Rider is worth it

I would like to emphasize that this blog post is written solely based on my personal experiences and opinions. I am not in any way sponsored, endorsed, or financially incentivized by JetBrains or any of its affiliates to write this article. I have not received any gifts, payments, or other benefits from JetBrains for my views expressed here. The comparison made between JetBrains Rider and Microsoft Visual Studio is based purely on my own use and understanding of these tools.

The competition between Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) is a fierce one. The choice of an IDE can make a significant difference in productivity, code quality, and even the enjoyment of the software development process. JetBrains Rider and Microsoft Visual Studio are two major players in this arena, each boasting a multitude of powerful features. However, in this blog post, we will dive deep into the reasons that JetBrains Rider has increasingly become the go-to choice for many experienced developers, including Microsoft MVPs, over Microsoft Visual Studio.

Cross-platform functionality

A significant advantage that Rider holds over Visual Studio is its robust cross-platform compatibility. Rider is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering a consistent and high-performance experience across all these platforms. This is an important feature for teams working in diverse development environments or for developers who frequently switch between different operating systems.

Microsoft has indeed made strides towards cross-platform availability with a macOS edition of Visual Studio. However, at the time of writing this post, the macOS version has not been able to match the performance and stability of its Windows counterpart. JetBrains Rider, on the other hand, maintains consistency in terms of features, performance, and stability, regardless of the operating system you're using. This gives Rider a clear edge in the realm of cross-platform development.

Superior performance

JetBrains Rider is well-regarded for its efficient performance, particularly when compared to Visual Studio. It's lighter, faster, and demands fewer system resources. Even when dealing with complex, large-scale projects, Rider maintains its performance without causing the system to slow down, which can be a problem with Visual Studio.

Intuitive refactoring and navigation

Rider has inherited some of the best features from ReSharper and IntelliJ IDEA, which includes a powerful set of refactoring and navigation capabilities. The IDE's understanding of code is in-depth, making it capable of suggesting useful changes. These features can save developers significant amounts of time, reduce the likelihood of errors, and enhance code readability.

Robust Debugging and profiling Tools

Both Visual Studio and Rider provide strong debugging tools, but Rider has some standout features. Rider’s debugging process is more straightforward and less resource-intensive, and its inline variable view can be more convenient than Visual Studio's traditional debug windows. Rider also supports Edit & Continue for .NET Core applications, a feature not universally available in Visual Studio.

Customizability and extensibility

While both IDEs offer a range of customization options, Rider edges out with its extensibility. Drawing from the IntelliJ platform, Rider supports a vast array of plugins, including those designed for IntelliJ IDEA. This extensibility allows developers to personalize their workspace and toolset to match their unique needs and preferences, leading to a more efficient and enjoyable coding experience.

Built in decompiler

Rider has an integrated decompiler, based on JetBrains' dotPeek, which allows you to navigate to and view any .NET binary code as if it were a regular source code file. While Visual Studio also supports decompiling through third-party extensions, Rider has this feature out-of-the-box and it is woven seamlessly into code navigation and debugging.

Conclusion

While Microsoft Visual Studio remains a powerful and popular IDE, JetBrains Rider is asserting its place in the development world with its outstanding performance, cross-platform compatibility, intuitive navigation, and robust debugging tools. The choice of an IDE ultimately depends on personal preferences, project requirements, and the specific development environment. However, Rider's growing popularity among developers is a testament to its compelling features and advantages over its competitors, including Visual Studio. Give Rider a spin, and you may just find it's the perfect fit for your coding journey.