Microsoft is retiring Visual Studio for Mac by August 31, 2024, as per Modern Lifecycle Policy. While this news might come as a surprise to some, it presents a new opportunity to explore alternatives, particularly Visual Studio Code (VSCode), and discover why it’s the future of Unity development on macOS.
Transition timeline
Microsoft’s decision to retire Visual Studio for Mac comes with a clear timeline and reasoning:
- Visual Studio for Mac 17.6 Support: Visual Studio for Mac 17.6 will continue to receive support until August 31, 2024. During this period, it will receive updates addressing security issues and ensuring compatibility with Apple’s evolving platforms.
- Support for Mono, .NET 6, and .NET 7: Until August 31, 2024, you can still create and maintain Mono, .NET 6, and .NET 7 applications using Visual Studio for Mac. You can also continue to develop, maintain, and publish your apps to app stores.
- No .NET 8 or C# 12 Support: After August 31, 2024, Microsoft won’t provide support for .NET 8 or C# 12 in Visual Studio for Mac.
The Alternative: Visual Studio Code for Unity on Mac
Microsoft has identifies Visual Studio Code (VSCode) as a powerful and versatile alternative for Unity development on macOS. Here’s why you should consider making the switch:
1. Active Development and Community Support
VSCode boasts a vibrant community of developers and contributors who actively enhance the platform. This means you’ll have access to the latest features, bug fixes, and improvements to keep your development workflow smooth and efficient.
2. Seamless Unity Integration
VSCode offers excellent integration with Unity, thanks to the new “Unity” extension by microsoft. This extension streamlines debugging in Unity projects, providing an intuitive interface for monitoring variables and breakpoints, making your Unity development more efficient. Here is how to integrate VSCode with Unity.
3. Cross-Platform Compatibility
One of the significant advantages of VSCode is its cross-platform and language independent. You can use VSCode not only on macOS but also on Windows and Linux. This flexibility is invaluable, especially if you collaborate with developers using different operating systems.
4. Extensive Extension Ecosystem
VSCode’s strength lies in its vast library of extensions. You can tailor your development environment to suit your specific needs by installing extensions for Unity, C# development, code formatting, version control, and more.
5. Lightweight and Fast
VSCode is renowned for its speed and responsiveness. It’s a lightweight code editor that won’t strain your system’s resources, ensuring a smooth and efficient development experience.
6. Community-Driven Learning
With a thriving community of VSCode users, you’ll find a wealth of tutorials, tips, and tricks to maximize your productivity and improve your coding skills. The community actively shares knowledge and provides valuable resources for developers.
The retirement of Visual Studio for Mac maybe difficult for some, but it is a decision we have to adapt to. It’s time to switch to VSCode for Unity game development.
You can read more about it on Microsoft website.
