Microsoft on Wednesday officially launched Visual Studio for Mac, following a months-long “preview” period of testing.
The finished Studio release can be used to create apps for macOS, iOS, tvOS, watchOS and Android, as well as Web and cloud apps, Microsoft said. Some features include Git integration, an extension system, and multi-platform app templates.
The software’s multi-platform capabilities stem from the use of .NET Core and Xamarin, and should take full advantage of platform-specific features. It can also be used develop games based on Unity, one of the most popular commercial game platforms.
Microsoft first released a preview version of the popular development suite in November 2016. Until then, Visual Studio was strictly a Windows-only product.
Under the reign of current CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has lossened up a bit when it comes to releasing apps for other platforms. One of the first big moves under Nadella was to release a version of their Office productivity suite for the iPad back in 2014. Other moves under the CEO include Microsoft’s moves into hardware, such as their Surface lineup of computers.
The Visual Studio for Mac download is free. However, professional use of the suite could require a paid subscription. For more information, and to download the app, visit the Visual Studio for Mac website.
