If you are starting a new project in 2024, use Visual Studio 2022 (64-bit) or VS Code. But if you ever inherit a VS2012 solution, remember to switch on the dark theme and install the "All Caps Menus Fix" extension—your eyes will thank you.
Today, if you are maintaining a legacy .NET 4.5 application or a Windows 8 Store app, you may still need VS2012. For everyone else, it serves as a fascinating museum piece: the moment Microsoft bet the farm on touch, flat design, and the cloud, all within a single, controversial Integrated Development Environment. visual studio 2012