Deprecation and Removal of Microsoft* Visual Studio Shell*
The most recent update of Intel® Parallel Studio XE available on Intel® Registration Center includes functional and security updates. Users should update to the latest version. If you are currently utilizing the Visual Studio Shell 2015 or earlier through Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows*, please review information and options outlined in this article.
Starting with the Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows* version 19.0 Update 2 release in February 2019 Intel has announced deprecation of the Microsoft Visual Studio Shell* as part of our Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows* compiler packages. We are also announcing the removal of the Microsoft Visual Studio Shell* starting with the release of Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows* 19.0 Update 3 and all future compilers. This change will require customers without an existing Microsoft* Visual Studio product to obtain their own supported version of Visual Studio directly from Microsoft or their authorized resellers.
Why are we doing this?
Microsoft's direction with their Visual Studio products no longer includes a Shell version. Also, Microsoft* has dropped support for Visual Studio Shell* 2015. Because of this, we will no longer provide a VS Shell with our product after our release of Intel® Visual Fortran version 19.0 Update 2. Please refer to https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/ for further information on the Microsoft Visual Studio product offerings. We have more information on your options below.
Not Affected no Changes - Microsoft* Visual Studio* Other than Shell version:
If you have an existing installation of an Intel® Visual Fortran supported version of Microsoft* Visual Studio* other than the 2015 Shell package, for example VS 2017 versions or older supported 2015, 2013 Professional Edition (or higher), you are not affected by this change. Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows* will continue to integrate into supported versions of Microsoft* Visual Studio* and future Visual Studio products. Check your Release Notes for supported versions of Microsoft Visual Studio.
Existing Installations of Microsoft* Visual Studio 2015 Shell*
Deprecation of Integration and Removal of Visual Studio 2015 Shell*
Integration into VS Shell 2015: If you have an installation of Microsoft* Visual Studio Shell* 2015, Intel® Visual Fortran 2019 versions 19.0 Update 2 compiler and the upcoming version 19.0 Updates will continue to integrate into your existing Microsoft Visual Studio Shell* 2015 installation. However, Intel® Visual Fortran Integration into Visual Studio 2015 Shell* IS DEPRECATED and will be removed in future versions. Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows* integration into Visual Studio 2015 Shell* will be removed AFTER version 19.0. After version 19.0, the Intel® Visual Fortran installer will not recognize your existing Microsoft Visual Studio Shell* 2015 and will not install into your Visual Studio Shell. This applies to Command Line as well - no installation. Users with Microsoft Visual Studio Shell* will need to obtain a supported version of Microsoft Visual Studio* from Microsoft or their authorized resellers. See your Options below.
Removal of Microsoft* Visual Studio Shell* from Packages: Versions of Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows* starting with Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows* v19.0 Update 3 will no longer provide a Microsoft* Visual Studio Shell*. Also, Intel may remove the Microsoft* Visual Shell* from older Intel® Visual Fortran packages provided for download on our Intel® Registration Center. So if you intend to use your existing version 2019 or older package with the included VS 2015 Shell you should archive your existing copy of your Parallel Studio XE package or Intel® Visual Fortran Installer package along with your Serial Number for future use. Intel provided downloads of older-version packages on the Intel Registration Center may no longer include the Microsoft Visual Studio Shell* package. See your Options below.
Options for Users of Microsoft* Visual Studio Shell*
If you have been using the Microsoft* Visual Studio Shell* provided by Intel in our Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows* compiler packages you have a few options.
OPTION: Upgrade Your Microsoft* Visual Studio*
If you are a new customer, or are ready to move forward with Intel® Visual Fortran, or are installing Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows* 2019 Update 3 or newer on a PC or workstation without Microsoft* Visual Studio* you will need to first obtain a supported version of Microsoft* Visual Studio* directly from Microsoft or their authorized resellers. Be sure to check out the Microsoft Visual Studio Community Edition which is provided to qualified non-commercial and small commercial users ( See their Visual Studio Community license terms for qualifications). If you do not qualify for the Microsoft Visual Studio Community Edition license, users will need to purchase an Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows* supported Microsoft* Visual Studio* edition from Microsoft or their authorized resellers. Be sure to refer to your Intel® Visual Fortran Release Notes for supported versions of Microsoft* Visual Studio*.
OPTION: Use Your Current Installation with v19.0 or Previous Compilers
It Will Continue to Work As-Is: Your current installation of Intel® Visual Fortran and Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Shell* will continue to function as-is. We will NOT remove it's functionality. You can continue to use Intel Visual Fortran for Windows* 2019 versions 19.0 (Initial Release or any 19.0 Update) OR any v18.0 or older Intel Visual Fortran product in your existing installation. However, as mentioned, future versions of Intel® Visual Fortran for Windows* after Intel® Visual Fortran v19.0 will no longer recognize your Microsoft* Visual Studio Shell* 2015 and will not integrate into that environment.