Rethinking C++ Performance: Faster Code Navigation and GitHub Copilot Tools with Whole Codebase Indexing

This article discusses the new whole codebase indexing feature in Visual Studio Insiders 18.9, which enhances code navigation and symbol information access in large C++ projects. It highlights improvements in IntelliSense scenarios and introduces new tools for better productivity.

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In large C++ codebases, your code understanding and navigation depend on quickly determining how symbols, declarations, definitions, and references are connected across your project.

In Visual Studio Insiders 18.9, the new whole codebase indexing (WCI) enhances the existing browse database via a deeper, more comprehensive indexing approach. This preview feature allows Visual Studio to access richer symbol information more efficiently in your C++ project, with faster lookups for core IntelliSense scenarios like Find All References and semantic file colorization. It also enables new experiences like CodeLens references for C++ , a highly requested productivity feature. The same symbol index supports the find_symbol tool , which gives Copilot faster access to symbol context, providing more…

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