MS unveils free design and developer tools for students

Seattle: Microsoft unveiled a new initiative on Monday that will give students around the world free access to technology tools used to develop and design software.

The ‘DreamSpark’ initiative will allow students to use MS’ developer and designer tools to write software applications, design Web pages or create video games for the Xbox 360 console.

Although the tools are currently available in the US, China, and Western Europe, Microsoft said it will eventually extend the program to other countries.

Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates wanted to give access to software that can be difficult to get for students.

“I can relate to these student developers,” said Gates, who unveiled DreamSpark on Tuesday. “For them, any fee is a barrier.”

Students can download Visual Studio – MS’ main development tools used by professional developers – and Expression Studio – design software that rivals Adobe’s Creative Suite offering.

Microsoft said it will also make available XNA Game Studio software development tools for writing video games, and a free one-year membership to the ‘XNA Creators Club’ so they can bring those games to the Xbox 360 platform.

“For the individual developer ... getting their hands on these tools hasn’t been that simple,” Gates said.

Gates said he hopes this latest initiative will deepen the pool of potential developers as well as the fields of study where software can lead to breakthroughs.