Simona Liao details the latest Visual Studio 2026 release, highlighting new GitHub Cloud Agent Preview and Copilot features to enhance developer workflows with cutting-edge AI capabilities.

Visual Studio 2026 Released: GitHub Cloud Agent Preview and Copilot Features

Author: Simona Liao

Visual Studio 2026 is now generally available, bringing a suite of improvements for developers focused on productivity and AI-powered enhancements. This update features:

Key Highlights

  • Performance Improvements: Faster load times and refined user experience.
  • Redesigned Interface: Updated visuals promote ease-of-use and modern workflows.
  • AI-Driven Development: Deep integration of AI features throughout the IDE.

GitHub Cloud Agent Preview

The new GitHub Cloud Agent is available as a preview within Visual Studio 2026. Developers can enable this feature via the Copilot badge dropdown under Settings & Options → Coding Agent (Preview). Once active, the Cloud Agent supports automation of repetitive coding tasks including:

  • UI cleanups
  • Refactoring
  • Documentation updates
  • Multi-file edits

The Cloud Agent works with solutions connected to GitHub repositories. You can delegate tasks directly from Visual Studio and review agent-generated pull requests without leaving the IDE. This helps you focus on core development while routine tasks are handled automatically.

Copilot Actions in Context Menu

Copilot Actions are now integrated into the Visual Studio context menu, making it easy to access AI assistance without typing. With one click, you can:

  • Generate code comments/explanations
  • Perform “Optimize Selection” (requires code selection) for suggestions on performance, maintainability, reliability, and architecture

This streamlines coding workflows and brings Copilot’s power closer to the editing experience.

Searching for files and symbols is now smarter. With Did You Mean, Copilot analyzes your search term and suggests corrections if you mistype or forget an exact file name. This ensures more accurate search results, helping developers quickly find what they need.

Watch the feature in action

Additional Notes

  • All highlighted features are exclusive to Visual Studio 2026.
  • The team is actively seeking feedback to refine these new tools.

Stay tuned for future updates and explore these latest advancements to accelerate your development workflow.

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