Visual Studio Code Tips
Visual Studio Code is free and open-source software (FOSS) multi-platform application that is used by programmers of all levels.
Its name is often shortened to VS Code. (Not VSCode.)
VS Code features include debugging, syntax highlighting, intelligent code completion, snippets and code refactoring for many computer languages.
It also features an integrated terminal and embedded Git version control.
It is made with the Electron Framework (which is developed and maintained by GitHub).
Note that "Visual Studio Code" is an editor, while "Visual Studio" is an IDE. Both are Microsoft products.
At Pikes Peak Makerspace (PPM), Visual Studio Code is maintained on Design Workstations 1-3.
Some recommended extensions, for example "Code Spell Check", are installed at PPM, too.
Contact Us if you cannot find your answer here on our Wiki or if you notice any information that is outdated.
Tips
Links to code.visualstudio.com/docs:
- Tips and Tricks
- Telemetry options — you can disable telemetry reporting
- VS Code Command Palette
- (for example, "Transform to UPPERCASE", and other conversions are not in the menus)
- Zen Mode — distraction free user interface (highly customizable)
- Emmet — expand abbreviations and snippets
- (built right into Visual Studio Code, no extension required)
Links to other external sites:
- VS Code tips — Do not disturb mode
- VS Code Tips — 476 videos(!) from Code 2020
External Training
Links to code.visualstudio.com:
Introductory Videos
Keyboard shortcut cheat sheets for all platforms
Extension Marketplace
Visual Studio Code Product Home Page
Hand-Curated Extensions
- Links to member-recommended extensions:
- Insert Unicode — search and insert Unicode characters into documents
- USD Language — construct animated 3D scenes
- Code Spell Check — spell checking as you type
- SVG — coding, including preview
- PlatformIO — for embedded development (Arduino)
- GitHub Copilot — code suggestions from comments
- Luna Paint — Raster Image Editor
Hand-Curated Links
Links to member-recommended external sites:
- https://www.electronjs.org/ — build cross-platform desktop apps
Alternatives to Visual Studio Code:
- zed editor — "designed for high-performance collaboration with humans and AI (MacOS and Linux)"
- Sublime Text — "sophisticated text editor for code, markup and prose"
- jupyter — for interactive computing across all programming languages
- CodePen — build, test, and discover front-end code
Additional Help
Links to related PPM Wiki pages:
- Use the PPM Slack channel #computing
- List of all PPM Slack channels
- Note that we have a Slack channel (#job-board) for members to post, discuss, or accept job opportunities either within PPM or from the community.
Search the PPM Wiki — include Content pages as well as Multimedia.
Contact Us if you cannot find your answer here on our Wiki or if you notice any information that is outdated.