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Why Download Visual Studio/VS Code from Microsoft Store?
Microsoft's Scott Hanselman announced that Visual Studio Community 2019 and Visual Studio Code are now available in the Microsoft Store on Windows 11.
The news came in an Aug. 24 tweet, wherein Hanselman said the IDE and code editor are available in the store for Windows Insiders members, who get early access to pre-release builds.
Microsoft announced a revamp of the store in June when it introduced Windows 11. The company committed to a more open store ecosystem at the time, saying: "We're enabling developers and independent software vendors (ISVs) to bring their apps regardless of whether they're built as a Win32, Progressive Web App (PWA), or Universal Windows App (UWP) or any other app framework, creating an opportunity to reach and engage with more people."
Of course, VS Code updates semi-automatically for most users who already have it and is easily available for download, as is the flagship Visual Studio IDE, bringing into question the advantages of a Microsoft Store download.
One reader indicated the Store approach might be easier, at least for the Windows IDE: "While Visual Studio Code is usually a transparent and user friendly/silent update, Visual Studio is not, have to do many Next, Next, Next clicks in Visual Studio Online Installer."
Another reader also welcomed the news: "Not gonna lie, when I was seeing up my Windows 11 machine I went to the Windows Store to download VSCode and was sad that it was missing."
Other insights came in several comments replying to a reader who asked "Is there any advantage to installing them through the Windows Store rather than normally?":
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- If there is ever a Windows 11 in S Mode (I doubt that will happen) then you'd be able to use these.
- Some IT departments would like to use MS Store only
- Microsoft store would finally prosper + if all required apps come on store it would be a security advantage.
- Microsoft can claim that Store is the most secure place to get ANY app. App makers can provide a direct link of their app to the store which is more secure than downloading a random exe on the web. If this succeeds, S Mode will finally make sense to general users
- Convenience and discovery
- Probably faster auto-updating in the background as well, right?
The S mode in Windows 10 constitutes a version of Windows 10 streamlined for security and performance, allowing only apps from the Microsoft Store, and requiring Microsoft Edge for safe browsing. Microsoft documentation says S mode is only supported on the Home edition of Windows 11.
Other readers of the tweet posed questions that weren't answered at the time of this writing:
- Will updates will be managed via store do we need Visual studio installer to update it?
- Will they come to the #MacAppStore?
- Is there any significant/sensible difference between the two installation approaches?
At the time of this writing -- one day after Hanselman's tweet -- the announcement has garnered 633 likes, 148 retweets and 21 comments.
About the Author
David Ramel is an editor and writer at Converge 360.