Mono Tools for Visual Studio is an "add-in" module to Microsoft Visual Studio that is based on Mono, an open source project sponsored by SUSE. This commercial add-in enables developers to write .NET applications for non-Windows platforms within their preferred development environment.

It allows developers to build, debug and deploy .NET applications on Linux, while continuing to leverage the extensive ecosystem of code, libraries, and tools available for .NET.

Through a new Mono-specific pull-down menu and other integration points in Visual Studio, it enables developers to leverage the cross-platform coding, testing and debugging functionality of the Mono platform, all while staying within the Visual Studio environment.

Mono Tools for Visual Studio is provided as a Windows installer (.msi) that integrates Mono-specific menus and templates into Visual Studio. It provides an integrated experience for analyzing, testing, debugging and deploying .NET applications on Mono, for use on Linux, UNIX and Mac OS X.

It also comes with preconfigured virtual machines and packages for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and openSUSE, to simplify the configuration of target Linux platforms.

Features

• Integrated porting analysis tools
  • Save time and money by using integrated tools that guide you through the process of identifying and resolving cross-platform incompatibilities.
• Debug applications in Mono on Linux
  • Isolate incompatibilities between Mono and .NET, and Windows and Linux, which might affect cross-platform application development.
• Package applications for Linux
  • Utilize automated packaging for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and openSUSE to prepare your applications for immediate deployment on Linux.
• Create virtual and software appliances
  • Create turnkey virtual appliances and software appliances for .NET applications for the first time—to simplify deployment and support, shorten sales cycles, and extend applications to the cloud.

Requirements

• Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7–32 or 64 bit
• Visual Studio 2008 SP1–Standard, Professional or Team Edition
• VMware Player or Windows Virtual PC to run pre-configured Linux virtual machines

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