Visual Studio is Integrated Development Environment(IDE) developed by Microsoft to support the development of cross-platform applications across discrete environments. In an industry landscape where approximately 30% of developers prefer visual studio throughout their professional journey, knowing how to navigate through this tool becomes pivotal. Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 is the recent addition to the digital repository of visual studio versions that facilitates AI-assisted development.

In this blog, we'll help you understand the steps required to complete the download and installation setup of visual studio 2022.

In this blog...

Features supported by Visual Studio 2022

How-to-guide for download and setup of studio for AI

What's in it for Developers and Learners?

With Visual Studio(VS) 2022, developers can expect a range of services that have been included to bring automation in the product development phase. Whether you are using visual studio for the first time or have been using it since long, there's a lot to offer in this newer version. DirectDeals is a reliable source for downloading visual studio 2022, packaged with some unique features. To know more, check the features below-:

• Visual Studio IntelliCode-: The upgraded version of Visual Studio leverages AI patterns to facilitate AI-assisted code suggestions that seamlessly adapt to your coding style, enhancing productivity at scale. You'll find this version compatible with GitHub Copilot, which introduces added functionalities like code completion, chat assistance, and unit test generation.

• Azure and Machine Learning Integration-: As cloud deployments become the new normal for developing industrial scale solutions, the recent upgrade supports integration with Azure services for deployment and maintenance of Machine learning data models. In short, developers can automatically deploy CI/CD workflows to Microsoft Azure.

• Simplified Code Refactoring with Razor Editor-: With the release of visual studio 2022, developers can now use the new razor editor for performing the code fixes to the local ASP.NET core development projects. Addition of this feature was much anticipated by the industry stakeholders for the benefits it provides in optimizing product delivery time. Now, let's jump into the steps taken to perform download and setup of the visual studio tool.

1. Getting started

Pre-requisite system requirements for the installation

First-thing-first, before downloading this version, you must have a complete understanding of the minimum requirements that your system should comply with. This is also known as the pre-screening stage, where you should eliminate system inconsistencies, if any. It is then followed by identifying the advanced parameters which the recent upgraded version of visual studio demands from the end developers.

Basic System Requirements vs Specific Parameters

Operating System:

• Windows 10 (64-bit) or later
• Windows Server 2016 or later

Processor:

• 1.8 GHz or faster processor (Quad-core or better recommended)

• Memory (RAM):

• Minimum: 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended for AI development)

Hard Disk Space:

• Minimum: 10 GB of available space (more required for larger projects and datasets)

• Graphics:

• DirectX 11 compatible graphics card (for better performance with graphics-related tasks)

.NET Framework:

• .NET Framework 4.6 or later (depending on the libraries and tools you plan to use)

Specific Parameters to look for

These parameters are considered vital when considering the implementation of Machine Learning functionality on Microsoft's VS IDE. These include-:

System Architecture-: Recommended architecture to fully utilize the capabilities of AI is a 64 bit system.
Graphics specification -: Give a thought to the specifications of your GPU card if you plan to use GPU acceleration for performing deep learning tasks on your local or remote desktop.
Disk Space-: Make sure that you have ample disk space not just to accommodate Visual Studio apps, but also other libraries supporting

In this section, you'll come across the commonly used visual studio 2022 tools for AI and their installation steps.

List of Do's when using Visual Studio for AI

• Make a checklist for recommended VS tools for AI, including Visual Studio Code, Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit(CNTK), TensorFlow, PyTorch, ML.NET and Azure Machine Learning.

• Once you are ready with preparing the development environment, it's time to download the latest version of Visual Studio that integrates with the above tools and libraries.

Steps to Download and Install Supported Tools

Step 1: Installing Visual Studio

Visit the Visual Studio Website:

• Go to the Visual Studio download page.

Choose the Version:

• Choose from these editions, including Community, Professional, or Enterprise editions based on your needs. The Community edition is free.

Download the Installer:

• Click on the "Download" button for your selected edition.

Run the Installer:

• Open the downloaded installer file and select the necessary workloads:

• ASP.NET and web development
• Data storage and processing
• Machine Learning and Data Science (if available)

Click "Install" to begin the installation process.

Step 2: Install Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit for ML operations

Visit the CNTK GitHub Page:

• Visit the CNTK GitHub Releases page. to integrate this service with your VS tool.

Download the Latest Release:

• Download the appropriate binaries for your system (e.g., CNTK-Windows-x64-vX.X.zip)

• Extract the Files:

• After downloading the desired version, unzip the downloaded file to a desired location on your computer.

Set Up Environment Variables:

• Add the CNTK bin folder to your system’s PATH environment variable to use CNTK from the command line.

Step 3: Install TensorFlow

• Install Python:

• Ensure you have Python installed. You can download it from python.org.

• Open Command Prompt:

• Open a command prompt (cmd).

• Install TensorFlow:

• Run the following command

To opt for GPU support, implement this command prompt

Step 4: Install ML.NET

Install ML.NET

1. Open Visual Studio:

• Launch Visual Studio application on your console.

2. Create or Open a Project:

• Create a new project or open an existing one.

3. Manage NuGet Packages:

• Right-click on your project icon in the Solution Explorer and select "Manage NuGet Packages."

4. Search for ML.NET:

• In the NuGet Package Manager, search for Microsoft.ML and install the package.

Step 5: Set Up Azure

1. Create an Azure Account:

• Go to the Azure website and sign up for an account if you don’t have one.

2. Download Azure SDK:

• Install the Azure SDK for .NET by going to the Azure SDK for .NET page.

3. Install Azure Tools for Visual Studio:

• In Visual Studio, go to "Extensions" > "Manage Extensions."
• Search for "Azure" and install the Azure development tools.

Final Thoughts

The rollout of Visual Studio 2022 can be seen as an extension that supports the build and deployment of AI solutions for easing developers' coding experience. By implementing the recommended steps, you can simply integrate visual studio with AI-supported applications. DirectDeals is a leading Microsoft Partner that helps you choose the edition of visual studio that is ideal to your specific requirements. To know more about the product pricing, write us back at support@directdeals.com.