STSDEV is a proof-of-concept utility application which demonstrates how to generate Visual Studio project files and solution files to facilitate the development and deployment of templates and components for the SharePoint 2007 platform including Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (WSS) and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS). Note that the current version of the stsdev utility only supports creating projects with the C# programming language. Main strongpoint: relies on build targets not on projecttype (WSP builder and VSeWSS introduce a projecttype). Main weakness: only one dll per solution. SharePoint Installer This project is a Windows application for an eased and more user friendly installation and deployment of SharePoint 2007 solution files to a SharePoint server farm. Distribute your SharePoint solution files with this installation program instead of a raw script using STSADM.EXE to install and deploy the solution. WSP Builder The WSPbuilder is a console application that creates SharePoint Solutions files based on a folder structure. WSPBuilder will automatically traverse a "12" folder structure and creates a SharePoint solution manifest.xml and the wsp file based on the files it finds. Therefore you do not need the knowledge of how to create a solution manifest.xml and wsp file any more. VSeWSS 1.2 Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Tools: Visual Studio 2008 Extensions STSADM http://blogs.msdn.com/ronalus/archive/2007/01/04/stsadmwin-has-an-2007-version.aspx Gary Lapointe STSADM http://stsadm.blogspot.com/ SPOperation namespace, place dll in the GAC
The set of features provided exclusively by Microsoft.SharePoint.WebPartPages.WebPart is as follows: Cross page connections Connections between Web Parts that are outside of a zone Client-side connections (Web Part Page Services Component) Data caching infrastructure, including the ability to cache to the database