Conclusion
This wraps up our tour of Windows CE development tools and APIs from Microsoft. Hopefully, you've recognized that the eMbedded Visual Tools suite, when combined with other powerful APIs such as ADOCE, holds its own when compared to its "big brother," Microsoft Visual Studio. Clearly, any Windows CE software development project would have to place the Visual Tools suite at or near the top of the list, depending on the need to eventually port to another platform. eMbedded Visual C++ still delivers the most functionality of the two tools (through the ATL, access to the entire Windows CE API, and support for the creation of DLLs and ActiveX controls), while eMbedded Visual Basic offers the quickest path to a completed project through its rapid prototyping capabilities. In addition, stay on the lookout for the release of Microsoft's .NET Compact Framework for Windows CE, which will usher in a new era of development for CE-based devices using the .NET architecture and the C# and VB.NET languages.