Published: A Retrospective Look at a Development Classic
VS Express 2013 did not allow you to open multiple solutions in the same instance. You could only work on one project solution at a time. This was a massive productivity killer for professionals but irrelevant for students. 5. VS Express 2013 vs. Modern Versions (2019, 2022) If you are reading this in 2025, you are likely wondering: Why not just use Visual Studio Community 2022? vs express 2013
Here is the reality check:
Unlike the paid "Professional" versions, Express was targeted at students, open-source contributors, and casual developers who needed a robust IDE but couldn't afford a license. Crucially, VS Express 2013 was the last version of Express to ship as separate, language-specific products. After 2013, Microsoft consolidated Express into a single "Web" installer, and later replaced it entirely with the "Community" edition. Published: A Retrospective Look at a Development Classic
Microsoft eventually learned the lesson. In 2014, they released (Update 4), which killed the Express line immediately. Community gave developers full plugin support and multi-solution handling for free, rendering Express obsolete overnight. Here is the reality check: Unlike the paid
In the sprawling ecosystem of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), few names have sparked as much gratitude—and later, confusion—as . Officially known as Microsoft Visual Studio Express 2013 , this suite of free tools represented a pivotal moment for indie developers, students, and hobbyists.