Visual Studio 2008 extensions for Windows SharePoint Services 1.3 CTP

[Announced on the SharePoint Team Blog] The SharePoint-year makes a good start with the CTP release of version 1.3 of the extensions with the longest name ever: the Visual Studio 2008 extensions for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (or VSeWSS for short). Here's a short list of new features, for the details check out the SharePoint Team Blog. The final release is scheduled for "North American Spring of 2009". Get it here.

• Can be installed on x64 Server OS machines running SharePoint x64. Previously only x86 Server OS could be used.
• Separate build commands for package, deploy and retract are added
• Command line build, package and retract commands are included enabling continuous integration and build servers. Previously command line build of SharePoint projects was very difficult
• Refactoring support for renaming of Web Parts. Previously renaming a web part required changes in several files in the project
• WSP View improvements for consistency of deleting feature elements, merging features and adding event receivers to features
• Solution Generator can now generate solutions from publishing sites. Previously only regular sites could be generated
• Allowing partial trust BIN deployments of web parts. CAS configuration must still be provided by the developer.
• New project item template for SharePoint RootFiles items
• Deployment will now optionally remove conflicting existing features on the development server prior to redeployment. Previously any feature name conflicts would result in an error
• Ancillary assemblies such as for business logic can now be added to the SharePoint Solution WSP
• Hidden features related to Site Definition projects are now shown in WSP View. They are no longer hidden
• For advanced users a fast deploy is included to update only the compiled assembly on the SharePoint development installation
• The User Guide is now installed with the extensions instead of being a separate download