Rider 2026.2 Early Access Unleashes Blazing-Fast Branch Switching: Up to 100x Faster

Breaking: JetBrains Releases First Preview of Rider 2026.2 with Record Performance Gains

Rider 2026.2 Early Access Program (EAP) is now live, and the first preview build delivers staggering performance improvements in branch switching—a critical workflow for teams managing large codebases. In tests, the update slashed branch switching times from 8 minutes to just 5 seconds in one scenario, marking a near-100x speedup.

“We’ve focused on the pain point that developers feel most: the lag when switching branches in large solutions,” said a JetBrains spokesperson. “These improvements make the process feel nearly instantaneous.” The EAP build is available today via the official website, the Toolbox App, or as a Snap package for Linux users.

How the Performance Leap Works

The key to the speedup lies in how Rider now communicates project model changes to the Roslyn compiler. The team reduced the number of requests, added batching, slashed data transfer volume, and fixed a hang caused by passing non-existent files. “In typical large-project scenarios, branch switching is now 2–3x faster,” the spokesperson noted.

For extremely complex solutions—like the BenchmarkDotNet scenario with ~25 projects—the improvement was dramatic: from 8 minutes to 5 seconds. The update also resolves multiple Roslyn-related issues around project references, .editorconfig handling, available analyzers, and target framework changes.

Game Development Upgrades

Unity developers will benefit from a reworked handling of asmdef references, improving how Rider understands assembly definition files and making project model updates more reliable. Godot developers get fixes and quality improvements for GDScript support, addressing several long-standing issues.

Background: What Is the Rider Early Access Program?

The Rider Early Access Program is a long-standing tradition that gives users early access to upcoming features. Participants get a first look at what’s coming and a chance to shape the final release through feedback. EAP builds are free to use, though they may be less stable than final versions.

This release is particularly significant because branch switching is a routine action that, in large solutions, could cause freezes or crashes. The improvements target one of the most painful scenarios for enterprise developers.

What This Means for Developers

For teams working on multi-project solutions or frequently switching between feature branches, these changes translate directly into saved time and reduced frustration. “Branch switching should be uneventful—you change branches, and the IDE catches up without you noticing,” the spokesperson emphasized.

With the 100x speedup in extreme cases and 2–3x in typical scenarios, developers can expect smoother workflows, fewer freezes, and more reliable Roslyn integration. The EAP build is available now, and JetBrains encourages users to provide feedback to help finalize the release.