Microsoft is working on a native Arm64 version of Visual Studio 2022 and a miniature Arm PC. An earlier version of a native version of Visual Studio 2022 Arm will be available “in the coming weeks” and is expected to be fully shipped by the end of the year along with Arm64 .NET support.
Although Arm devices such as the Surface Pro X have been able to run Visual Studio using x64 emulation, some features have not been supported and performance has also suffered. Developers will no doubt be intrigued to learn more about Arm’s native support for Visual Studio 2022 and VS Code, and Microsoft is creating what it describes as a “native Arm toolbox”:
- Full Visual Studio 2022 and VS code
- Visual C ++
- .NET 6 and modern Java
- .NET Classic Framework
- Windows terminal
- WSL and WSA to run Linux and Android applications
Microsoft is building a native Arm toolkit. Image: Microsoft
Alongside this native push from Arm, Microsoft has once again partnered with Qualcomm to create an Arm-based development device. The Volterra project uses a Snapdragon processor and a neural processing unit (NPU) to enable developers to create native cloud AI applications.
The device itself looks like a Mac Mini computer and has a stackable design so that developers can stack multiple Project Volterra computers on their desktops or inside the server racks. Microsoft has not yet revealed the exact specifications, but Project Volterra has three USB ports on the back, along with a DisplayPort and Ethernet port. There are also two USB-C ports on the side of the device, and the device is made of recycled ocean plastic.
The Volterra project has a stackable design. Image: Microsoft
“We want you to create native cloud AI applications,” says Panos Panay, head of Windows and devices. “With native Arm64 Visual Studio, .NET support, and the Volterra Project coming to the end of the year, we’re launching new tools to help you get started on this journey.”
Microsoft partnered with Qualcomm last year at its Build Developer Conference to create an Arm-based development kit for developers to create native Arm64 applications for Windows. However, we are still waiting to see more Arm devices and applications running on Arm. Many developers rely on Arm64 emulation built into Windows to allow consumers and businesses to run their applications, and without a larger installation base of Arm devices, this is unlikely to change.
Microsoft is also further opening its Microsoft Store to Build today. The company has removed the waiting list for Win32 applications, opening the store to all application developers. We’ve seen a lot of desktop apps appear in the Microsoft Store with the release of Windows 11, and the removal of the waiting list should mean that more will appear in the coming months.
Update, May 24 at 11:50 AM ET: Updated article with more details on Microsoft’s Project Volterra device.