This SDK provides tools, compilers, headers, libraries, code samples, and a new help system that developers can use to create applications that run on Microsoft Windows 7. The SDK can be used to write applications using the native (Win32/COM) or managed (.NET Framework) programming model.

Supported operating systems include: Windows 7, Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition (32-bit x86), Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard x64 Edition , Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, Windows XP Service Pack 3.

This SDK can be installed on and/or used to create applications for platform chipsets X86, X64, and Itanium. .NET Framework: Create applications that target .NET Framework versions 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.

For Visual Studio you can use this SDK with Visual Studio versions 2005, 2008, and 2010, including Express editions. It is worth noting that not all features work with all versions of Visual Studio.