Microsoft has released the second preview for Visual Studio 2022 version 17.1. This is the first minor version of the 2022 branch of the development environment. Among other things, it is dedicated to the integration of other Git features and brings new things to the editor. C ++ does not go away empty-handed either: Clang and LLVM receive an upgrade to version 13 and a new one Configure preset-Template should allow the configuration and creation of CMake projects on remote macOS systems with CMakePresets.json.
New git features
Preview 2 for version 17.1 introduces comparing two Git branches in Visual Studio 2022. This should be helpful, among other things, to get an overview before creating a pull request or merging or deleting a branch.
To compare a checked-out branch with another, you can use the branch picker in the status bar or the Git changes-Tool window select any local or remote branch. A right click on this shows the option Compare with current branch. Alternatively, this command can also be accessed from the branch list in the Git repository window. You can then use the ChangesNavigate the list to the desired file to be compared.
Visual Studio 2022 17.1 Preview 2 allows you to compare two Git branches.
(Image: Microsoft)
The other new Git features include checking out the top of a remote branch, managing and creating new branches on all active repositories at the same time, and splitting changes into different commits.
All the details about the new Git features in the second preview for Visual Studio 2022 17.1 can be found in a blog entry written especially for this purpose.
Further changes in Preview 2
The new editor features include the automatic saving of code documents when the application is no longer in focus – for example, if a user switches to another application in Windows. This preview function can be found under Tools Options under Environment Preview Features track down and click on the Autosave-Activate option.
In addition, color themes can now be set in the IDE so that tabs are colored according to file extension or project. Tab colors are now also individually configurable, provided that their coloring is activated: A right click on a tab then leads to the option to change the color.
Installation instructions
Version 17.1 is the first minor version of Visual Studio 2022, which was launched as version 17.0 at the end of 2021. According to Microsoft, it is not uncommon for Visual Studio users to wait for the first minor release before deciding to upgrade. The preview can be installed parallel to an existing Visual Studio version. The Visual Studio 2022 development environment appeared in November 2021 with the biggest innovation being that it is available as a 64-bit application.
All further information about Visual Studio 2022 17.1 Preview 2 can be found in the Microsoft developer blog and in the release notes.
(May)