Visual Studio Release Notes

Key Features & Improvements

Version 17.9 brings significant enhancements to productivity, performance, and core development experiences.

Productivity Boosts

• AI-Powered Code Completion (IntelliCode): Enhanced suggestions and contextual understanding for C#, C++, and Python.
• Refactored Debugger UI: A more intuitive and responsive debugging experience with cleaner layouts and faster load times.
• Improved Git Integration: Streamlined branch management, commit history navigation, and conflict resolution tools.
• Live Share Enhancements: Faster connection times and more robust collaborative editing capabilities.

Performance Optimizations

• Faster project load times for large solutions.
• Reduced memory consumption during debugging sessions.
• Quicker IntelliSense responsiveness in complex codebases.

Core Development Experience

• C++20 Module Support: Comprehensive support for C++20 modules, improving build times and code organization.
• .NET MAUI Updates: New templates, improved tooling, and performance fixes for cross-platform development.
• Web Development Tools: Enhanced support for Blazor, ASP.NET Core, and modern JavaScript frameworks.

Notable Bug Fixes

• Addressed issues with solution explorer responsiveness.
• Resolved crashes related to specific C++ compiler optimizations.
• Fixed performance degradation in the Razor editor.
• Improved stability for remote debugging scenarios.

For a complete list of changes, please refer to the detailed release notes.

Key Features & Improvements

• IntelliCode API Usage Examples: Get context-aware API usage examples directly in IntelliSense.
• Performance Enhancements: Significant improvements in solution loading and IntelliSense speed.
• Debugging Improvements: New features for inspecting corrupted data structures and better exception handling.
• C++ Development: Enhanced support for CMake, C++20 features, and compiler diagnostics.

Notable Bug Fixes

• Fixed issues with the Azure Functions tooling.
• Resolved problems with the XAML designer.
• Addressed various stability concerns.

See the full details for 17.8.

Key Features & Improvements

• GitHub Copilot Integration: Deep integration with GitHub Copilot for AI-assisted coding.
• Performance Optimizations: Further refinements to startup times and responsiveness.
• C# 12 Preview Features: Early access to features from the upcoming C# version.
• WebAssembly Debugging: Improved debugging experience for WebAssembly applications.

Notable Bug Fixes

• Resolved memory leaks in the Roslyn analyzer.
• Fixed issues with the .NET MAUI Hot Reload feature.
• Improved stability when working with large projects.

Explore the release notes for 17.7.

Key Features & Improvements

• Arm64 Support: Native Arm64 support for Windows, offering better performance on compatible devices.
• Debugger Enhancements: New diagnostic tools and improved watch window performance.
• SQL Server Data Tools: Updated features for database development and deployment.

Notable Bug Fixes

• Fixed crashes related to the IntelliTrace feature.
• Addressed issues with NuGet package management.
• Improved the reliability of the Visual C++ build tools.

Discover more in the version 17.6 release notes.

Key Features & Improvements

• Performance Improvements: Continued focus on startup times and IDE responsiveness.
• Dev Tunnels: Integrated support for Dev Tunnels for easier local development and sharing.
• C++ Build Insights: New tooling to analyze C++ build performance.

Notable Bug Fixes

• Resolved issues with the Test Explorer.
• Fixed problems with code formatting for various languages.
• Improved stability when using multiple monitors.

Read the full release notes for 17.5.

Key Features & Improvements

• .NET 7 Support: Full support for .NET 7 development.
• Improved Visual C++ Build Tools: Faster build times and enhanced diagnostics.
• Web Development: Updates for Blazor, ASP.NET Core, and client-side scripting.

Notable Bug Fixes

• Fixed issues with the debugger's call stack.
• Addressed problems with the NuGet package manager.
• Improved stability for large codebases.

See the details for 17.4.

Key Features & Improvements

• Hot Reload Improvements: More reliable Hot Reload experience for .NET applications.
• C++20 Feature Support: Expanded support for C++20 standards.
• Azure Development: Enhanced tooling for Azure services.

Notable Bug Fixes

• Resolved issues with project templates.
• Fixed bugs in the IntelliSense engine.
• Improved performance during code analysis.

Review the release notes for 17.3.

Key Features & Improvements

• .NET MAUI GA: General Availability of .NET MAUI, enabling cross-platform development.
• Performance Enhancements: Continued focus on making the IDE faster and more responsive.
• C++ Tooling: Updates to CMake integration and compiler diagnostics.

Notable Bug Fixes

• Addressed crashes in the debugger.
• Fixed issues with file saving and loading.
• Improved stability of the Git integration.

Learn more about version 17.2.

Key Features & Improvements

• .NET 6 Performance: Optimized performance for .NET 6 applications.
• C++ Modules Support: Early support for C++ modules.
• Azure DevOps Integration: Improved integration with Azure DevOps.

Notable Bug Fixes

• Fixed issues with the Visual Studio Installer.
• Resolved problems with code generation.
• Improved stability of IntelliSense.

Read the release notes for 17.1.

Key Features & Improvements

• 64-bit Architecture: Visual Studio is now a 64-bit application for improved performance and memory handling.
• Modernized UI: A refreshed and more accessible user interface.
• IntelliCode: AI-assisted code completion powered by IntelliCode.
• Performance Enhancements: Significant speed improvements across the IDE.

Notable Bug Fixes

• Addressed startup performance issues.
• Fixed bugs in the debugger.
• Improved stability when working with large files.

View the original release notes for 17.0.