What is Microsoft Dev Box?
Microsoft Dev Box is a cloud-based developer PC that developers create and manage themselves. IT teams define configurations, developers select and start their Dev Box via self-service.
Core Features
- Self-service creation of developer workstations
- Preconfigured Dev Box definitions
- Access via Windows, Mac, or web browser
- Integration with Visual Studio and Azure DevOps
- Auto-stop on inactivity
Typical Use Cases
- Unified development environments for teams
- Onboarding new developers in minutes
- Resource-intensive development (ML, gaming)
Benefits
- Developers productive from day one
- Consistent environments across all developers
- Powerful hardware without hardware procurement
- Central management and compliance
Integration with innFactory
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you with Microsoft Dev Box: definition of Dev Box images, integration with existing tools, and governance for developer teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Dev Box differ from Azure Virtual Desktop?
Dev Box is optimized for developers: preconfigured development tools, self-service creation, integration with Visual Studio. AVD is for general desktop virtualization.
Which development tools are preinstalled?
Visual Studio, VS Code, Git, Azure CLI, and SDKs. You can create your own Dev Box definitions with additional tools.
Can I bring my own hardware?
You can access Dev Boxes from any device (Windows, Mac, Web). The powerful compute runs in Azure, not on your laptop.
How does billing work?
Compute costs only when actively using, storage costs even when stopped. Auto-stop after inactivity reduces costs.
