Introduction to Visual Studio Code

Beginner
Developer
Visual Studio Code

In this module, you learn how to assess whether Visual Studio Code is the right source code editor for you. We explore how Visual Studio Code can be used in different development situations, for example, web, C++, and data science. We also examine Visual Studio Code's features such as the editor, debugger, and source control. Finally, we walk you through decision criteria you can use to choose a code editor.

Note

This module doesn't contain coding exercises. So, if you already know Visual Studio Code is the code editor you want to use. You might prefer to skip this module and check out Set up Visual Studio Code instead. In that module, we guide you through the steps to download, customize, and start using Visual Studio Code.

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you're able to:

  • Evaluate whether Visual Studio Code is an appropriate source code editor for your development work.
  • Describe how Visual Studio Code can be customized with extensions to configure a development environment to meet your needs.

Prerequisites

  • Basic familiarity with code editors or integrated development environments (IDEs) and their features such as source control and debugging.
  • Basic understanding of the concept of using software plugins or extensions to customize applications.