What's new in Visual Studio docs

Welcome to what's new in Visual Studio docs. The following sections provide details on the previous three months of new and updated content.

March 2025

Azure

Updated articles

• Add Azure Cosmos DB to your app by using Visual Studio Connected Services - Update Azure Cosmos DB for managed identity

Containers

New articles

• Configure HTTPS when deploying containerized applications to Azure

Cross platform

Updated articles

• Cross-platform app development in Visual Studio - Remove/replace some Xamarin references

Data tools

Updated articles

• Create a basic data application by using ADO.NET - Review and update
• Create and configure datasets in the .NET Framework using Visual Studio - Review and update
• Save and edit database connection strings for .NET Framework applications - Review and update
• Create a simple data application with WPF and Entity Framework 6 - Review and update
• Walkthrough: Create a simple WCF service in .NET Framework Windows Forms - Review and update
• Connect to an Access database in .NET Framework applications - Add Visual Basic "Compile" tab
• Fill datasets by using TableAdapters in .NET Framework applications - Review and update

Debugger

New articles

• C++ Dynamic Debugging (Preview)

Updated articles

• Quickstart: Debug with C++ using the Visual Studio debugger - C++ debugging quickstart, potentially confusing section about creating a new project
• Supported code changes (C# and Visual Basic) - Clarify list of unsupported Hot Reload edits
• Write and debug running code with Hot Reload in Visual Studio (C#, Visual Basic, C++) - Add zone pivots to article on Hot Reload
• Debug in mixed mode (C#, C++, Visual Basic) - Clarify mixed mode debugging settings for .NET and .NET Framework
• Debug your app with GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio - Add information on support for data tips in LINQ expressions
• View and change variable values with data tips in the code editor - Add information on support for data tips in LINQ expressions
• Inspect variables in the Visual Studio debugger - Refactor article on Autos and Locals window, add general information on variable inspection
• First look at the Visual Studio Debugger - Refactor article on Autos and Locals window, add general information on variable inspection
• View strings in a string visualizer in Visual Studio - Refactor article on Autos and Locals window, add general information on variable inspection
• How to use Messages view - Archive reference articles for Spy++
• How to use Windows view - Archive reference articles for Spy++
• Introducing Spy++ - Archive reference articles for Spy++
• Spy++ reference overview - Archive reference articles for Spy++
• Spy++ Toolbar - Archive reference articles for Spy++
• Using Spy++ - Archive reference articles for Spy++

Extensibility

New articles

• Dependency injection in VisualStudio.Extensibility extensions

Updated articles

• .NET Compatibility for VisualStudio.Extensibility Extensions - Mention multiple GitHub accounts and add link
• Diagnose UI delays caused by extensions - Broken links fixing - maiak
• Contributions and Configurations - Add documentation on dependency injection
• Components of a VisualStudio.Extensibility extension
  • Add documentation on dependency injection
• Update a Visual Studio extension for Visual Studio 2022 - Remove/replace some Xamarin references

IDE

Updated articles

• Configure a C++ project for IntelliSense - Review and update
• What is GitHub Copilot Completions for Visual Studio?
  • Add new completions model
  • Add keyboard shortcuts to the completions documentation
• Install GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio
  • Add multi account info
  • Removing old content from Copilot instructions
• Find in Files Command - improve find in files command documentation
• Replace In Files Command - improve find in files command documentation
• Create and remove project dependencies
  • Clarify build dependencies
  • Recommend using project references instead of project dependencies
• Specify build events (C#) - Correct note about relative paths
• About Dotfuscator Community & Visual Studio
  • Remove circular links
  • Remove/replace some Xamarin references
• Build Events Page, Project Designer (C#) - Add note to older page and provide link for VS 2022 users
• Use Visual Studio search - Update for Visual Studio 17.13
• Productivity guide for Visual Studio - Add zone pivots to productivity guide
• Features of Visual Studio - Remove/replace some Xamarin references
• Developer Community data privacy - Remove/replace some Xamarin references
• Add or remove references by using the Reference Manager - Remove/replace some Xamarin references
• Manage references in a project - Remove/replace some Xamarin references

Install

New articles

• Configure feedback Group Policies

Updated articles

• Administrative Templates (ADMX) - Adding admin opt-out docs
• Install and use Visual Studio and Azure Services behind a firewall or proxy server
  • Remove/replace some Xamarin references
  • Updating Remote Settings and Telemetry endpoints

MSBuild

New articles

• MSBuild MSB8088 diagnostic code
• Secure MSBuild usage best practices

Updated articles

• Customize the build by folder
  • Confirm merge from repo_sync_working_branch to main to sync with https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/visualstudio-docs (branch main)
  • Change inline code to code block for better copy friendliness
• Add docs for four MSBuild error messages:
  • MSB1008 diagnostic code
  • MSB1009 diagnostic code
  • MSB4036 diagnostic code
  • MSB4063 diagnostic code
  • MSB4126 diagnostic code
• MSBuild MSB8088 diagnostic code - Fix MSB8088 message in blockquotes
• Customize the solution build
  • Modify note to mention dotnet build behavior
  • MSBuild support for slnx builds
• MSBuild task - MSBuild support for slnx builds
• Solution filters in MSBuild - MSBuild support for slnx builds
• MSB4099 diagnostic code - Add explanatory text for error condition and link to more information
• Create a project file from scratch - Review and update
• Specify which MSBuild target to build first - Review and update
• Incremental builds - Review and update
• WriteCodeFragment task - Add example that handles incremental build
• MSB3482 - Add information about signtool.exe

Profiling

New articles

• Zero-length array allocations

Updated articles

• Measure performance in Visual Studio - Update Profiling landing page, metadata updates

Test

Updated articles

• Create a data-driven unit test - Clarify .NET support for data source driven unit test
• Live Unit Testing frequently asked questions - Add additional build issues to LUT FAQ

VSTO

Updated articles

• Walkthrough: Bind data to controls on a Word actions pane - Update
• Actions pane overview - Update
• Visual Studio Tools for Office Runtime - Update

XAML tools

Updated articles

• XAML code editor - Remove/replace some Xamarin references
• Use design-time sample data with the XAML Designer in Visual Studio - Remove/replace some Xamarin references
• Overview of XAML - Remove/replace some Xamarin references

Version control

Updated articles

• Create a pull request in Visual Studio - Mention multiple GitHub accounts and add link
• Create a GitHub account to use with Visual Studio - Update for multiple accounts in "Create GitHub account"
• Create a Git repository from Visual Studio - Mention the option to switch GitHub account in "Create repository"
• About Git in Visual Studio - Mention multiple GitHub accounts in main overview
• Work with multiple repos - Update "Working with multiple repos" for multiple GitHub accounts
• Clone a Git repository in Visual Studio - Update "Clone a repo" for multiple GitHub accounts

Community contributors

The following people contributed to the Visual Studio docs during this period. Thank you! Learn how to contribute by following the links under "Get involved" in the what's new landing page.

• changeworld - Takashi Takebayashi
• myd7349 -
• nevemlaci - Lipódi László
• PhilKang0704 - Phil
• Rageking8 -
• yifeiyin - Yifei Yin

February 2025

Azure

Updated articles

• Azure development with Visual Studio - Add .NET Aspire section

Code quality

Updated articles

• Suppress code analysis violations - Remove information on configuring code quality rule severity from Error List
• Customize Roslyn analyzer rules - Remove information on configuring code quality rule severity from Error List

Containers

New articles

• Add support for Docker containers

Updated articles

• Tutorial: Create a multi-container app with Docker Compose - Fix issues with Docker Compose tutorial
• Visual Studio Container Tools for Docker - Separate overview from procedures for adding Docker support

Data tools

Updated articles

• Save and edit database connection strings for .NET Framework applications - Review and update
• Create a basic data application by using ADO.NET - Review and update

Debugger

Updated articles

• Edit and Continue (Visual Basic) - Update Hot Reload article
• Edit and Continue (C++) - Update Hot Reload article
• Edit and Continue (Visual C#) - Update Hot Reload article
• Write and debug running code with Hot Reload in Visual Studio (C#, Visual Basic, C++)
  • Update Hot Reload article
  • Refactor and remove some debugger articles
• Supported Code Changes (C++) - Update Hot Reload article
• Display WPF trace information for data binding
  • Add logging example to VSTest.Console.exe article
  • Update article on displaying WPF trace information
• View threads and tasks in the Parallel Stacks window (C#, Visual Basic, C++) - Updated status related content and icons for Tasks window
• Using the Tasks Window (C#, Visual Basic, C++) - Updated status related content and icons for Tasks window
• Remote Debugging a C++ Project in Visual Studio - Add context for running the remote debugger.
• Remote Debugging a C# or Visual Basic project in Visual Studio - Add context for running the remote debugger.
• Watch variables with Watch windows and QuickWatch - Add Copilot information to article on watching variables
• Tabular visualizers in Visual Studio - Add info for inline Copilot Chat for IEnumerable visualizer

Deployment

Updated articles

• Application deployment prerequisites (Windows desktop) - Clarify bootstrapper deployment scenarios and improve introduction
• Deployment documentation - Clarify bootstrapper deployment scenarios and improve introduction

Extensibility

New articles

• Extending Visual Studio editor with a new tagger
• .NET Companatibilty for VisualStudio.Extensibility Extensions

Updated articles

• Using VisualStudio.Extensibility SDK and VSSDK together - Mark VisualStudio.Extensibility package reference as private assets
• Inside Visual Studio Extensibility SDK - Mark VisualStudio.Extensibility package reference as private assets
• Query the project API (Visual Studio SDK) - Add Solution Open/Close Events to SDK docs
• Project query API concepts - Add queryable space event documentation
• Query the project API (VisualStudio.Extensibility) - Add queryable space event documentation
• Extending the Visual Studio editor - Update for 17.13
• Extending Visual Studio editor with a new CodeLens - Update for 17.13
• VisualStudio.Extensibility settings - Update for 17.13

Get started

Updated articles

• C# development with Visual Studio - Add link for MAUI mobile app
• Tutorial: Add a timer to a math quiz WinForms app - Review and update

IDE

Updated articles

• Troubleshoot GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio
  • Add report a problem section
  • Review and update
• Options, Text Editor, C/C++, Formatting - Updated the C/C++ formatting page to reflect changes in Visual Studio 2022
• Tutorial: Create a Windows Forms app in Visual Studio with C# - Add dock and anchor control link
• Change fonts, colors, and themes in Visual Studio - Add info on themes
• Manage project and solution properties - Fix customer-reported issue
• Deploy GitHub Copilot to existing Visual Studio instances - Review and update (freshness pass)
• Admin controls for GitHub Copilot - Review and update
• Get better answers by setting the context for GitHub Copilot Chat in Visual Studio
  • Add Copilot vision
  • Copilot updates
• What is the GitHub Copilot Chat experience for Visual Studio?
  • Add Copilot vision
  • List Copilot features for git commit and review to doc
• Specify build events (Visual Basic) - Add information about macros, properties
• What's new in Visual Studio 2022 - Update What's New for release Visual Studio 17.13
• What is GitHub Copilot Edits? - Remove preview monikers for Copilot Edits GA
• AI-assisted development in Visual Studio - Copilot updates
• Error List window - Add section for how to disable the window
• Specify build events (C#) - Review and update
• What is Class Designer? - Review and update
• Sign in or switch Visual Studio user accounts - Updates for git onboarding changes coming for sign in in 17.13
• What is GitHub Copilot Completions for Visual Studio? - Add code referencing for completions
• Accessibility tips and tricks for Visual Studio - Review and update
• Identify and customize keyboard shortcuts in Visual Studio - Review and update
• Features of the code editor - Review and update
• Add your GitHub accounts to your Visual Studio keychain - Update for multiple GitHub accounts
• Change the build output directory - Update for Visual Basic using the new project designer for .NET Core
• Configuring warnings in Visual Basic - Review and update
• Suppress compiler warnings - Visual Basic warnings articles - Review and update
• Compile Page, Project Designer (Visual Basic) - Visual Basic warnings articles - review and update

Install

Updated articles

• Command-line parameter examples for Visual Studio installation - Address user feedback
• Visual Studio workload and component IDs - Update workload and component docs for 17.13
• Install Build Tools into a container - Review and update
• Visual Studio administrator guide - Review and update
• Import or export installation configurations - Review and update

JavaScript

Updated articles

• Manage npm packages in Visual Studio - Add npm support info for MAUI Blazor projects
• Learn to use the code editor for JavaScript - Add content to configure inlay hints for JavaScript and TypeScript

MSBuild

New articles

• Run a target exactly once
• Targeting multiple .NET versions in a build

Updated articles

• Clean a build with MSBuild - Review and update
• Build multiple projects in parallel with MSBuild - Review and update
• Run a target exactly once - Apply improved logic for certain scenarios
• Targeting multiple .NET versions in a build
  • Add RuntimeIdentifier (RID) section
  • Add .NET SDK multitargeting article
• MSBuild error MSB8020 - New guidance for MSBuild error MSB8020
• MSB3283 diagnostic code - Add details for MSB3283
• Work with item functions - Add example for filtering a list
• MSB3106 diagnostic code - Add details for MSBuild errors
• MSB3246 diagnostic code - Add details for MSBuild errors
• MSB3247 diagnostic code - Add details for MSBuild errors
• MSB4036 diagnostic code - Add details for MSBuild errors
• MSB4041 diagnostic code - Add details for MSBuild errors
• MSB4216 diagnostic code - Add details for MSBuild errors
• MSB4278 diagnostic code - Add details for MSBuild errors
• MSB3971 diagnostic code - Add .NET download link
• Customize the build by folder - Review and update

Profiling

New articles

• Understanding the call tree

Updated articles

• Which performance tool should I use? (C#, Visual Basic, C++, F#) - Add detailed information for CMake project support and updated startup instructions
• Analyze performance by using CPU profiling in the Performance Profiler (C#, Visual Basic, C++, F#)
  • Add detailed information for CMake project support and updated startup instructions
  • Add conceptual information for the profiler call tree views
  • Add content for multi-process analysis for CPU Usage
  • Add more info to open detailed views of the profiling report
  • Add additional information about the different views for CPU Usage …
• Analyze memory usage by using the .NET Object Allocation tool - Add detailed information for CMake project support and updated startup instructions
• Visualize dotnet counters from the Visual Studio profiler - Add detailed information for CMake project support and updated startup instructions
• Instrument your .NET application in Visual Studio (C#, C++, Visual Basic, F#)
  • Add detailed information for CMake project support and updated startup instructions
  • Add conceptual information for the profiler call tree views
  • Add more info to open detailed views of the profiling report
  • Add additional information about the different views for CPU Usage …
  • Add information about instrumenting specific classes and functions for C++
  • Add content for async call stacks for the profiler's Instrumentation tool
• Analyze memory usage in release builds (C#, Visual Basic, C++, F#) - Add detailed information for CMake project support and updated startup instructions
• Measure application performance from the command line - Add support information related to command-line profiling
• Measure application performance by analyzing CPU utilization (C#, Visual Basic, C++, F#) - Add additional information about the different views for CPU Usage …

Test

Updated articles

• Unit test basics - Metadata updates for test, profiling, debugging
• VSTest.Console.exe command-line options - Add logging example to VSTest.Console.exe article
• Customize code coverage analysis
  • Add VS requirements for Code Coverage analysis
  • Adding docs for IncludeTestAssembly for code coverage runsettings
• Create a data-driven unit test - Update DynamicData documentation around DynamicDataSourceType

Version control

Updated articles

• Make a Git commit in Visual Studio - List copilot features for git commit and review to doc

Community contributors

The following people contributed to the Visual Studio docs during this period. Thank you! Learn how to contribute by following the links under "Get involved" in the what's new landing page.

• changeworld - Takashi Takebayashi
• HW12Dev -
• PhilKang0704 - Phil
• Rageking8 -
• Youssef1313 - Youssef Victor

January 2025

Code quality

Updated articles

• Code metrics - Maintainability index range and meaning - Add descriptions for color coding related to code quality maintainability index

Debugger

New articles

• Implement NatVis custom intrinsic function for C++
• IDiaDataSourceEx2::findNamedStreams
• IDiaDataSourceEx2
• IDiaEnumNamedStreams::Clone
• IDiaEnumNamedStreams::get_Count
• IDiaEnumNamedStreams::get__NewEnum
• IDiaEnumNamedStreams::Next
• IDiaEnumNamedStreams::Reset
• IDiaEnumNamedStreams::Skip
• IDiaEnumNamedStreams

Updated articles

• Debug your app with GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio
  • Updates to debugging with Copilot
  • Add more details for Copilot debugging features, list of features, and some refactoring
• Attach to running processes with the Visual Studio debugger - Add language configuration for Attach to Process article using zone pivots
• Debug using the Just-In-Time Debugger in Visual Studio - Clarify instructions for disabling JIT debugger
• Adapt to removal of Windows Arm32 .NET debugging - Update Arm32 debugger documentation with UWP deployment steps
• First look at the Visual Studio Debugger - Add more details for Copilot debugging features, list of features, and some refactoring
• Configure Edit and Continue (C#, VB, C++) - Update Hot Reload settings
• Debug ASP.NET or ASP.NET Core apps in Visual Studio
  • Add instructions and links to clarify remote debugging scenarios for C# and C++
  • Update for Copilot multi-threaded debugging and updates related to ASP.NET Core launch profile default settings
• Remote Debugging
  • Add instructions and links to clarify remote debugging scenarios for C# and C++
  • Update for Copilot multi-threaded debugging and updates related to ASP.NET Core launch profile default settings
• View threads and tasks in the Parallel Stacks window (C#, Visual Basic, C++) - Update for Copilot multi-threaded debugging and updates related to ASP.NET Core launch profile default settings
• Use the right type of breakpoint - Add language and runtime pivots to profiling articles
• Create custom views of C++ objects in the debugger using the Natvis framework - Add article documenting guidelines for using NatVis Intrinsic expansion
• IDiaDataSource - Document IDiaEnumNamedStreams and related interfaces and APIs
• IDiaDataSourceEx - Document IDiaEnumNamedStreams and related interfaces and APIs
• Interfaces (Debug Interface Access SDK) - Document IDiaEnumNamedStreams and related interfaces and APIs

Designers

Updated articles

• Model editor - Add note about support changes to MeshContentTask for 3D graphics
• Use 3D assets in your game or app - Add note about support changes to MeshContentTask for 3D graphics

Extensibility

New articles

• Extending Visual Studio editor with a new CodeLens
• Changing text in the editor
• Extending Visual Studio editor with a new margin
• Working with text in the editor

Updated articles

• Editor extensibility concepts - Initial refactor of editor documentation.
• Extending the Visual Studio editor - Initial refactor of editor documentation.

Get started

Updated articles

• Learn to use the code editor - Review and update
• Tutorial: Create a simple C# console app in Visual Studio (part 1 of 2) - Review and update

IDE

New articles

• What is GitHub Copilot Edits (Preview)?

Updated articles

• What is the GitHub Copilot Chat experience for Visual Studio? - Add more details for Copilot debugging features, list of features, and some refactoring
• Find and replace text in Visual Studio
  • Explain more about Replace in Files options
  • Review and update
• Compare files in Visual Studio - Add text to explain that you can edit the target file in the usual ways
• Tour the Visual Studio IDE - Freshness update
• Use GitHub Copilot for free in Visual Studio
  • Add keyboard shortcut for chat
  • Copilot free update
• Tutorial: Create a WinForms app with Visual Basic - Review and update
• IntelliSense in Visual Studio - Review and update
• Tutorial: Create a Windows Forms app in Visual Studio with C# - Review and update
• Save and open files with encoding - Add content for changing the default file encoding
• Change fonts, colors, and themes in Visual Studio - Add info on fonts for UI elements in apps
• Compile and build in Visual Studio - Review and update
• Find in Files Command - Update Find/Replace in Files options for Visual Studio` 2022
• Replace In Files Command - Update Find/Replace in Files options for Visual Studio 2022

Install

Updated articles

• Command-line parameter examples for Visual Studio installation - Add information for UUF verbatim on non-interactive install

JavaScript

Updated articles

• Tutorial: Create an ASP.NET Core app with Angular in Visual Studio
  • Add content showing final app state for JSTS templates
• Tutorial: Create an ASP.NET Core app with React in Visual Studio - Add content showing final app state for JSTS templates
• Tutorial: Create an ASP.NET Core app with Vue in Visual Studio - Add content showing final app state for JSTS templates

Modeling

Updated articles

• Analyze and model your architecture - Update analyze-and-model-your-architecture.md

MSBuild

Updated articles

• XmlPoke task - Mention what to do if there's no prefix
• Add details for MSBuild error messages:
  • MSB3103: Invalid Resx file
  • MSB3202
  • MSB3245
  • MSB3248 diagnostic code
  • MSB3249 diagnostic code
  • MSB4066 diagnostic code
  • MSB4186 diagnostic code
  • MSB4211 diagnostic code
  • MSB4248 diagnostic code
• Common MSBuild project items - Document MSBuild support for 'IfDifferent' for 'CopyToOutputDirectory'

Profiling

Updated articles

• Diagnose high latency with CPU Insights - Add more details for Copilot debugging features, list of features, and some refactoring
• Analyze memory usage in release builds (C#, Visual Basic, C++, F#)
  • Add language and runtime pivots to profiling articles
  • Update and clarify Hot paths to root profiling article, SEO edits
  • Clarify scenarios for running profiling tools in debug or release builds
• First look at profiling tools (C#, Visual Basic, C++, F#)
  • Add language and runtime pivots to profiling articles
  • Clarify scenarios for running profiling tools in debug or release builds
• Analyze hot path to root in the Memory Usage tool - Update and clarify Hot paths to root profiling article, SEO edits
• Measure memory usage in Visual Studio (C#, Visual Basic, C++, F#)
  • Update and clarify Hot paths to root profiling article, SEO edits
  • Clarify scenarios for running profiling tools in debug or release builds
• Choose a memory analysis tool in Visual Studio (C#, Visual Basic, C++, F#) - Clarify scenarios for running profiling tools in debug or release builds
• Analyze resource consumption and UI thread activity (XAML) - Clarify scenarios for running profiling tools in debug or release builds
• Run profiling tools on release or debug builds (C#, Visual Basic, C++, F#) - Clarify scenarios for running profiling tools in debug or release builds

Test

Updated articles

• Microsoft.CodeCoverage.Console tool - Clarify instructions and scenarios for Microsoft.CodeCoverage.Console

Version control

Updated articles

• Make a Git commit in Visual Studio
  • Add new feature: Custom commit message format
  • New feature: Git code review
• Create a pull request in Visual Studio
  • Add PR comment feature
  • Review and update
• Manage Git repositories in Visual Studio - Add info about when Revert might be disabled

Community contributors

The following people contributed to the Visual Studio docs during this period. Thank you! Learn how to contribute by following the links under "Get involved" in the what's new landing page.

• changeworld - Takashi Takebayashi
• Rageking8 -
• PhilKang0704 - Phil
• stevenwdv -