Summary of "Windows on Mac JUST got better for Devs! | Parallels 26 First Look"

Summary of Technological Concepts, Product Features, and Analysis

Parallels 26 Overview

The latest version of Parallels Desktop (version 26) significantly improves the developer experience on Mac, especially for those who need to run Windows and Linux alongside macOS. It reduces friction and streamlines workflows commonly used by developers.

Target Audience

Developers who ship code on Macs but require Windows and Linux environments for tasks like:

Key Features and Improvements

  1. Apple Silicon & Windows 11 Support Parallels was the first to officially support running Windows 11 VMs on Apple Silicon Macs, maintaining a lead in virtualization technology on ARM architecture.

  2. macOS 26 “Tahoe” Optimization Fully optimized for macOS 26, including UI refinements to match the macOS look and feel (menu bar, dock icons). It also adapts to tighter background process rules introduced by Apple.

  3. Coherence Mode Allows Windows applications to run seamlessly on the macOS desktop without switching full desktops, blending the two OS environments.

  4. Improved Disk Space Reporting Windows VMs can now see the real free disk space on the Mac host, preventing installation freezes or crashes due to over-commitment of disk space.

  5. VS Code Integration & Terminal Access The Parallels extension for VS Code lets users control VMs, take snapshots, and access VM terminals directly from the host OS, facilitating streamlined development workflows without switching contexts.

  6. Command Line Interface (CLI) Introduces full CLI support for VM management, including starting/stopping VMs, adjusting CPU and memory allocation, and taking snapshots. This is scriptable and automatable, ideal for CI/CD pipelines and GitHub Actions integration.

  7. Resource Allocation The Pro version allows assigning multiple CPU cores (up to 14 recommended) and large amounts of RAM (up to 112 GB out of 128 GB total) to VMs, supporting heavy workloads and multitasking with multiple VMs (Windows, Linux, macOS) running simultaneously.

  8. GPU Support & Gaming GPU resources are automatically split, with half allocated to the VM. Currently supports DirectX 11 with rumored upcoming DirectX 12 support. Gaming on Windows VMs is possible but may require tweaks; recommended to check Andrew Sai’s channel for virtualization gaming tips.

  9. Snapshots Snapshots capture VM states for safe testing and rollback, useful for testing code branches, software installs, or risky operations without affecting the main system.

  10. Cross-OS Toolchains & AI Integration The Pro version includes AI tooling integrated into VS Code extensions to bootstrap local AI workflows and manage VMs, simplifying setup for AI development.

  11. Additional Features from Recent Updates - Apple’s writing tools (Rewrite, Summarize) usable inside Windows apps - OBS virtual camera integration for Windows conferencing apps without hacks - Improved network handling including VPN and host-only networking - Better drag-and-drop and clipboard behavior between host and VMs - Preview support for running x86 VMs on Apple Silicon using Rosetta for legacy compatibility

Use Cases Highlighted

Pricing and Recommendation

Parallels is paid software but offers professional-grade features that justify the cost for developers. The Pro version is recommended for full hardware control and advanced features.

Call to Action

Users can try a free trial and use the creator’s discount code for purchase, supporting the channel.

Main Speaker/Source

The video is presented by a developer/content creator who shares personal experience with Parallels, macOS, and Windows development workflows. The speaker references other content creators like Andrew Sai for specialized topics such as gaming on virtual machines.

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Technology

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