Visual Studio Code

Owned by Nick DePatie
Last updated: Sep 14, 2023
2 min read

VSCode (Visual Studio Code) is probably the most popular IDE for software development because of its versatility and lightweight framework. You can go from writing C++ to Python to Javascript to HTML in a single IDE, with tools you can download for formatting and writing each language. For the software development in NER, we typically prefer using Visual Studio Code, just because it is lightweight and easy to install and doesn’t end up with weird file names or project files like some other IDEs. VSCode also works on macOS, Linux, and Windows, and operates pretty much the same across all of them. VSCode is simple, effective, cross-platform, and powerful.

Downloading VSCode

To download VSCode, you just need to go to this link to install it on your machine. Then follow the instructions in the installation wizard, making sure to add any “open with code” options you see. For Windows, you may also want to add to PATH.

Little VSCode Overview

Sample VSCode Layout

VSCode is essentially just a normal text editor on steroids. On the left side of the screen, you got some of the main functionality of the IDE. VSCode works best when you open a directory, which you can do by clicking File in the top left, and then choosing Open Folder. You can also edit single files by opening a file with VSCode, or by going to File and then Open File.

In order, the icons under the blue VSCode logo in the top left are:

  1. File Explorer

    1. Let’s you open, make, delete files and directories

  2. Search

    1. Let’s you search the whole project for a word or phrase, and let’s you replace it too

  3. Source Control

    1. Integrates with Git to help you track what changes need to be added/committed

    2. I’m not a big fan of using this, I like using Git in the Command Line better

  4. Debug

    1. Allows you to run your code step by step to find bugs

    2. I haven’t really ever used this, it is especially useless for embedded code and firmware

  5. Remote Explorer

    1. Lets you SSH into other computers and develop on them

  6. Extensions

    1. This is the true bread and butter of VSCode, where you can download extensions that the community/VSCode has made to help format your code, check for syntax errors, build code, etc.

    2. There’s even an extension where you can get a virtual pet for while you code

    3. This is where you can install PlatformIO and STM32 VSCode Extension

  7. Testing

    1. This is where users can write and utilize testing scripts/frameworks to test their code before releasing it