Side by side
Visual Studio Code vs JetBrains Rider
Visual Studio Code
53 positive (61%) · 13 mixed (15%) · 21 negative (24%)
Trust + time weighted: +39%
AI summary — not a quote
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is widely regarded as a highly optimized and versatile editor that serves as a lighter alternative to full IDEs like Visual Studio. While it remains a staple for web development and scripting, recent user sentiment is sharply divided. A significant portion of the community is frustrated by what they describe as 'AI-ification,' where recent updates prioritize LLM features and AI chatboxes over core bug fixes and traditional editor improvements.
Pros
- Highly optimized performance for an Electron-based application.
- Extremely versatile, supporting a wide range of languages from TypeScript to PowerShell.
- Lighter and less resource-intensive than full IDEs like Visual Studio.
- Seamless integration with AI tools like GitHub Copilot for developers who favor AI-assisted coding.
Cons
- Aggressive focus on AI features in recent updates, which some users view as bloat.
- Global search is frequently described as confusing or inferior to competitors like PhpStorm.
- New AI features have been known to hijack existing keyboard shortcuts and UI elements.
- Relies heavily on external plugins and SDKs for core features like debugging and syntax highlighting.
Top excerpts
Vs code, btw, runs perfectly fine on Linux
From VS Code, where every update is 90% some LLM stuff
I code on it in VS Code (Rust, Python, Java)
Grab VS Code and Python/Java (/react, whatever), then start programming the things you actually want to do.
I have to use VS Code on Linux and it's 100% not the same experience. Not saying it's terrible but I'd prefer if straight VS was compatible instead
JetBrains Rider
13 positive (87%) · 2 mixed (13%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +87%
AI summary — not a quote
JetBrains Rider is frequently cited as a high-performance alternative to Visual Studio, particularly valued for its superior IntelliSense and proactive C# feature suggestions. While it is a paid tool, users often recommend it for Unreal Engine development and cross-platform work where Visual Studio may feel laggy or unresponsive.
Pros
- IntelliSense is often perceived as faster and more responsive than Visual Studio's native implementation.
- Proactively suggests modern C# syntax and newer language features.
- Strongly recommended for Unreal Engine development.
- Functions as a reliable cross-platform IDE where other tools may fail.
Cons
- The AI assistant (Junie) can be slow, sometimes taking minutes to complete tasks.
- Newer layout changes may hide familiar UI elements by default.
- May not be the primary choice for specific Windows-centric frameworks like WPF, MAUI, or WinForms compared to Visual Studio.
Top excerpts
Depends on which framework the frontend is implemented - if I have to use WPF, MAUI or WinForms, Visual Studio is the best option (or maybe Rider, it depends).
Your IDE shouldn't really matter when learning cpp, do note that in the current landscape you'll likely use Rider for Unreal Engine.
and it works in rider, vs and vs code I think
Rider has it and even when I use their Junie AI assistant, I get a toast message because Junie takes minutes to finish sometimes.
Let me guess, Rider user