Visual Studio Community Edition for Mac: A Comprehensive Code Editor

When it comes to coding on a Mac, there are numerous options available, but one that stands out is the Visual Studio Community Edition. While it may not offer the same level of integration as its Windows counterpart, this edition is still packed with features that make it an ideal choice for developers.

One of the key advantages of the Visual Studio Community Edition for Mac is its wide range of extensions. These extensions provide snippets for numerous languages, syntax highlighting for various coding languages, and are built on top of TypeScript, an open-source framework. This means that you have access to a vast array of tools and features that can enhance your coding experience.

However, it's worth noting that the Community Edition does not offer IntelliSense support for C# when working with Razor Views or Pages in ASP.NET Core web development. This is where Visual Studio Code comes in handy, as it provides good support for ASP.NET Core development, although it still lacks support for Razor Views and Pages.

The OmniSharp flame logo in the bottom-right corner of Visual Studio Code indicates that it is powered by the C# Extension for Visual Studio Code, which is one of the best Node.js editors and debuggers available. This makes it an excellent choice for developers working on multi-language projects.

In addition to Visual Studio Code, there are other options available for .NET development on non-Windows platforms, such as Visual Studio Community Edition itself. This edition is a very competent code editor that offers a range of plugins and extensions, making it an ideal choice for .NET development.

It's also worth noting that JetBrains Rider is sponsoring my blog this week, and I've been writing this post on and off for a while. While Rider is not strictly a .NET-specific IDE, it does offer some .NET features.

In the past, developers had limited options when it came to .NET development on a Mac. Mono was often used in conjunction with a text editor to get the job done. However, things have changed since then. The OmniSharp OSS project has added IntelliSense support to various code editors, including Visual Studio Code and others.

In conclusion, the Visual Studio Community Edition for Mac is an excellent choice for developers who want a comprehensive code editor that offers a range of features and extensions. While it may not offer all the bells and whistles of its Windows counterpart, it's still a powerful tool that can help you get the job done efficiently.

Visual studio community edition mac