Microsoft introduced mandatory registration in this version. This version requires Windows XP SP3, although it can develop apps compatible with Windows 2000. Its first service pack was first publicly available in on 11 August 2008. Visual Studio 2008 Express reached general availability in November 2007. This version is freeware and requires no registration. The first service pack for 2005 Express was released on December 2006. Visual Studio 2005 Express, the first version of the Express edition, on October 2005. 2005–2010: Language-centric editions History