C and C++ Coding Tools | Visual Studio2023-05-02T08:33:08-07:00

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Develop C and C++ applications

Build modern C and C++ apps for Windows using tools of your choice, including MSVC, Clang, CMake, and MSBuild

Install the components you need for building C and C++ apps

  • Contains C/C++ components for desktop, mobile, Linux, and game development
  • Get a light and simplified installation
  • Add more components during installation, or
Building native Windows applications in Visual Studio 2022 video screenshot

By downloading, you agree to the licensing terms for the Visual Studio edition you select below. We also offer the ability to download software with Visual Studio. This software is licensed separately, as set out in the 3rd Party Notices or in its accompanying license. By downloading, you also agree to those licenses.

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What’s New

Building cross platform apps with C++ in Visual Studio 2022 video screenshot
Hot Reload for C++ games with Visual Studio 2022 video screenshot

Windows Development

The best way to target Windows

Design and build classic Windows desktop programs or Universal Windows apps targeting HoloLens, Surface Hub, PC, and Xbox with the Microsoft Visual C++ toolset and the Visual Studio 2022.

screenshot for Microsoft Visual C++ toolset

Support for every codebase

CMake, Clang, mingw, and more

Open a codebase from any environment and get to work right away. Use MSBuild with the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler or a 3rd party toolset like CMake with Clang or mingw to build and debug your code right in the IDE. Benefit from a first-class CMake experience.

Modern C++ Support

Build apps using C++11, C++14, and C++17

Enjoy support for C++11, C++14 and many C++17 features with market leading performance, build throughput and security. Write code using the power of generic lambda expressions, resumable functions, decltype (auto), extended constexpr and C++ attributes, fold expressions, noexcept in type system, inline variables and other modern features.

screenshot of support for C++11, C++14 and many C++17 features

Write Linux apps and debug them in real-time

Take advantage of powerful coding and debugging tools to manage code targeting Linux built with GCC, Clang, or another compiler. Debug your Linux applications as they run remotely with GDB. Whether you are building IoT apps or high-performance computing cloud services for Linux, Visual Studio will help you be productive.

Linux Development

Target Android and iOS while staying productive

Leverage the power of Visual Studio 2022 and the debugger to build high-performance Android and/or iOS apps and games in C++, share C++ libraries to target both mobile platforms and Windows, or write once and run across all mobile platforms with Xamarin and C++.

Cross Platform

Join the many AAA top game studios already using Visual Studio

Create high-performance games with DirectX to run on Windows devices, or build cross-platform games with a top game engine, such as Unity, Unreal, and Cocos. Join the many wildly-successful game studios that already use Visual Studio to boost your productivity with Visual Studio 2022 and the world-class debugger.

screenshot of debugging and diagnostics windows

Unparalleled Debugging and Diagnostics

Write the best, bug-free code

Do all the basics like setting breakpoints and stepping through your code, then get more advanced with variable visualization, performance profiling, debugging any local or remote process, and multi-threaded application debugging. Run to click, edit your live code and continue executing without having to rebuild.

Powerful Productivity Features

Browse, edit, and improve your code quickly

Visualize your code with syntax colorization, guidelines, code tooltips, Class View, or Call Hierarchy. Navigate to any code symbol by reference, definition, declaration, and more. Autocomplete your code as you type, quickly repair problems, and refactor your code to your needs. Analyze your code for common issues. Save time that could be better spent.

screenshot of productivity features

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