Running Microsoft Visual Studio on Mac: Options and Techniques

Is it possible to use Microsoft’s programs like Visual Studio in Mac OS?

With the rise of Apple Silicon and the emphasis on cross-platform development, this question is more relevant than ever. Currently, there are several ways to run Microsoft’s Visual Studio on your Mac, but the optimal method depends on your specific needs and configurations.

The Installer is x86_64, Supported via Rosetta 2

The installer for Visual Studio is x86_64, which is supported via Rosetta 2. This means that existing Intel-based Macs can run the installer without issues. However, if you have an Apple Silicon Mac, the compatibility is less straightforward. As of now, there isn’t an official Apple Silicon port, and it is uncertain when this might be developed. For now, you may need to rely on Rosetta 2, but its long-term viability is uncertain.

Visual Studio for Mac: An Alternative for Cross-Platform Development

Visual Studio for Mac is available, though it is rebranded from Xamarin Studio. It allows you to develop .NET Core, Mac, Android, and iOS applications. However, it is worth noting that Visual Studio for Mac does not look or function exactly like its Windows counterpart. It might be more suitable for .NET developers, but the user experience differs significantly.

Other IDEs for Cross-Platform Development

Xojo is another option worth considering. It can create Mac, Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi, web, and iOS applications. This provides a powerful environment for those looking to develop cross-platform applications without the need for Windows.

For web and cloud application development, you might also want to look at Visual Studio Code. This is a lightweight but powerful source-code editor which runs on your desktop and is supported on Mac OS. It is highly extensible and has a variety of extensions to support different development tasks.

Another solution involves using the Mono Project with MonoDevelop IDE. MonoDevelop is a full-featured integrated development environment for .NET on Mac OS, Linux, and Windows. It supports C# and other .NET-based languages, offering a robust environment for .NET developers.

Virtual Machines as a Fall-Back Solution

If there is no suitable cross-platform option for your application, virtual machines can be a viable alternative. For example, Oracle VirtualBox allows you to run Windows applications natively, which is less suboptimal than using Rosetta 2 but still not as performant as running natively on a Windows PC.

Using VMs for Better Performance

Chris7431 demonstrated how to run Visual Studio on a Mac by using a virtual machine. In his setup, he uses VMWare Fusion to run a virtual machine with Windows Server 2012. This virtual machine shares a folder with his Mac, allowing seamless access to the project files from both operating systems. While this method is not as native as running Visual Studio natively on a Windows PC, it provides a fast and efficient way to develop on a Mac.

In terms of performance, Chris7431’s setup is quite robust. Parallel Desktop 11 for Mac, which is what he uses, allows up to 64GB of RAM and 16 vCPUs for compiling tasks, making it a strong choice for developers with high-performance needs.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, while running Microsoft’s Visual Studio on Mac OS is not straightforward, there are several strategies and tools that can help. Whether you opt for using a cross-platform IDE, a virtual machine, or a full Windows virtual environment, the solution depends on your specific development needs and the level of performance you require.

For developers looking for efficient, cross-platform solutions, options like Xojo or Visual Studio for Mac might be the best fit. For more traditional .NET development, the Mono Project with MonoDevelop could be the way to go. In any case, virtual machines provide a flexible and powerful alternative, especially when combined with powerful tools like Parallel Desktop 11 for Mac.

Key Takeaways:

Use Rosetta 2 for Intel-based Macs. Visual Studio for Mac is a viable cross-platform solution. Virtual machines like VirtualBox or VMWare Fusion can provide a powerful alternative.