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Contact Us if you cannot find your answer here on our Wiki or if you notice any information that is outdated.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
- Keyboard shortcut cheat sheets for all platforms
- 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
Training
Links to code.visualstudio.com:
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.programmingfonts.org/
- https://www.markdownguide.org/
- https://jupyter.org/ — for interactive computing across all programming languages
- https://www.electronjs.org/ — build cross-platform desktop apps
- CodePen — build, test, and discover front-end code
- List of free and open-source software packages — on Wikipedia
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.