Visual C++ Compilers

The Visual C++ 2008 compilers support traditional native code developers and developers who target virtual machine platforms such as the common language runtime (CLR). Visual C++ 2008 includes compilers to target x64 and Itanium computers. The compiler continues to target x86 computers directly, and optimizes performance for both platforms.

The Visual C++ runtime Libraries include the industry-standard Active Template (ATL) libraries, and standard libraries such as the Standard C++ Library, consisting of the iostreams library and the Standard Template Library (STL), and the C Runtime Library (CRT). The CRT includes security-enhanced alternatives to functions that are known to pose security issues.

Windows SDK Configuration Tool

The Windows SDK Configuration Tool presents both a command-line interface and a GUI interface that allows users to query which versions of the Windows SDK are installed on a current system and then set which version of the SDK is current.

Xperf Tools

The xperf tools are designed for measuring and analyzing Windows system and application performance, including application start times, boot issues, deferred procedure calls and interrupt activity, system responsiveness issues, application resource utilization, and interrupt storms.

The tools are built on the Event Tracing for Windows (ETW) infrastructure. ETW enables Windows and applications to efficiently generate events. Events can be enabled and disabled at any time without requiring system or process restarts. ETW collects the events and saves them to one or more files referred to as trace files or traces. Performance analysis using ETW and the xperf tools is centered on the events generated by the Windows kernel, which provide extensive details about the operation of the system.

ETW and the xperf tools also support symbol decoding, sample profiling, and recording calls stacks on kernel events. These features provide rich and detailed views into system operation. The tools support automated testing. Xperf is designed for scripting from the command line and trace data can be fully processed on other machines. Xperf can also dump the trace data to an ANSI text file, which allows users to write their own trace processing tools that can look for performance problems and regressions from previous tests.