Next Versions of VS and SQL Server

Orcas: code name for the next version of Visual Studio, due in 2007 or 2008. One of the big
features of the new VS is Language-Integrated Query (LINQ). LINQ is a breakthrough technology that eliminates the impedance mismatch among different data domains. With LINQ, developers do not need to learn separate query syntaxes when querying over diverse data domains such as XML, Relational and Objects. LINQ has been very well received both last year at its announcement at the PDC, and more recently at Tech-Ed in Boston. Orcas, the next version of Visual Studio, includes LINQ infrastructure that enables this powerful combination of languages and API’s, as well as concrete support in multiple programming languages and data domains.

Orcas is based on the .Net Framework 3.0, which is comprised of the existing .NET Framework 2.0 components, including ASP.NET, WinForms, ADO.NET, CLR, and additional base class libraries. It will also include Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) and the newly christened Windows CardSpace (WCS) formerly known under the codename “InfoCard.”
The .NET Framework has always been at the core of WinFX, but the WinFX brand didn’t convey this.

The WinFX brand helped us introduce the incredible innovations in terms of The brand also
created an unnatural discontinuity between previous versions of our framework and the current version. With this in mind, WinFX will be renamed the .NET Framework 3.0.
To read more about it and download the CTP, go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1A994549-94CB-4F61-903D-A8C8E453EEF4&displaylang=en


Katmai: code name for the next version of SQL Server, due out in 2007 or 2008. It will provide support for unstructured data and auto-admin work.