Microsoft debuts developer site, tool

Microsoft launched a new developer Web site and is offering a new tool to help programmers build software using its technology.

The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant launched the .Net Architecture Center to provide developers with best practices for building and managing software and ensuring that it's secure. Microsoft also released the Visual Studio Integration Software Developer Kit, which will let businesses integrate their own tools, different programming languages or other technology as part of Microsoft's Visual Studio.Net family of software-development tools. The software developer kit is free to customers who have acquired large volumes of Visual Studio.Net, a Microsoft representative said.