
Oliver T. answered 04/16/23
Learn HTML from an Expert: 10+ Years of Experience & Proven Results
Introducing Visual Studio Code
If you're looking for a reliable and user-friendly code editor, I highly recommend Visual Studio Code. This versatile tool is a favorite among developers thanks to its extensive range of features, customizable extensions, and intuitive interface.
One of the best things about Visual Studio Code is that it's completely free to use. That's right, you won't need to break the bank to enjoy all the benefits that this powerful code editor has to offer.
How to download Visual Studio Code
Getting started with Visual Studio Code is easy.
Here are the steps to download Visual Studio Code:
- Visit the official website for Visual Studio Code at https://code.visualstudio.com/.
- Click on the “Download for [Your Operating System]” button. The website should automatically detect which operating system you are using.
- Once the download is complete, open the installer and follow the installation instructions. On Windows, for example, you'll need to select your preferred language, agree to the license terms, and choose the installation directory.
- Once the installation is complete, you can open Visual Studio Code and start coding!
Overall, downloading and installing Visual Studio Code is a quick and easy process that can be completed in just a few minutes.
Customizing Visual Studio Code by installing extensions
Customizing your setup in Visual Studio Code is a breeze, too. With a range of handy extensions available, you can streamline your workflow and improve your coding experience. Prettier, Live Preview, Quokka.js, Live Share, GistPad, and GitHub are all popular choices that can help you get the job done.
Here are the steps to install extensions in Visual Studio Code:
- Open Visual Studio Code.
- Click on the Extensions icon in the left-hand menu, or use the shortcut “Ctrl + Shift + X” (Windows/Linux) or “Cmd + Shift + X” (macOS).
- In the Extensions panel, search for the extension you want to install. You can search by name, category, or tag.
- Click on the extension you would like to install to open its details page.
- Click on the “Install” button to install the extension.
- Once the installation is complete, you may need to reload Visual Studio Code for the changes to take effect. You can do this by clicking the “Reload” button that appears next to the extension, or by using the shortcut “Ctrl + R” (Windows/Linux) or “Cmd + R” (macOS).
- The installed extension should now be visible in the Extensions panel, where you can enable, disable, or uninstall it as needed.
Overall, installing extensions in Visual Studio Code is a simple and straightforward process that can greatly enhance your coding experience. With thousands of extensions to choose from, you can customize and extend the functionality of Visual Studio Code to suit your specific needs.
Using some of the best features in Visual Studio Code, like auto-save and format-on-save
In addition to its impressive range of features, Visual Studio Code also offers handy functions like auto-save and format-on-save.
Here are the steps to turn these super handy features on:
- Open Visual Studio Code.
- Click on “File” in the top left-hand corner of the window.
- Click on “Preferences”, then select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
- In the search bar at the top of the “Settings” panel, search for “save”. This should filter the settings to show the “Files: Auto Save” option.
- Click on the drop-down menu next to “Files: Auto Save” and select the frequency you prefer. Options include “off”, “after delay”, and “on focus change”.
- To turn on the format on save function, search for “format on save” in the search bar at the top of the “Settings” panel.
- Click the checkbox that appears next to the “Editor: Format On Save” option.
The auto save and format on save functions should now be turned on, and any changes you make to your code will be saved and formatted automatically.
Why Visual Studio Code is a better choice than Notepad and Notepad++
Compared to basic text editors like Notepad and Notepad++, Visual Studio Code offers a wealth of additional benefits that can enhance your coding experience.
Here are just a few reasons why Visual Studio Code is a superior choice:
- Versatility: Visual Studio Code supports a wide range of programming languages and frameworks, making it a versatile choice for developers who work with multiple languages.
- Intellisense: Visual Studio Code's Intellisense feature provides intelligent code completion and suggestion, making coding faster and more efficient.
- Extensions: Visual Studio Code has a vast library of extensions available, allowing you to customize and extend its functionality to suit your specific needs.
- Debugging: Unlike Notepad and Notepad++, Visual Studio Code has built-in debugging capabilities, which can be a huge time-saver when you're trying to identify and fix errors in your code.
- Collaboration: Visual Studio Code's Live Share feature allows multiple developers to work on the same code simultaneously, regardless of their physical location.
- User interface: Visual Studio Code has a modern and user-friendly interface, which can help to reduce eye strain and make it easier to focus on your code.
Overall, while Notepad and Notepad++ are useful for basic tasks, Visual Studio Code offers a more robust and feature-rich coding experience that can save you time, improve your code quality, and enhance collaboration with other developers.
Conclusion
With its support for a wide range of programming languages and frameworks, intelligent code completion and suggestion, vast library of extensions, built-in debugging capabilities, Live Share feature for collaboration, and user-friendly interface, Visual Studio Code is a more robust and feature-rich coding experience that can save you time, improve your code quality, and enhance collaboration with other developers.
Overall, Visual Studio Code is a powerful and versatile code editor that's well worth exploring. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, this tool has everything you need to get the job done.