Microsoft has released Visual Studio 2022 v17.13, introducing significant improvements in AI-assisted development, debugging, productivity, and cloud integration. This update focuses on refining workflows, enhancing code management, and improving the overall developer experience.
One of the features in this release is GitHub Copilot Free, which provides 2,000 code completions and 50 chat requests per month at no cost. Copilot has also been improved with AI-powered feature search, enhanced multi-file editing, and shortcut expansions, making it easier to navigate and optimize code. These AI-powered improvements are already receiving positive feedback from developers. Hugo Augusto, an IT consultant, commented:
Adding AI directly inside VS is the biggest addition Microsoft has made in a while. I’m surprised every day at how good the suggestions are and how it understands the context of the source to provide those suggestions.
Another user shared their experience with GitHub Copilot Free, emphasizing how much it has improved their workflow:
I have been playing around with GitHub Copilot Free, and I have to say, it’s been a game-changer for my workflow. The advanced debugging features in Visual Studio 2022 v17.13 are also nice.
Alongside AI improvements, Visual Studio 2022 v17.13 introduces new productivity features. Developers can now set default file encoding, use a more accessible horizontal scrollbar, and quickly navigate recent files in Code Search. There is also an option to indent wrapped lines for better readability.
Debugging and diagnostics have also seen major enhancements. AI-generated thread summaries in Parallel Stacks simplify debugging complex applications, while the profiler now unifies async stacks for .NET profiling and introduces color-coded CPU swim lanes for easier performance analysis. IEnumerable Visualizer has been updated with syntax highlighting and Copilot-powered inline chat, making LINQ query debugging more efficient.
For Git users, this version allows developers to add comments directly on pull requests from within Visual Studio. Additionally, AI-powered commit suggestions help catch potential issues early, ensuring higher code quality before merging.
Furthermore, web and cloud developers can now integrate .NET Aspire with Azure Functions for easier serverless application development. Docker Compose introduces scaling support, offering more control over containerized environments. In addition, front-end developers can extract HTML into Razor components, improving code structure and maintainability.
Moreover, Database developers using SQL projects can now take advantage of SDK-style project support in SSDT, improving debugging and schema comparison. Visual Studio also preserves font preferences across themes, ensuring a consistent interface.
More information about the features can be found in the release notes.
