vscode

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a cross-platform source-code editor for writing, navigating, running, and debugging software. It brings project files, code intelligence, Git, a terminal, and debugging tools into one workbench. Developers can use it for a quick edit or keep a full project open while they build and test, without being tied to one programming language or toolchain.

Editing and understanding code

The editor provides syntax highlighting, completions, symbol navigation, search, snippets, multi-cursor editing, and refactoring tools. JavaScript, TypeScript, JSON, CSS, and HTML have built-in language support. For other languages and frameworks, extensions can add completions, diagnostics, formatting, navigation, and refactoring. The exact experience depends on the language service or extension and, in some cases, additional compilers or command-line tools. Settings, keyboard shortcuts, layouts, and profiles let developers shape the workbench for different projects.

Build, debug, and manage changes

An integrated terminal runs the shell and command-line tools already used by a project. Tasks can automate repeated commands, while the debugger supports breakpoints, stepping through code, and inspecting program state. Node.js and JavaScript debugging are built in; other languages generally need an extension. The Testing view can discover and run tests when the appropriate testing extension is installed. Git support lets developers review inline diffs, stage files, commit changes, work with branches, and resolve merge conflicts from the editor.

Extend or move the development environment

The Visual Studio Marketplace offers extensions for languages, debuggers, source control systems, and external services. This keeps the default editor adaptable, but the quality and requirements of language support vary by extension. Some need separate runtimes, tools, accounts, or configuration. Developers should check an extension's publisher and documentation before relying on it for a project.

Remote Development extensions can open work in WSL, over SSH, or inside a development container. VS Code then uses tools and runtimes in that environment, which can help keep a Linux deployment environment separate from the desktop or let a team share a consistent setup. Remote hosts and containers have their own system and extension requirements, so support depends on the target environment.

Code with AI agents and models

VS Code’s chat and agent workflows can explain unfamiliar code, help plan a change, draft or edit features across files, and run project tools such as terminal commands and tests. You can inspect proposed file changes and tool activity in the editor, then review and verify the result. For effective coding help, give the agent the relevant goal, constraints, and expected behavior, and check its changes just as you would a teammate’s.

VS Code supports multiple agent harnesses, including GitHub Copilot, Claude, and Codex. Claude Code can be used through its VS Code integration; Codex requires the OpenAI Codex extension, with an experimental Agent Host integration also documented. These agents bring their own tools and permission behavior. Their chat works alongside the project, terminal, tests, and debugger, so you can move between AI-assisted edits and hands-on development without leaving the workspace.

You can choose among supported hosted models or connect your own provider and credentials. Local models can also power supported chat and agent workflows through integrations such as Ollama or AI Toolkit, which may suit privacy-sensitive or offline work. Local use has limits: features such as inline completions and semantic search may still require online services or an eligible account, and capabilities vary by provider and model.

Using VS Code on Linux

Microsoft provides Debian packages, RPM packages, and a Snap package. Arch Linux and Nix users can also find community-maintained packages. Package source matters: community builds and Microsoft’s download are maintained by different parties. The VS Code product includes Microsoft-specific customizations and is distributed under Microsoft’s product license. The related Code - OSS repository is available under the MIT license, but that does not make the Microsoft-branded download an MIT-licensed build.

VS Code suits developers who want one configurable editor for everyday coding, Git work, and a range of project tools. Its extension system can cover many workflows, but it also means the editor alone does not provide every language server, compiler, debugger, or test runner. If you prefer a complete language-specific IDE or a minimal editor with few moving parts, compare the required setup before choosing it.