Visual Studio Code Macbook

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13th May 2020

When I got my Windows computer, the first thing I did was to set up Windows so it mirrors the writing system I had on Mac. I also mirrored Mac's modifiers as much as possible.

For early adopters, you can get the latest release of VS Code each day with the Insiders Build. Available on Mac, Linux and Windows. Download Visual Studio Code Insiders. By default, Visual Studio for Mac uses the Debug build configuration, so you don't need to change it before debugging. Start Visual Studio for Mac. Open the project that you created in Create a.NET console application using Visual Studio for Mac.

Then, I set up my Windows development environment (with Windows Subsystem for Linux) on my new Windows computer.

Next, I had to do was to make Visual Studio Code on both Mac and Windows play nice.

By 'play nice', I meant:

  1. Syncing preferences across Mac and Windows
  2. Syncing extensions across Mac and Windows
  3. Syncing key bindings across Mac and Windows

Enter Settings Sync.

Settings Sync

Settings Sync is an extension for Visual Studio Code. It lets you sync preferences and extensions. I also found out it synced key bindings later! (More on key bindings later because it's more nuanced).

It's easy to sync preferences and extensions. Settings Sync does this automatically. To sync extensions and preferences across my Mac and Windows computer, all I had to do is install the settings sync extension, log in with Github, and, select a Gist to sync to.

Separating preferences for Windows and Mac

Thankfully, most of my preferences can be shared between Windows and Mac. I don't have to change many things. I only changed the fontSize of the code editor and the integrated terminal between my Windows and Mac.

I changed fontSize because I have a 15' Mac and a 13' Windows. Their screen resolutions were different too. After some testing, I figured I needed the following sizes:

  • Mac: 18px
  • Mac (Integrated Terminal): 16px
  • Windows: 16px
  • Windows (Integrated Terminal): 14px

Settings Sync lets you preserve specific settings with a thing they call sync pragmas. A pragma is a piece of code that tells a compiler about something. In this case, the sync pragmas tell Settings Sync whether to keep a specific setting.

Sync pragma looks like this:

A sync pragma can only be applied to one property (as far as I can tell).

I used the Operating System pragma (os) to preserve preferences between Mac and Windows. Here's what I wrote for Mac:

And here's what I wrote for Windows:

Settings decides whether to apply a property with sync pragmas. If Settings Sync thinks the property should be disabled, it'll comment it out.

For example, anything labelled with os=windows got commented out on my Mac's preferences (the settings.json file).

Likewise anything labelled with os=mac got commented out on my Windows' settings.json file.

So I get to keep the settings I like for both computers. Pretty cool!

Settings Sync is a real lifesaver here :)

Syncing keyboard shortcuts

If you can keep preferences with sync settings, how do you keep preferences for keyboard shortcuts?

Visual Studio Code For Macbook

I put a ton of effort into customising my keyboard shortcuts. (I'll share them in the next article). How to right click on apple mouse. And I'm worried my shortcuts will overwrite each other.

Turns out, there's nothing to worry!

Settings Sync is smart. It uses a file called keyBindings.json to store Windows shortcuts. For Mac, it uses a file called keybindingsMac.json.

Minecraft map making software. So feel free to upload your key bindings without adding any comments. They would NOT overwrite each other.

This, however, means you need to configure key bindings for Mac and Windows separately.

I'll share my configurations in the next article.

If you enjoyed this article, please tell a friend about it! Share it on Twitter. If you spot a typo, I'd appreciate if you can correct it on GitHub. Thank you!

There are plenty of code editing options out there for developers who use Apple products — Xcode Mac being one notable example — but, up until a few years ago, Visual Studio wasn't one of them.

In 2017 Microsoft released Visual Studio for Mac, although many users wondered whether it would turn out to be a reskinned version of Xamarin Studio; Xamarin had been acquired by Microsoft just one year earlier. Initially, they weren't far off the mark.

In the years that followed, Visual Studio for Mac has undergone various tweaks and improvements. These included improved functionality for .NET Core and Unity development. The question is has this been enough to change public perception of the app to make it a true Xcode Mac competitor?

You'll find out more useful tips below on using Visual Studio for Mac in 2020, with information on how it stacks up against Xcode for Mac and various other alternatives that might even make you want to move away from Visual Studio on Mac.

Using Visual Studio On Mac

When it was first released, the primary function of Microsoft Visual Studio for Mac was to enable Mac code fanatics to creative native mobile apps using C# and .NET. A lot has changed since its early days and extra support has been added for F#, Razor, HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript, XAML, and XML.

In other words, the app is now a robust code editor designed to cater for what most developers using Mac code protocol might want to do. The process for downloading the app is pretty simple:

Visual Studio Code Macbook
  1. Visit visualstudio.microsoft.com to download Visual Studio for Mac (with Visual Studio Code for Mac also available there)

  2. Run the installer to set up the program

  3. Choose whichever additional elements — .NET Core, Android, iOS, macOS — you might wish to install

  4. Use the Community version at will, or sign up for a Professional or Enterprise license to unlock additional features

Microsoft Visual Studio for Mac is a freemium product, with the majority of features available in the free Community version. This puts it in the same league as Apple's Xcode. Whatever complaints users might have, the price is certainly right.

However, many individuals who download Visual Studio for Mac aren't just comparing it with other code editors. They are also comparing it with how the app of the same name functions on PC.

Comparing Visual Studio Mac with Windows

The most common complaint directed at VS on Mac is that it lacks the polish and some of the functionality associated with its Windows alternative.

When using Visual Studio C++ Mac coders, for example, are straight out of luck as this is something the Mac version still lacks. Likewise, the Mac version doesn't offer the support for Python, Node.js, or SQL Server data tools that's available on Windows.

On the other hand, Visual Studio Code for Mac (which is a totally different app to Visual Studio) has a generally positive reputation. In some ways it's unfortunate that the Visual Studio Code Mac, Windows, and Linux versions perform to such a similar degree, because it highlights the shortcomings of using the original Visual Studio on Mac.

That's not to say, however, that there's no reason to download Visual Studio for Mac. In fact, there are certain situations — .NET users building Xamarin apps with an iOS build, or .NET Core developers who want to get away from using Boot Camp or a VM to run Visual Studio, for example — in which it represents a very solid solution.

Again, because the basic version of the app is free, it's worth downloading and testing for yourself before you decide that it won't be suitable for your purposes.

Using better alternatives to Visual Studio on Mac

Of course, Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code Mac are not the only options out there for Apple users hoping to find an IDE or source-code editor. In addition to Xcode for Mac, there are plenty of alternatives out there that have been specifically designed to compete with other code editors that are available on PC and Mac.

CodeRunner, for example, offers much of the same functionality as Microsoft Visual Studio for Mac. In fact, it offers several advantages over the latter such as language support for C++ and Python.

In addition to a smart and tweakable code editing interface, the app boasts various useful features including:

  • More than 230 syntax highlighters

  • A sidebar for all your documentation

  • Support for more than 25 languages (including PHP, Ruby, Swift, and more)

  • Integrated online documentation for any programming language

  • Built-in debugging tools, such as instant breakpoints

Visual Studio Download

With essential IDE features, CodeRunner can comfortably compete with the Xcode latest version, Visual Studio for Mac, Notepad++, and plenty of other code editors.

TeaCode isn't a fully fledged code editor in the same way that CodeRunner is, but is another strong alternative contender that promises to save you countless hours by simplifying the way you code with short, dynamic templates.

Begin writing a snippet in your editor of choice, press the TeaCode shortcut, and the app will expand it into real code. This utility presents a wealth of helpful features such as:

Downloads
  1. Visit visualstudio.microsoft.com to download Visual Studio for Mac (with Visual Studio Code for Mac also available there)

  2. Run the installer to set up the program

  3. Choose whichever additional elements — .NET Core, Android, iOS, macOS — you might wish to install

  4. Use the Community version at will, or sign up for a Professional or Enterprise license to unlock additional features

Microsoft Visual Studio for Mac is a freemium product, with the majority of features available in the free Community version. This puts it in the same league as Apple's Xcode. Whatever complaints users might have, the price is certainly right.

However, many individuals who download Visual Studio for Mac aren't just comparing it with other code editors. They are also comparing it with how the app of the same name functions on PC.

Comparing Visual Studio Mac with Windows

The most common complaint directed at VS on Mac is that it lacks the polish and some of the functionality associated with its Windows alternative.

When using Visual Studio C++ Mac coders, for example, are straight out of luck as this is something the Mac version still lacks. Likewise, the Mac version doesn't offer the support for Python, Node.js, or SQL Server data tools that's available on Windows.

On the other hand, Visual Studio Code for Mac (which is a totally different app to Visual Studio) has a generally positive reputation. In some ways it's unfortunate that the Visual Studio Code Mac, Windows, and Linux versions perform to such a similar degree, because it highlights the shortcomings of using the original Visual Studio on Mac.

That's not to say, however, that there's no reason to download Visual Studio for Mac. In fact, there are certain situations — .NET users building Xamarin apps with an iOS build, or .NET Core developers who want to get away from using Boot Camp or a VM to run Visual Studio, for example — in which it represents a very solid solution.

Again, because the basic version of the app is free, it's worth downloading and testing for yourself before you decide that it won't be suitable for your purposes.

Using better alternatives to Visual Studio on Mac

Of course, Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code Mac are not the only options out there for Apple users hoping to find an IDE or source-code editor. In addition to Xcode for Mac, there are plenty of alternatives out there that have been specifically designed to compete with other code editors that are available on PC and Mac.

CodeRunner, for example, offers much of the same functionality as Microsoft Visual Studio for Mac. In fact, it offers several advantages over the latter such as language support for C++ and Python.

In addition to a smart and tweakable code editing interface, the app boasts various useful features including:

  • More than 230 syntax highlighters

  • A sidebar for all your documentation

  • Support for more than 25 languages (including PHP, Ruby, Swift, and more)

  • Integrated online documentation for any programming language

  • Built-in debugging tools, such as instant breakpoints

Visual Studio Download

With essential IDE features, CodeRunner can comfortably compete with the Xcode latest version, Visual Studio for Mac, Notepad++, and plenty of other code editors.

TeaCode isn't a fully fledged code editor in the same way that CodeRunner is, but is another strong alternative contender that promises to save you countless hours by simplifying the way you code with short, dynamic templates.

Begin writing a snippet in your editor of choice, press the TeaCode shortcut, and the app will expand it into real code. This utility presents a wealth of helpful features such as:

  • 80 readymade expanders for Swift, PHP, Objective-C, and HTML

  • Support for native macOS text editors as well as plugins for Sublime Text, Atom, JetBrains IDEs, and, of course, Visual Studio Code Mac

  • Exportable command lists that you can share with your team

These two apps, CodeRunner and TeaCode, are the perfect example of how the likes of Mac Xcode and Visual Studio on Mac are not the be-all-and-end-all of development on Apple devices. Whether you're seeking an answer to the Visual Studio C++ Mac problem or looking for a time-saving Mac code solution, there are tons of apps out there waiting to be found.

Examining the future of Visual Studio and Mac Xcode

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As time goes by, it's very likely that the gap between Visual Studio on Mac and PC will narrow to something like the one between Visual Studio Code for Mac and Windows or Linux. As for that matter will the one between apps like VS and X code.

After all, Microsoft's acquisition of Xamarin Studio was relatively recent and demonstrates their desire to bring Visual Studio on Mac to compete with X code. Still, that doesn't mean you should ever expect Xcode for Mac, Visual Studio, or the like to do absolutely everything that you want it to.

Rajen Kishna, VS for Mac Product Manager, stated in 2017 that 'our goal with Visual Studio for Mac is to create a native IDE for Mac users with workloads that make sense on macOS. That means ‘desktop app' development will target macOS, and Visual Studio (on Windows) can be used to target Windows.'

Visual Studio Code Macbook Pro 2020

There's an old expression about the Jack of all trades being master of none but, as coders seek to hone their full stack development skills by learning multiple languages, editors that allow them to do all of that in one place will only become more important.

Right now, those who download Visual Studio for Mac might be disappointed by some of its limitations. Meanwhile, apps like the Mac Xcode latest version and CodeRunner continue to walk the fine line of doing a lot of things and doing them very well indeed.

To try some of the apps mentioned in this article — CodeRunner and TeaCode — for free, grab a seven-day trial of Setapp. This Mac platform offers more than 170 unique native apps, from Xcode Mac alternatives to Mac code game-changers to suitable substitutions for any of your favorite Windows programs. Time to explore!

Setapp lives on Mac and iOS. Please come back from another device.

Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.

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