Microsoft Visual C++ .NET Standard 2003 Description:

Visual C++ .NET 2003 provides developers with a proven, object-oriented language for building powerful and performance-conscious applications. With advanced ISO-conforming template features, low-level platform access, and an optimizing compiler, Visual C++ .NET 2003 delivers superior functionality for generating robust applications and components. Developers can use Visual C++ .NET 2003 to build a wide variety of solutions, including Microsoft Windows-based and Microsoft .NET-connected applications. C++ is one of the world's most popular systems-level languages, and Visual C++ .NET 2003 gives developers a world-class tool with which to build best-in-class software. Use Managed Extensions to C++ and compiler support for optimized Microsoft intermediate language (MSIL) code generation. Incorporate Microsoft .NET Framework features including garbage collection, Windows Forms, and threading. Call unmanaged code using high-performance C++ interoperability technology. Write and compile purely unmanaged x86 code. Speed up your application or reduce its size with optimization options for a range of processors, including Whole Program Optimization, and support for Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE) and Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (SSE2) instruction sets.