--- Download Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Community Edition -
The Web Installer is a small file that downloads only the necessary components during installation. This saves bandwidth if you only need specific languages (like C# only).
Out of the box, Visual Studio 2015 Community came with "Python Tools for Visual Studio" (PTVS) and robust support for Node.js, making it a viable IDE for web developers who were not strictly tied to the Microsoft stack. --- Download Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Community Edition
Before committing to the arduous process above, consider these alternatives: The Web Installer is a small file that
| Alternative | Works for | Fails for | |-------------|-----------|-----------| | Visual Studio 2017 (v141 toolset) | Most .NET 4.5 & C++14 code | Windows Phone 8.1, Roslyn v1 analyzers | | Visual Studio 2022 with v141 toolset | Modern C++ legacy (with toolset installed) | Any UWP targeting 10240 or Windows Mobile | | JetBrains Rider 2024 | .NET Framework legacy | C++/CLI, MFC, ATL projects | | VS Code with C++ extension | Simple CMake-based C++ | Windows Forms, WPF designers | Out of the box, Visual Studio 2015 Community
Verdict: Only download VS2015 if you require Windows Mobile/Phone debugging or pre-Standard .NET analyzers.
Visual Studio 2015 is outdated and no longer supported by Microsoft (mainstream support ended in 2017, extended support ended in 2020). Using it poses security risks and compatibility issues with modern Windows versions.