Hey everyone! I've just started studying applied computer science, and we're diving into C/C++. My professor recommended installing Visual Studio Community 2022, but I'm on a Mac where Visual Studio isn't supported. If I go with VS Code, will I lose any important functionality compared to Visual Studio? Also, I've heard there might be differences in file formats for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Is that true? What should I do? Sorry if my English isn't perfect; I'm using a translator!
4 Answers
If you're really looking to run Visual Studio, I'd suggest putting Windows in a virtual machine. The Mac version of Visual Studio isn’t as powerful or feature-complete as the Windows version, so the best experience would come from running it on Windows directly.
They're quite different! While VS Code is great for C/C++, it'll differ from the teaching materials you're getting. As for the file format issue your professor mentioned, he might be referring to how executable files look across different OS. They are functionally similar but differ in structure, so don't stress too much about it.
I see! Does this affect the learning process?
You can definitely use VS Code to write C/C++, but there will be some differences since the instructions for Visual Studio won’t directly apply. If you have a newer Mac, you may find it easier to install additional tools and extensions in VS Code to get your setup working smoothly.
Thanks for the reply!
Visual Studio and VS Code are indeed different products. While VS Code can handle a lot, it won’t be a perfect substitute for Visual Studio, especially for specific features. If you have an older Intel Mac, running Windows in a virtual machine or using Bootcamp could be an option to access Visual Studio. You might also want to check with your professor if using CLion is acceptable for the course.
What programs can I use to create a virtual PC?