What's the difference between VE Web and VE Desktop?
Feature Comparison Matrix
Both Visual Expert Web and Desktop versions provide the same powerful core code analysis capabilities. They share an identical foundation for analyzing code, exploring databases, and providing insights. Each version offers additional unique features designed for specific use cases and workflows, allowing you to choose the best option for your needs or use them together in a complementary way.
| Core Features Available in Both Versions | VE Web | VE Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Code Exploration and Call Graphs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-References & Impact Analysis | ✓ | ✓ |
| Code Review / Code Inspection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coming Soon: AI Services | ✓ | ✓ |
| Code Performance Tuning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced and Quick Search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Code Metrics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features Exclusive to Each Version | VE Web | VE Desktop |
| Interactive CRUD matrix | ✓ | - |
| Static CRUD matrix (Excel file) | - | ✓ |
| On-demand code documentation (dynamically generated) | ✓ | - |
| Static code documentation (html files) | - | ✓ |
| Share analysis results via URL | ✓ | - |
| Coming Soon: comment and discuss a piece of code | ✓ | - |
| Manage Visual Expert Project | - | ✓ |
| Generate diagrams | - | ✓ |
| Compare code or databases | - | ✓ |
Which version is best for you?
VE Desktop is designed for trial users, power users and administrators who require advanced configuration capabilities or specialized features. Standard implementations include
- Evaluating VE on a client workstation: Fast installation for testing with small volume of code.
- Production use on individual workstations: Suitable when a single person maintains the application.
- Server-based Visual Expert instance: Set up projects and run analyses accessible to all stakeholders.
- Users requiring Desktop-exclusive features: For specific functions only available in the desktop version. (see matrix above).
VE Web serves the majority of users, particularly those focused on accessibility and collaboration. Common use cases include:
- Teams using VE projects created on a server: once a VE project is defined on a server, all users can access it from any location.
- Zero-installation environments: No client setup required - operates through standard browsers.
- Collaborative analysis: Share results via URLs and enable team cooperation.
- Occasional Visual Expert users: Designed for stakeholders who need periodic access (project managers reviewing code inspection reports, business analysts checking impact analysis, QA testers examining code metrics).
Important: VE Web and VE Desktop Can Work Together
VE Web and VE Desktop are fully compatible and can be used together, for example in the following configuration:
- VE Desktop installed on a server to define projects and analyze code
- VE Web used by default by all users
- VE Desktop used by certain users who need features only available in this version
- Web and desktop clients connect concurrently to the same VE Repository
- The Visual Expert license covers both versions: it authorizes the number of users defined in the license to connect simultaneously to the VE Repository, regardless of whether they connect with VE web or VE Desktop.