Visual Studio vs Visual Studio Code: What are the differences?
Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code are both Microsoft products. Visual Studio is a robust Integrated Development Environment (IDE) equipped with extensive tools and features for multi-platform application development. In contrast, Visual Studio Code is a lightweight code editor designed to deliver a streamlined coding experience, particularly for web and cloud development. Here are the key distinctions between the two:
Functionality and Scope: Visual Studio is an extensive Integrated Development Environment (IDE) offering a broad range of tools and features to support application development across multiple platforms. On the other hand, Visual Studio Code is a lightweight code editor with a focus on providing a seamless coding experience, particularly for web and cloud development.
Supported Languages and Platforms: Visual Studio supports multiple programming languages, with deep integration into Microsoft technologies and frameworks. It is primarily designed for Windows development but offers limited support for macOS and Linux. Visual Studio Code, on the other hand, supports a wide range of programming languages and is platform-agnostic, running on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
User Interface and Customization: Visual Studio has a feature-rich and complex user interface, with multiple windows, panes, and toolbars. It offers advanced IDE features like designers for building user interfaces, integrated SQL Server support, and project templates. Visual Studio Code has a minimalistic and lightweight user interface, providing a more focused coding experience. It allows for customization, supports themes, and offers a wide range of extensions.
Debugging and Testing: Visual Studio provides comprehensive debugging and testing capabilities, including advanced features like remote debugging and profiling. Visual Studio Code offers basic debugging and testing functionalities but lacks some advanced debugging features.
Collaboration and Team Development: Visual Studio includes features for team collaboration, such as integrated version control systems and tools for code reviews. Visual Studio Code can be used for collaboration but requires additional extensions and integrations to match the collaborative capabilities of Visual Studio.
In summary, Visual Studio is a powerful and feature-rich IDE suitable for a wide range of application development scenarios, particularly for Microsoft technologies and enterprise solutions. Visual Studio Code, on the other hand, is a lightweight and extensible code editor with a focus on web and cloud development, providing a flexible and customizable coding experience.
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