easy and straight forward as that.
Now, all we have to do is just to convince him. And that can be your job
Blessings,
Edited by APsit190, 09 October 2016 - 04:27 PM.