Developing with visual studio community 2017

Question

Hi,

My name is Andrea, and I am working to develop a software that will be used for the machines sold by the firm I am working for.

I am using visual studio community 2017. Can I develop that software without any problem or I have to consider something about licenses? (I am also using standard libraries).

Answer 1

Hi Andrea,

Microsoft Visual Studio Community 2017 - License terms says:
  a. Individual License. If you are an individual working on your own applications to sell or for any other purpose, you may use the software to develop and test those applications.

You are working for the firm, i.e. you are an organization. So, you cannot use VS Community 2017 freely, you should observe the license terms.

Please refer to the following article: Visual Studio Community 2017 - License terms
https://www.visualstudio.com/license-terms/mlt553321/

Regards,

---

Ashidacchi

Answer 2

Hi Ashidacchi,

So should I use visual studio professional?

Thanks for your assistance.

Regards

Andrea

Answer 3

Hi Andrea,

License term (I provided in the prior post) says:

a.    Organizational License. If you are an organization, your users may use the software as follows:

• Any number of your users may use the software to develop and test applications released under Open Source Initiative (OSI) approved open source software licenses.
• Any number of your users may use the software to develop and test extensions to Visual Studio.
• Any number of your users may use the software to develop and test device drivers for the Windows operating system.
• Any number of your users may use the software to develop and test your applications as part of online or in person classroom training and education, or for performing academic research.
• If none of the above apply, and you are also not an enterprise (defined below), then up to 5 of your individual users can use the software concurrently to develop and test your applications.

• If you are an enterprise, your employees and contractors may not use the software to develop or test your applications, except for:  (i) open source; (ii) Visual Studio extensions; (iii) device drivers for the Windows operating system; and, (iv) education purposes as permitted above.

An “enterprise” is any organization and its affiliates who collectively have either (a) more than 250 PCs or users or (b) one million U.S. dollars (or the equivalent in other currencies) in annual revenues, and “affiliates” means those entities that control (via majority ownership), are controlled by, or are under common control with an organization.

I'm not a person of law, so I cannot explain its contents more clearly than it says.
  # I only suppose you should use Visual Studio Professional/Enterprise.
    Please refer to: Compare Visual Studio 2017 IDEs
    https://www.visualstudio.com/vs/compare/

Regards,

---

Ashidacchi

Answer 4

Actually a bit more complicated than that, check the link Ashidacchi provided for detail.

If your company has less then 250 PCs/users and have less than USD 1 billion revenue, and the company have less than 5 users develop using Visual Studio, you can still use Community Edition.

Since you said it's for "software that will be used for the machines sold by the firm", if that software is device driver, or your company prepare to open source it, you'll be qualified to use VS Community too.

If these cases does not apply to you, whether to use Pro or Ent edition is depending on what features you need, and the company's budget. For the most cases Pro edition is enough.

Answer 5

Hi Andrea,

Has your question been answered? I would like to hear a good news from you.

Regards,

---

Ashidacchi

Answer 6

Hi Ashidacchi,

Sorry for my late answer.

Now I have a clearer picture.

I have looked to the subscription types for vs professional, and I would like to know what is the the difference between Standard subscription and Standalon license.

Which would be more suited for my case?

Thanks for your patience,

Best regards,

Andrea

Answer 7

Hi Andrea,

I don't know other than you are working for your firm and the firm will sell software which you will made. How many developers like you are in the firm? Who will purchase VS Pro license(s)? How long will you use VS Pro? 

I have never thought about subscription license, because I'm a self-employed software developer and a subscriber of MSDN.

Would you provide more details about "your case"?
And I recommend to refer to Visual Studio Subscriptions Administration Guide.https://www.visualstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Visual-Studio-Subscriptions-Administration-Guide-en.pdf

Regards,

---

Ashidacchi

Answer 8

The standalone license entitles you to use the Visual Studio IDE only, and nothing else.

The subscription entitles you to VS (including obsoleted products like VB2-6 or FoxPro 7-9), Windows system (client and server versions), SQL server, downloadable MSDN library updates (for VS2008 or before), Development tools (TFS and various SDKs). Note that all these software are for development and test purpose only, not for production use.

(Also note that I'm a long time MSDN subscriber, so the list I provided may contain software that is only available to those with older subscription)

Talk with boss and see if which one suit your more.

Answer 9

Hi ashidacchi,

Sorry again for my late answer (this is the last time).

I am the only one in the firm that is creating the software. The license will be purchased by my firm.

At the moment I am working just on this project, I don't know if I will use again vs ide (probably yes), btw the software will still be developed. In that case do I need to renew the license?

Best regards,

Andrea

Answer 10

Hi cheong00,

Sorry for my late answer,

In my project I use a nuget package and the vs project installer, is the standalone license enough?

Best regards,

Andrea

Answer 11

None of the two point you raise is relevant. These editions all supports them.

If you don't need the extra goodies I listed, you can go buy the standalone license instead of subscription.