Use GitHub and Windows Dev Tools on Mac with Parallels Desktop Pro

Mac has become the machine of choice for many software engineers.

Apple silicon delivers the combination developers have wanted for years: strong performance, excellent battery life, Unix-based tooling, and access to popular development environments like Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs, GitHub, and GitHub Copilot.

For day-to-day coding, macOS handles most workloads comfortably.

The complications usually appear later in the workflow.

A project needs to be tested in Windows. A customer reports a bug that only occurs in Microsoft Edge. An installer needs validation before release. A legacy .NET application requires maintenance. Someone needs access to an internal enterprise system that was built years ago and never moved beyond Windows.

Those situations are common enough that many Mac users still need regular access to Windows.

Some keep a second PC nearby. Others connect to remote machines or rely on shared testing environments. While those approaches work, they also add friction to tasks that are already time-sensitive.

Running Windows alongside macOS on the same machine offers a simpler way to handle those moments.

GitHub Development Workflows on Mac

GitHub fits naturally into the Mac development experience.

Repositories can be managed through GitHub Desktop, the command line, Visual Studio Code, JetBrains tools, or GitHub Enterprise. GitHub Copilot has also become part of many workflows, helping with boilerplate code, test generation, API exploration, and repetitive development tasks.

For many teams, source control and collaboration are already solved.

The challenge tends to come from everything surrounding the code itself. Testing, validation, support, debugging, and enterprise requirements often introduce dependencies that still live in Windows environments.

Where Windows Still Shows Up

Even teams that spend most of their time in macOS regularly encounter Windows-specific requirements.

Microsoft Visual Studio

The Windows version of Visual Studio remains an important tool across many organizations, particularly for desktop software, enterprise applications, and long-established development environments. If you're getting started, our guide explains how to install Visual Studio on a Mac using Parallels Desktop.

.NET and Legacy Applications

A significant number of internal business applications still run on .NET Framework and Windows-based infrastructure. Supporting those systems often requires direct access to Windows environments for maintenance, troubleshooting, testing, and development.

SQL Server

SQL Server remains widely used across enterprise environments for local testing, database development, troubleshooting, and application validation.

Browser Testing

Customer-reported issues don’t always appear across every platform. Being able to reproduce a problem in the Windows version of Microsoft Edge can save considerable time when investigating compatibility issues.

Installer Validation

Before software reaches production, installation packages often need to be tested under real-world Windows conditions. This can include MSI installers, upgrade workflows, deployment packages, and application updates.

Internal Enterprise Systems

Many organizations still depend on Active Directory, administrative utilities, proprietary business software, and internal tools that were designed specifically for Windows.

The Cost of Switching Between Environments

Most teams already have a way to access Windows. The friction comes from having to jump between systems whenever a task requires it.

A bug appears in a Windows environment. Testing moves to another machine. A fix gets made on the Mac. Verification happens somewhere else. Then the cycle repeats.

None of these individual steps are particularly difficult. Repeated dozens of times over the course of a week, they become disruptive. Every jump between devices, remote sessions, or shared systems creates a small break in concentration.

One of the less obvious challenges appears during support and quality assurance (QA) work. A customer issue arrives unexpectedly, and someone needs immediate access to a Windows environment to reproduce the problem.

Finding the right machine, connecting to it, and configuring the necessary tools can take longer than the investigation itself. Keeping both operating systems available on the same device removes much of that overhead.

Running Development and Testing Workflows on One Mac

Parallels Desktop Pro allows Windows and macOS to run side by side on the same machine. That makes it easier to move from development to testing without changing devices or connecting to external systems.

A typical workflow might involve writing code in VS Code, reviewing pull requests, using GitHub Copilot during development, then opening a Windows environment to test software, investigate an issue, validate an installer, or access a business application.

Everything remains within reach. The workflow becomes less about managing environments and more about completing the task at hand.

Try Parallels Desktop Pro free for 14 days and see how these workflows fit into your development process.

Building a Developer Environment on Apple Silicon

Apple silicon changed expectations around what a development machine can deliver. Current MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini, and Mac Studio systems offer enough performance for demanding development workloads while maintaining excellent efficiency and portability.

Hardware is no longer the limiting factor it once was.

The remaining challenge for many teams involves maintaining compatibility with Windows-based tools and environments that continue to play a role in software delivery.

Parallels Desktop Pro helps bridge that gap by enabling Windows to run directly on Apple silicon Macs. That means engineers can continue working in their preferred macOS environment while keeping access to Windows when projects require it.

Why Many Teams Choose Parallels Desktop Pro

Most people aren’t looking for a way to "run Windows." They are looking for a way to avoid thinking about which machine they need for a particular task.

A release needs installer testing. A customer issue requires debugging. A database needs validation. Visual Studio is required for part of the workflow. A Windows-only application needs to be opened.

Having those tools available on the same device eliminates many of the delays that come from managing separate systems. The benefit is straightforward: less time moving between environments and more time working on the problem in front of you.

Simplify Cross-Platform Development

Few teams operate entirely within a single operating system.

Projects often involve a mix of development tools, testing environments, browsers, databases, enterprise applications, and support requirements.

Maintaining access to both macOS and Windows on one machine makes those workflows easier to manage.

Parallels Desktop Pro gives teams the flexibility to develop, test, troubleshoot, and validate software without relying on additional hardware or constantly moving between systems.

Start your free trial of Parallels Desktop Pro and keep your development and testing environments together on a single Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run Visual Studio on a Mac?

Yes. Many developers run the Windows version of Visual Studio on a Mac through Parallels Desktop Pro. This allows access to Windows-specific development, debugging, testing, and enterprise application workflows while continuing to use macOS as a primary environment.

Can I run Windows development tools on Apple silicon?

Yes. Apple silicon Macs can run Windows through Parallels Desktop Pro, giving developers access to Windows applications, development environments, testing tools, and enterprise software alongside macOS.

Can I use GitHub Desktop and Windows applications on the same Mac?

Yes. Developers can use GitHub Desktop, Visual Studio Code, GitHub Copilot, and macOS development tools while also running Windows applications on the same Mac through Parallels Desktop Pro.

Can I run SQL Server on a Mac?

Developers who need SQL Server for development, testing, troubleshooting, or validation can run Windows environments through Parallels Desktop Pro and maintain access to SQL Server workflows on a Mac.

Can I test Windows applications on a Mac?

Yes. Many developers use Parallels Desktop Pro to validate software behavior, troubleshoot issues, test deployments, and perform QA workflows in Windows without requiring separate hardware.

Can I run Microsoft Edge on a Mac for Windows testing?

Yes. Developers can run Windows and Microsoft Edge through Parallels Desktop Pro to validate browser behavior, test compatibility, and reproduce customer-reported issues.

Can I develop .NET applications on a Mac?

Yes. Developers frequently use a combination of macOS tools and Windows environments to support .NET development workflows, maintain legacy applications, and test Windows-specific functionality.

Can I use GitHub Copilot and Visual Studio together on a Mac?

Yes. Developers can use GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio Code on macOS while also accessing Visual Studio and other Windows development tools through Parallels Desktop Pro.

Can I run Windows 11 on an M1, M2, M3, M4, or M5 Mac?

Yes. Parallels Desktop Pro supports Apple silicon Macs, including systems powered by M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 chips, allowing developers to run Windows alongside macOS.

Why do developers use Parallels Desktop Pro?

Developers use Parallels Desktop Pro to keep Windows and macOS available on the same machine, making it easier to manage development, testing, troubleshooting, and enterprise workflows from a single device. By running Windows and macOS together, developers can reduce context switching, streamline validation processes, and maintain access to the tools they need throughout the software development lifecycle.