Can VS 2005 build C # for .NET 4?

Question

I know that you can probably create a lower version of .NET, but is it possible for me to create a project with the .NET Framework version 4?

Answer 1

No, each version of Visual Studio can only target the framework that was released, and lower. (Exiting .NET 1.1 from it ...) So ...

• VS2005 can only be compiled with .NET 2.0 (and .NET 3.0 with some extensions, though)
• VS2008 can compile with .NET 2.0, .NET 3.0 and .NET 3.5
• VS2010 can compile with .NET 2.0, .NET 3.0, .NET 3.5 and .NET 4.0

(And then there are customer profiles, Compact Framework, Silverlight, etc.)

Answer 2

I think technically yes, but certainly not easy. You can configure the build process manually to use (freely available) compilers from the .NET 4. You will need to install .NET 4 manually and then roll your own build scripts from scratch if you want to fully integrate or manually compile your projects from command line

However, it is worth remembering that VS2005 did not have IntelliSense support or compiler integration for .NET 4, so you will not have anything pleasant in the IDE. Notepad could be easier!

Honestly, I'm not sure if this is what I consider an attempt!

Answer 3

Not.

However, you can just get the .NET framework . This will give you the necessary builds and compiler. Although Visual Studio is excellent, it is not necessary.

Answer 4

VS is compatible, but the opposite is false. This is a one way ticket. VS2005 is only compatible with .NET 2.0 and is compatible with versions 1.1 and 1.0.

Then the final answer is no. For example, VS2005 will not start on Vista unless you install Vista SP1.

Answer 5

No, VS2005 can only work with the .NET Framework 2.0. Support for multiple operating modes was not displayed until VS2008. You can use MSBee to build against version 1.1 in 2005, but this is the closest way to several execution goals.

If you use a separate build tool, such as NAnt , you can target several versions of the framework (including Silverlight and Mono), assuming that the code will be compiled with respect to these frameworks.

Answer 6

No, even for VS 2008, according to Scott Guthrie (who would probably know):

There is no way to configure .NET 4 from VS08 and use the new features. having said that .NET4 is highly compatible with .NET 3.5 - so the application you targeting .NET 3.5 with VS08 should work fine on top of .NET.

http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2009/08/27/multi-targeting-support-vs-2010-and-net-4-series.aspx

A similar question here:

Can I develop the .NET Framework 4 in Visual Studio 2008?

Answer 7

As everyone else said, the answer is No. No. However ... depending on your incentive to want to do this, you may consider SharpDevelop, which is free but does not have the same limitation.