Create a useful, intuitive application while LightSwitch handles the code

Microsoft Visual Studio LightSwitch 2011 makes it simple for users of all skill levels to quickly build and deploy polished, user-friendly business applications that look like they were created by a professional designer.

Familiar and professional applications, coding optional
Download one or more of the extensible, pre-built application shells—called starter kits—to help you give your application the look and feel of popular Microsoft software, like Office and Windows, without starting from scratch

Desktop, web, or cloud—you choose
Create one application and deploy it to ensure the highest adoption and use by your users. LightSwitch lets you decide on a deployment method after your application is built, then writes the code to make it happen.

Import, export, and sort your business information

Microsoft Visual Studio LightSwitch 2011 makes it easy for users to connect to their data wherever it is, and quickly add user-friendly features and capabilities that make sharing and reporting data easier than ever.

Use your data wherever it is
Using LightSwitch, it's easy to collect, analyse, and reuse information from a variety of sources, including Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft SQL Azure, Microsoft SharePoint, Oracle, and other third-party databases.

Save time with predefined data types
Structures and validation rules are already in place in LightSwitch, so you can just drop in the data types you need. And you can easily create and add your own data types to reuse in future applications.

Easily manipulate and organise data
Applications created in LightSwitch come with built-in paging, sorting, and filtering capabilities that make it easier to work with a large amount of data.

Export and share data with built-in features
LightSwitch applications support exporting data to Microsoft Excel for easy sharing and reporting, without requiring additional work on your end. And you can use the asynchronous data-loading routines in LightSwitch to build applications that remain responsive while they load data.

Take your application beyond users' expectations

Microsoft Visual Studio LightSwitch 2011 offers tools and options that help users create applications that rival off-the-shelf solutions by using both included features and downloadable extensions.

Quickly and easily create common screens
Use screen templates as a guide to lay out your content, providing a professional look and maintaining consistency among your forms.

Write the code that only you can write
Build your application to do exactly what you need it to do. LightSwitch lets you create custom business logic and rules unique to your business, which means that you can provide a tailored experience that best meets your users' needs.

Extend and customise your application
Take advantage of components, data sources, and services that add functionality. LightSwitch applications are built on a set of extensible templates, so it's easy to share components from one application to the next, or to expand your application’s capabilities using LightSwitch extensions such as OLAP for LightSwitch.