Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Visual Studio Live Share VS Refactor.io

Compare Visual Studio Live Share VS Refactor.io and see what are their differences

Visual Studio Live Share logo Visual Studio Live Share

Real-time collaborative development

Refactor.io logo Refactor.io

Share your code instantly for refactoring and code review
  • Visual Studio Live Share Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-04
Not present

Visual Studio Live Share features and specs

  • Real-Time Collaboration
    Allows multiple developers to work on the same codebase in real-time, facilitating immediate feedback and pair programming.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Supports both Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code, and can be used across different operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Shared Debugging
    Enables shared debugging sessions where both parties can inspect variables, set breakpoints, and step through code together.
  • Seamless Integration
    Integrates well with existing projects and workspaces without the need for additional configuration or setup.
  • Supports Live Share Guest Machines
    Guests can join a Live Share session without needing to clone the repository or set up a development environment identical to the host.
  • Instantaneous Sharing
    Starts sharing immediately with just a few clicks, without needing complex VPNs or file sharing setups.
  • Focused Sessions
    Allows hosts to specify read-only or read/write access, and focus participants' cursors on specific lines of code.

Possible disadvantages of Visual Studio Live Share

  • Performance Issues
    Real-time collaboration can sometimes introduce latency or performance issues, especially over slower internet connections.
  • Limited IDE Support
    Currently, it primarily supports Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code, which may limit its use for teams utilizing other IDEs.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Requires a stable internet connection, making it less reliable in low-bandwidth or unstable network conditions.
  • Security Concerns
    Sharing code and debugging sessions over the internet may pose security risks if not properly managed, especially for sensitive projects.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a learning curve to understand all the features and effectively integrate it into their workflow.
  • Privacy Issues
    In collaborative debugging or editing, inadvertent exposure of sensitive information like API keys or passwords can occur.

Refactor.io features and specs

  • Code Sharing
    Refactor.io allows users to share code snippets easily, facilitating collaborative work and peer reviews.
  • Simplified Refactoring
    The platform aims to simplify the process of code refactoring, making it easier for developers to clean up and improve their code.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Refactor.io boasts a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, even for those who are not highly experienced with code refactoring tools.
  • Cloud-Based
    Being cloud-based, Refactor.io allows users to access their work from anywhere, making remote collaboration more efficient.
  • Integrations
    The platform offers integrations with various popular development tools and services, enhancing its utility in diverse development workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Refactor.io

  • Limited Language Support
    Refactor.io supports a limited range of programming languages, which might not be sufficient for developers working with less common languages.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported occasional performance issues such as latency, which can be disruptive to the workflow.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any cloud-based service, there may be concerns about the privacy and security of the code snippets shared on the platform.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    For more experienced developers, the platform may lack some advanced features available in more comprehensive refactoring tools.
  • Dependency on Internet
    Since it is a cloud-based service, any issues with internet connectivity can hinder access to the platform and the ability to refactor code.

Analysis of Visual Studio Live Share

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Visual Studio Live Share is considered to be a good tool for collaborative development.

Why this product is good

  • Visual Studio Live Share allows developers to collaborate in real-time on the same codebase without needing to clone repositories or perform any setup. It supports instantly sharing your code, debugging sessions, and terminal with peers, which enhances productivity and fosters teamwork. Additionally, Live Share supports a range of IDEs and code editors, including Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code, making it versatile for different development environments. This functionality is particularly valuable for remote work scenarios and educational purposes.

Recommended for

  • Remote development teams looking for seamless collaboration.
  • Developers who frequently engage in pair programming.
  • Educators and students involved in programming courses.
  • Open-source project contributors who need to quickly sync ideas and code.
  • Teams using both Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code who require interoperability.

Analysis of Refactor.io

Overall verdict

  • Refactor.io is a highly regarded tool for developers looking to collaborate on code refactoring.

Why this product is good

  • Refactor.io offers a seamless platform for developers to work on improving code structure and readability without changing its functionality. It is praised for its intuitive interface, ease of use, and the ability to facilitate real-time collaboration, making it ideal for pair programming and educational purposes.

Recommended for

  • Software developers looking for real-time collaboration on code projects
  • Teams focusing on improving code quality and maintainability
  • Educational settings where pair programming and code reviews are part of the curriculum

Visual Studio Live Share videos

Collaboration made easy with Visual Studio Live Share

More videos:

  • Review - Introduction to Visual Studio Live Share

Refactor.io videos

No Refactor.io videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Visual Studio Live Share and Refactor.io)
Code Collaboration
70 70%
30% 30
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Programming Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Code Coverage
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Visual Studio Live Share seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 22 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Visual Studio Live Share mentions (22)

  • Top 5 Code Collaboration Tools for Remote Work
    Visual Studio Live Share is an extension for the popular Visual Studio Code IDE that allows developers to bring their peers into their editor. You can send an invite link to let your colleagues write, edit, and debug code as if they were in the same physical location as you. This removes the challenges of working remotely when it comes to pair programming and brainstorming together. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Me after trying to use Git with Eclipse
    Have you checked out Live Share? It's included in VS and there's an extension for VS Code. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Are there any Azure platforms/apps for collaborative coding for startups?
    Visual Studio has collaboration tools. Source: about 2 years ago
  • The Benefits of Pair Programming for Problem-Solving
    Pair programming is when two developers work together at one workstation. Not necessarily on the same computer, but they work together on the same programming task. In remote work I love to use Visual Studio Live Share โค๏ธ. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • IDE with concurrent users
    But there's also an extension that MS put out called Live Share. They have a version for both VS and VS Code. I've used the VSC one myself, to great effect. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Refactor.io mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Refactor.io yet. Tracking of Refactor.io recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Visual Studio Live Share and Refactor.io, you can also consider the following products

CodeShare.io - Realtime code sharing for developers

codebeat - Automated code review for Swift

CodeTogether - Live share IDEs and coding sessions. See changes in real time.

CodeStream - CodeStream helps development teams resolve issues faster, and improve code quality by streamlining code reviews inside your IDE

Teletype for Atom - Collaborate in real time in Atom

PullRequest.com - Code review as a service