It is about time: CTP of Visual Studio 2008 extensions for SharePoint v1.3

Microsoft has released a Community Technology Preview of Visual Studio 2008 extensions for SharePoint v1.3.  VSeWSS 1.3 is an interim release for SharePoint Developers until Visual Studio 2010 comes out.

 A few new feature that you may agree "it's about time" that got included:

• 64-bit support.  Yeah!
• Deployment will now optionally remove conflicting existing features on the development server prior to redeployment. Previously any feature name conflicts would result in an error.
  
• Ancillary assemblies such as for business logic can now be added to the SharePoint Solution WSP.
  
• For advanced users a fast deploy is included to update only the compiled assembly on the SharePoint development installation.
  

Several other new features are in the CTP.  Final release slated for Spring 2009.  Download the CTP  bits here.