Can I Use VS Code Instead of Visual Studio for C/C++ on a Mac?

So, just a heads up, VS Code doesn't have all the features that Visual Studio offers. You can definitely write C/C++ in almost any editor, even Notepad. But, Visual Studio provides a lot of built-in tools that help beginners, which makes it easier to follow along with assignments. If you're experienced and comfortable figuring things out for yourself, you might manage just fine with VS Code. But if you're someone who relies on specific instructions, you could find it tough with a different setup.

It's totally fine to let your professor know that you’re on a Mac and can't use Visual Studio. They might suggest alternatives or may allow you to use what you can manage. If you need to quickly use a Windows machine for certain tasks, don't worry—those are pretty common to access. You can still get your work done on your Mac with the software available to you.

Unfortunately, if your class requires Visual Studio, you might need to find a way to get a Windows environment. VS Code is more of a code editor than a full IDE like Visual Studio. It's a good idea to check with your professor about using VS Code—while you can set it up to work with C/C++ through a compiler, make sure it's acceptable for your class tasks.