You can browse thousands of extensions to add only the features you actually need (like Docker, Prettier, or GitHub Copilot).
Share your experience in the comments—which one do you reach for first? visual studio vs code download
On the other hand, VS Code, also developed by Microsoft, is a lightweight, open-source code editor that's gained immense popularity in recent years. It's free, extensible, and runs on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can browse thousands of extensions to add
Both are (VS Community, VS Code), but Visual Studio also has paid Pro/Enterprise editions. It's free, extensible, and runs on multiple platforms,
✅ – WinForms, WPF, MAUI, or UWP. ✅ You need the full .NET ecosystem – Including .NET Framework (not just .NET Core/5+). ✅ You write C++ for Windows – Especially DirectX, Unreal Engine, or low-level drivers. ✅ You want integrated database tools – SQL Server Object Explorer, schema compare. ✅ You need architectural diagrams – Class diagrams, dependency validation, code maps. ✅ You’re part of a large enterprise team – Using Azure DevOps, Test Plans, or Enterprise licensing.
You are a web developer, a data scientist using Python, or a student who wants a fast, modern editor that works for almost every language under the sun. Can you use both?
code.visualstudio.com/download (Windows, macOS, Linux – including ARM64)
