Open Source Microsoft Visual Studio Alternatives for Linux

Microsoft Visual Studio is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best open source Linux alternative is Eclipse. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio and many of them are open source and available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source Linux alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio are VSCodium, MonoDevelop, Apache NetBeans and Code::Blocks.

filter to find the best alternatives

Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives are mainly IDEs, but if you're looking for Code Editors or Text Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows, Linux, Open Source, Mac, Android, Android Tablet and iPad. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio.
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Alternatives list

  1. Eclipse icon
     1147 likes

    Eclipse is an extensible development platform with runtimes and application frameworks for building, deploying and managing software across the entire software lifecycle. Many people know Eclipse as a Java IDE, but it is much more than that- Eclipse actually consists of over 60...

    147 Eclipse alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
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    3
    Eclipse vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments
    maurosoft391
    Negative
    2

    hard to use and poorly designed

    Guest
    Positive
    8

    Eclipse supports multiple languages, looks good too

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -38

    One is for Java and the other is for C#

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Eclipse is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  2. VSCodium icon
     411 likes

    This repository contains a build file to generate FLOSS release binaries of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code - Open Source ("Code - OSS") project, the open source core of the proprietary Visual Studio Code.

    200 VSCodium alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Electron
    • Snapcraft
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
     
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    1
    VSCodium vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    its the same but without the useless features that cause more harm than good

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • VSCodium is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • VSCodium is Customizable, Privacy focused and LightweightMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
  3. MonoDevelop icon
     127 likes

    MonoDevelop enables developers to write desktop and web applications on Linux, Windows and Mac OS X. It also makes it easy to port .NET applications created with Visual Studio to Linux and Mac OS X maintaining a single code base for all platforms.

    29 MonoDevelop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • .NET Framework
    • Xamarin Studio
     
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    7
    MonoDevelop vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    6

    I've used MonoDevelop extensively for C# work in Linux. It can work with Visual Studio projects, and much of the shortcut key mappings match Visual Studio. Support for WinForms is available, but there is no viable GUI layout tool/functionality available. A pity that there's no XAML/WPF support under Linux....

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    8

    Has to be built from source before it'll run on Windows.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    gnusensei
    Positive
    0

    MonoDevelop's GUI designer is admirable, I've tried it and impressed immediately with how easy and straightforward it to design a window by drag and drop. Try to compare it with Netbeans', Eclipse's or CodeBlocks' GUI designer you will know what I mean.

    3 of 7 comments
    • MonoDevelop is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  4. Apache NetBeans icon
     744 likes

    A free, open-source Integrated Development Environment for software developers. You get all the tools you need to create professional desktop, enterprise, web, and mobile applications with the Java language, C/C++, and even dynamic languages such as PHP, JavaScript, Groovy, and...

    97 Apache NetBeans alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
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    5
    Apache NetBeans vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    brandomettout
    1

    Free and Open Source Software. Changing leadership from Oracle to Apache Foundation.

    Top Negative Comment
    Kris Regina
    0

    It's not for dotNET languages.

    gnusensei
    Positive
    0

    Netbeans includes built-in GUI designer with drag and drop ability to create desktop applications and they can run on Windows as well as GNU/Linux and macOS.

    3 of 5 comments
    • Apache NetBeans is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  5. Code::Blocks icon
     255 likes

    Code::Blocks is a free C++ IDE built to meet the most demanding needs of its users. It is designed to be very extensible and fully configurable.

    60 Code::Blocks alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
    |
    4
    Code::Blocks vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments
    maurosoft391
    Negative
    0

    windows forms are missing and it's poorly designed

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Code::Blocks has 0.1% of the functionality of VS. It looks ugly as well.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    gnusensei
    Positive
    0

    Faster, smaller, and able to make graphical desktop applications by adding GUI designer plugin wxSmith for C++ language and wxWidgets framework. Also, CodeBlocks is cross platform.

    3 of 4 comments
    • Code::Blocks is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  6. Qt Creator icon
     112 likes

    Qt Creator is a cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE) built for the maximum developer experience. Qt Creator runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS desktop operating systems and allows developers to create software across desktop, mobile, and embedded platforms.

    129 Qt Creator alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
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    5
    Qt Creator vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    3

    Found everything in Qt Creator for Linux that is in VS for Windows.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    It has A lot of really use full tools and you can install many extensions and even support for other programming languages then python,c++ etc

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    ichimitch
    Negative
    -5

    Does not support C# as they believe "it is not widely used enough" pfft

    3 of 5 comments
    • Qt Creator is Paid and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  7. PyCharm icon
     298 likes

    Cross-platform IDE for Python and Django with refactoring capabilities, code completion, VCS integration, deployment, issue tracking, remote debugging, and Community Edition, though lacking database support and web technologies.

    57 PyCharm alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
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    1
    PyCharm vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It supports proper Python.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • PyCharm is Freemium and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • PyCharm is Lightweight and Privacy focusedMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
  8. IntelliJ IDEA icon
     441 likes

    IntelliJ IDEA is the JetBrains IDE for pro development in Java and Kotlin. Built for your comfort, it unlocks productivity, ensures quality code, supports cutting-edge tech, and protects your privacy.

    63 IntelliJ IDEA alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
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    1
    IntelliJ IDEA vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    10

    This is only designed for Java not .net.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • IntelliJ IDEA is Freemium and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • IntelliJ IDEA is Privacy focusedMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
  9. Lazarus icon
     131 likes

    Lazarus is a cross-platform IDE for the Free Pascal compiler. It tries to offer a Delphi-like programming experience through its own 'Lazarus Component Library' and supporting many platforms like Windows, OSX, Linux, BSD, Android, iOS and more.

    32 Lazarus alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • OpenSolaris
     
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    4
    Lazarus vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    Because of license agreement, you can create unlimited codes by using Lazarus but VS has limits in license agreement

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    gnusensei
    Positive
    1

    Lazarus GUI designer is nice and easy to use. Drag and drop works without much hassles about layouting.

    Guest
    Positive
    5

    Open Source done entirely in an independent language very like TurboPascal (Delphi).

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 4 comments
    • Lazarus is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
  10. RStudio icon
     132 likes

    RStudio™ is an integrated development environment (IDE) for R. RStudio combines an intuitive user interface with powerful coding tools to help you get the most out of R.

    60 RStudio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Xfce
     
  11. KDevelop icon
     81 likes

    A cross-platform IDE for C, C++, Python, QML/JavaScript and PHP.

    51 KDevelop alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
     
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    1
    KDevelop vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Its easy to use but syntax highlighting might be weird sometimes.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • KDevelop is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • KDevelop is LightweightMicrosoft Visual Studio is not according to our users
  12. Arduino IDE icon
     78 likes

    Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.

    25 Arduino IDE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Haiku
     
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    1
    Arduino IDE vs Microsoft Visual Studio Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Arduino IDE is intended towards electronics prototyping. Whereas MSVS is for software development in general.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Arduino IDE is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Visual Studio is Free Personal and Proprietary
12 of 36 Microsoft Visual Studio alternatives