I just downloaded Sharepoint Foundation on my PC and it won't load as it is for 2008 Server. But, when I try to connect to sharepoint from my PC, I get the message a local copy is necessary. Does this mean that only a server machine can be used to develop sharepoint? Why is the information for this so cryptic? I would like to learn and work with sharepoint development, but it seems the only way is to install it on a server, install visual studio on a server, then begin development. If so, then my interest in it has just be eliminated because I have no server at home running 2008 R2, nor am I going to build one just to develop sharepoint applications. ANyone have any real information... please no pointless time consuming links. I feel I've wasted enough of my time already.

SharePoint is a server product and while you can do development by installing SharePoint on Windows 7 it is intended to be installed on a server should therefor be tested on a server before entering a production environment. Here are some links that you may find helpful. Installing SharePoint 2010 on Windows 7 as a development environment - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee554869.aspx SharePoint Development Center - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/aa905688.aspx As an alternative you can develop Sandboxed and SharePoint applications using C#, JavaScript and Silverlight by using the client object model which does not require SharePoint to be installed locally at all. In fact you could even use a hosted solution like Office 365 http://www.office365.com as your development environment. Using the Client Object Model - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee857094.aspx certifications MCITP, MCTS, MCPD | blog http://corypeters.net | twitter @cory_peters

I have Windows 7 64 bit and tried to install Sharepoint foundation server 2010 and it returned a message requiring Windows server 2008. However, your links I will investigate as they appear to be just the information I am looking for. Thanks. I'll get back to you after I check them out.