major changes between 7.00 and 8.00

General:
  • All command-line tools will now write errors and warnings to stderr, other messages to stdout.
  • Added Windows include files camerauicontrol.h, compressapi.h, dpapi.h, dxgiformat.h, elscore.h, elssrvc.h, icftypes.h, lsalookup.h, netfw.h, shellscalingapi.h, versionhelpers.h.
  • Removed Windows Mobile and ARM support.

IDE:
  • Many changes in the debugger - some visible, some not. Breaking change for debugger expressions involving vector registers (can affect saved watch expressions). See the help file for more information.
  • Added add-in interface for the debugger.
  • Added new profiler mode "call tree", and ability to print the result.
  • Added support for importing Visual Studio 2010/2012/2013 projects through the "Import MSVC project" wizard. Not every project will be perfectly imported, for various reasons.
  • Added full-text search to the built-in HtmlHelp viewer. (One way to use the full-text search information, in general, is to search for "8.0" to find all changes for this release.)
  • Added full-screen mode.
  • Changed to private implementation of the MDI tab control (for new Close button).
  • Revised the file dependency scanner for C files; added support for (some) preprocessor conditions and support for add-in scanners.
  • Minor improvements to the C code formatter. For example, should get less confused about extern "C" { ... } surrounded by #ifdef __cplusplus, #endif.
  • Added new "External files" branch to project tree, for easier identification of files located outside the top-level project directory.
  • Changed request for execution level to below Administrator for better cooperation with UAC. For special tasks yoy may have to run the IDE as Administrator.
  • Added attempt to identify the format of a custom resource type, for opening the resource in the proper editor.
  • Added support for embedded null characters in a string table resource.
  • Added support for more resource languages, including "neutral".
  • Added new, and removed some old, add-in examples.
  • Many minor changes, fixes, and improvements.

Compiler:
  • Added support for OpenMP 3.1.
  • Added new intrinsics for BMI1, BMI2, LZCNT, TZCNT, RTM, and AVX2 (mostly X64).
  • Added more optimizations, but few will (of course) affect all programs.
  • Added more warnings, and an exprimental analyzer for strict aliasing (warning level 2).
  • Added #pragma default_convention() to deal with annoying third-party header files.
  • Added /T option formats x64-coff and x64-asm as better aliases for amd64-coff and amd64-asm, respectively.
  • Many minor changes, fixes, and improvements.

Macro assembler:
  • Added new option /Fl to produce a list file. See the help file for more information.
  • Added operators SECTIONREL and IMAGEREL.
  • Added instructions for BMI1, BMI2, LZCNT, TZCNT, RTM, and AVX2.
  • Added prefix XACQUIRE and XRELEASE.
  • Added type OWORD and YWORD as (maybe better) aliases for XMMWORD and YMMWORD, respectively.
  • Added support for user-defined prologue and epilogue macros.

Linker:
  • Added new options /DBG, /DYNAMICBASE, /HIGHENTROPYVA, and /INTEGRITYCHECK. See the help file for more information.
  • Incompatible change for option /SECTION. See the help file for more information.
  • Added richer COFF debug info, and support for fabricating some CodeView debug info if missing.
  • Added support for embedded manifest files.
  • Added private implementation of image checksum calculation (removed dependency on imagehlp.lib).
  • Added support for Microsoft anonymous header objects.
  • Removed attempt at converting newer (undocumented) Microsoft Codeview debug info.

Library manager:
  • Added support for Microsoft anonymous header objects.

Resource compiler:
  • Added support for embedded null characters in a string table.

Make utility:
  • Added a few more features for compatibility with Microsoft's NMAKE. See the help file for more information.

Dump utility:
  • Added dump of type libraries (.tlb).
  • Added dump of .NET metadata and a minimal CIL disassembler (for fun).
  • Added support for BMI1, BMI2, LZCNT, TZCNT, RTM, and AVX2 instructions in the disassembler.
  • Added dump of Microsoft anonymous header objects.
  • Added dump of content in a HTML or manifest resource.
  • Added support for dump of embedded null characters in a string table resource.

Install builder:
  • Added statements ExecMSI, FindFile, InstallService, UninstallService, ReadXMLStr and WriteXMLStr.