Erika Sweet details how Visual Studio 2026 brings new GitHub Copilot capabilities to C++ developers, supporting code refactoring, build performance improvements, and MSVC Build Tools upgrades.

Enhancing C++ Development in Visual Studio 2026 with GitHub Copilot

Author: Erika Sweet

Visual Studio 2026 brings several new GitHub Copilot features specifically designed for C++ developers. These enhancements cover three main areas:

1. Large-Scale C++ Refactoring

Advanced C++ code editing tools with Copilot integration
Supports wide-sweeping refactors across large codebases
Utilizes C++ IntelliSense in Visual Studio agent mode for:
- Viewing all code references
- Inspecting metadata (type, declaration, scope)
- Visualizing class inheritance and function call chains
More details: Perform wide-sweeping refactors using C++ code editing tools for GitHub Copilot

2. Improved C++ Build Performance

GitHub Copilot leverages Build Insights to analyze C++ builds
Provides tailored suggestions to improve build times on Windows
Optimizes both old and modern codebases
Learn more: Optimize Your C++ Build Times with GitHub Copilot

3. Upgrading MSVC Build Tools

Copilot assists with migrating projects to the latest Microsoft C++ (MSVC) Build Tools version
Helps identify and resolve build warnings and errors during toolchain upgrades
Facilitates the modernization of legacy C++ applications
Further reading: Fix build issues using GitHub Copilot after upgrading MSVC Build Tools

Getting Started

New Copilot C++ experiences are available as a Private Preview in Visual Studio 2026.
Install Visual Studio 2026 and join the Private Preview waitlist to try these features.

Feedback and Next Steps

The Visual Studio team encourages C++ developers to explore these Copilot capabilities and provide feedback.
Issues and suggestions about Visual Studio 2026 can be submitted through the Developer Community.

These enhancements are intended to make C++ development more efficient by harnessing AI-assisted tooling directly in Microsoft’s flagship IDE.

This post appeared first on “Microsoft VisualStudio Blog”. Read the entire article here