Visual Studio vs. Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code, both developed by Microsoft, cater to different developer needs, with the former being a comprehensive Integrated Development Environment (IDE) tailored for C# and .NET development, and the latter being a versatile, open-source rich text editor suitable for cross-platform and cross-language development. Visual Studio, established in 1997, offers extensive features including robust debugging tools, Azure integration, and a project builder, making it ideal for those focused on the Microsoft ecosystem. In contrast, Visual Studio Code, released in 2015, is lightweight and highly customizable, favored for its adaptability through a rich marketplace of extensions, making it popular among developers who prefer a more modular setup for various programming languages. The choice between the two largely depends on whether a developer prioritizes an out-of-the-box IDE experience with extensive Microsoft integrations or a flexible, extensible text editor that supports broad development needs across different platforms.