Samuel Axon
Microsoft has released a new version of the Visual Studio Code source code editor that runs natively on Apple Silicon Macs, such as the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini models with Apple M1 chips.
The change came in Visual Studio Code 1.54 (now 1.54.1 thanks to a bug fix update), which is available as a 64-bit universal binary, as is standard for applications with Apple Silicon support. That said, Microsoft also offers downloads for the x86-64 and Arm64 versions specifically, if desired.
There are no differences in features between the two versions, of course. And the non-Apple Silicon version worked well on M1 Macs previously via Rosetta, but Microsoft says M1 users can expect some optimizations with the new binaries:
We are happy to announce our first release of the stable Apple Silicon that builds this iteration. Mac users with M1 chips can now use the VS Code without emulation with Rosetta and will notice better performance and longer battery life when running the VS Code. We thank the community for staying with Insiders and reporting problems early in the iteration.
Other important features in Visual Studio Code 1.54 include the ability to retain terminal processes when reloading the window, performance improvements in the Windows version, product icon themes, improvements when viewing Git history schedule entries, and several accessibility improvements.
This is the latest in a slowdown in productivity and advanced user applications that have launched native versions of the Apple Silicon, such as Adobe Photoshop. But many popular applications are not yet native, including the Visual Studio Code IDE sibling, Visual Studio 2019 for Mac.
However, native support for Apple Silicon is expected to arrive in Visual Studio 2019 for Mac with .NET 6, due out in November. The first preview of .NET 6 was released last month.
Many manufacturers of creative development and production software have committed to launch versions of Apple Silicon applications, including Adobe and Unity. But others, like Autodesk, have yet to make a lot of noise about Apple Silicon support.
Apple is expected to move its entire Mac line to the new architecture by the end of 2022. Reports citing people familiar with Apple’s plans indicate that more Apple silicone-based MacBook Pros are coming this year, as well as redesigns. significant for both the iMac and the MacBook Air, which will also have Apple Silicon chips.