| Component | Requirement | |-----------|-------------| | | Big Sur (11.0) or newer (Monterey 12.0+ recommended) | | Processor | Intel Core i5+ or Apple M1/M2 | | RAM | 8 GB minimum (16 GB recommended) | | Storage | 5–10 GB (plus SDKs, emulators) | | Additional | Xcode 13+ (for iOS/tvOS/watchOS dev) | | Android | Java SDK, Android SDK (via Android Studio recommended) |
was a free, fully-featured integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS, designed for individual developers, open-source contributors, and small teams (up to 5 users) to build cross-platform applications. It was part of Microsoft’s Visual Studio family and offered support for C#, F#, .NET Core, ASP.NET, Xamarin (iOS, Android), and Unity game development. visual studio community mac
. Originally a rebranded version of Xamarin Studio (which itself grew out of MonoDevelop), it served as a bridge for C# and .NET developers wanting a native-feeling IDE on macOS. While it received a major overhaul in 2022 to introduce native Apple Silicon support and a refreshed UI, Microsoft ultimately decided to consolidate its efforts elsewhere. It is no longer supported with security updates or platform-specific fixes from Apple. The Current Experience (2026) For those still holding onto a legacy installation, the "Community" experience in 2026 is largely defined by what is missing: No .NET 8/9+ Support: Official support effectively peaked at .NET 7. While rudimentary debugging for .NET 8 was possible, it never received full framework investment. Security Risks: Without servicing updates, the IDE is increasingly vulnerable to new security threats. Installation: It is no longer available for standard download; only users with Visual Studio Subscriptions can access it as a legacy installation. The "New" Visual Studio for Mac: Alternatives Microsoft hasn't abandoned Mac developers; it has simply changed the tool. If you are looking for that "Community" spirit today, you have three primary paths: 11 sites Visual Studio for Mac retired August 31, 2024 - Microsoft Learn Aug 30, 2023 — | Component | Requirement | |-----------|-------------| | |