Software:Visual Studio Code

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Visual Studio Code
Logo used since May 2019
Logo used since May 2019
Visual Studio Code starting screen with dark theme
Original author(s)Erich Gamma
Developer(s)Microsoft
Initial releaseApril 29, 2015; 10 years ago (2015-04-29)
Stable releaseThis template is not used anymore. The latest stable and pre-release versions are maintained in Wikidata and they appear automatically in the main article for Visual Studio Code.
Written inTypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, CSS[1]
Operating systemWindows 10 or later, macOS 10.15 or later, Linux
Platformx86-64, ARM32, ARM64
Size
  • Windows: 93–97 MB
  • Linux: 89–137 MB
  • macOS: 127–217 MB
Available in15 languages
List of languages
English (US), Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Hungarian, Turkish, Polish, Czech[2]
TypeSource-code editor[3][4]
LicenseProprietary freeware[5][6] based on open-source project[7][8]

Visual Studio Code (commonly referred to as VS Code)[9] is a source-code editor[3][4] developed by Microsoft for Windows, Linux, macOS and web browsers.[10][11] Features include support for debugging, syntax highlighting, intelligent code completion, snippets, code refactoring, and embedded version control with Git. Users can change the theme, keyboard shortcuts and preferences.

Visual Studio Code also has an extensive marketplace that can make it function more like an integrated development environment.[12] It contains extensions, programming languages,[13] themes, keyboard shortcuts, AI models, and more available to install.

Visual Studio Code is proprietary software released under the "Microsoft Software License",[6] but based on the MIT licensed program named "Visual Studio Code – Open Source" (also known as "Code – OSS"), also created by Microsoft and available through GitHub.[14]

In the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, out of over 49,000 responses, 75.9% of respondents reported using Visual Studio Code, more than twice the percentage of respondents who reported using its nearest alternative, Visual Studio.[15]

History

Visual Studio Code was first announced on April 29, 2015 by Microsoft at the 2015 Build conference. A preview build was released shortly thereafter.[16]

On November 18, 2015, the project "Visual Studio Code – Open Source" (also known as "Code – OSS"), on which Visual Studio Code is based, was released under the open-source MIT License and made available on GitHub.[14]

Extension support was also announced.[17] On April 14, 2016, Visual Studio Code graduated from the public preview stage and was released to the web.[18]

Features

Code editor

Visual Studio Code is a source-code editor[3][4] that can be used with a variety of programming languages, including C, C#, C++, Fortran, Go, Java, JavaScript, Node.js, Python, Rust, and Julia.[19][20][21][22][23] Visual Studio Code employs the same editor component (codenamed "Monaco") used in Azure DevOps (formerly called "Visual Studio Online" and "Visual Studio Team Services").[24]

The downloadable version of Visual Studio Code is built on the Electron framework,[25] which is used to develop Node.js web applications that run on the Blink layout engine. Visual Studio Code for the Web is a browser-based version of the editor that can be used to edit both local files and remote repositories (on GitHub and Microsoft Azure) without installing the full program.[26] It is officially supported and hosted by Microsoft and can be accessed at vscode.dev.

Out of the box, Visual Studio Code includes basic support for most common programming languages. This basic support includes syntax highlighting, bracket matching, code folding, and configurable snippets. Visual Studio Code also ships with IntelliSense for JavaScript, TypeScript, JSON, CSS, and HTML, as well as debugging support for Node.js. Support for additional languages can be provided by freely available extensions on the VS Code Marketplace.[27]

Debugging

VS Code features a built-in debugger designed to enhance the development process. It provides native support for debugging Node.js applications, while additional debuggers for other programming languages can be installed via extensions. The debugger allows developers to attach to running processes and step through source code line-by-line during execution, offering a detailed view of program flow. It can also display disassembly for low-level analysis in C++.[28] Furthermore, users can set breakpoints – either standard or conditional – to pause execution at specific points and examine the program's state, while also monitoring variable values in real-time as the code runs.

An interactive feature of VS Code's debugging toolkit is the Debug Console.[29] This panel is integrated directly into the debugging session, enabling users to evaluate expressions, such as checking variable values or testing functions, and execute commands on the fly. This functionality provides developers with greater control and deeper insight into the program's behavior.

File management and workspace

Instead of a project system, VS Code allows users to open one or more directories, which can then be saved in workspaces for future reuse. This allows it to operate as a language-agnostic code editor for any language. It supports many programming languages and a set of features that differ per language. Unwanted files and folders can be excluded from the project tree via settings.

Command Palette

Many Visual Studio Code features are not exposed through menus or the user interface but can be accessed via the Command Palette.[30] The Command Palette is able to execute virtually every feature the graphical interface supports, making it very keyboard-accessible.[31]

Integrated terminal

Visual Studio Code provides a fully featured integrated terminal that opens at the root of the current workspace, allowing users to run shell commands without leaving the editor environment.[32] It can be toggled via View → Terminal, the Command Palette (View: Toggle Integrated Terminal), or the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+'). Users may open multiple terminals in tabs or split panes, rename them, and kill sessions individually, directly within the editor UI.

This terminal hosts any shell installed on the system—Bash, Zsh, PowerShell, Fish, Git Bash, WSL, etc.—and detects available profiles automatically, making it simple to switch contexts via the dropdown menu or the Terminal: Select Default Profile command.[33]

Beyond basic command execution, VS Code's shell integration also contains clickable file links, working directory awareness, and error-detection markers in the scrollbar. These enhancements simplify tracing errors and navigating code paths by allowing direct jumps to source files, preserving the current working directory context, and highlighting problems inline within the terminal's scroll bar.

Extensibility and customization

Visual Studio Code can be extended via extensions.[34] Users may install extensions from the VS Code Marketplace to add language support,[30] editor,[35] themes, debuggers, and additional utilities. A notable feature is the ability to create extensions that add support for new languages, themes, debuggers, time travel debuggers, perform static code analysis, and add code linters using the Language Server Protocol.[36]

Source control

Source control is a built-in feature of Visual Studio Code. It has a dedicated tab inside the menu bar where users can access version control settings and view changes made to the current project. To use the feature, Visual Studio Code must be linked to any supported version control system (Git, Apache Subversion, Perforce, etc.). This allows users to create repositories and to make push and pull requests directly from the Visual Studio Code program.

Visual Studio Code collects usage data and sends it to Microsoft to help improve the product. This telemetry feature can be disabled.[37] The information contained in this telemetry data can be inspected by the public, since the product is open source.[38]

Remote development and web-based access

VS Code supports remote development through extensions such as Remote–SSH, Remote–Containers, and Remote–WSL. These tools enable users to connect to and develop within remote environments, including servers and containers.

Visual Studio Code for the Web (accessible at vscode.dev) allows users to edit files directly in a web browser without the need to install the desktop application.[39] This version supports basic editing tasks and integration with remote repositories.

Insiders

An orange version of the Visual Studio Code logo
Visual Studio Code Insiders logo

VS Code Insiders is a nightly build version of this code editor, providing users with the opportunity to experience new features, bug fixes, and improvements ahead of their official release. It is compiled every night based on the latest changes from the development team, allowing users to test and provide feedback before these updates are officially released in the stable version. [40]

This version is completely independent of the standard version, meaning users can install and run both simultaneously without any interference between their settings, extensions, or themes. This design enables developers to explore and experiment with the latest features of the code editor without affecting their primary development environment.

Reception

In the 2016 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, Visual Studio Code ranked 13th among the top popular development tools, with only 7% of the 47,000 respondents using it.[41] Two years later, Visual Studio Code rose to the no. 1 spot, with 35% of the 75,000 respondents using it.[42] Since then Visual Studio Code has retained the no. 1 spot, with the percentage of respondents reporting using it increasing to 50% in 2019,[43] 74.5% in 2021,[44] 74.48% in 2022,[45] 73.71% in 2023,[46] 73.6% in 2024,[47] and 75.9% in 2025.[48] (The 2020 Developers Survey did not cover integrated development environments.[49])

See also

References

  1. ↑ GitHub repository microsoft/vscode, Microsoft, 2020-12-20, https://github.com/microsoft/vscode, retrieved 2020-12-20 
  2. ↑ "Visual Studio Code Display Language (Locale)". Microsoft. https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/locales. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Microsoft Learn" (in en-us). https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/shows/visual-studio-code/. "Microsoft Visual Studio Code is a free, powerful, lightweight code editor for Windows, macOS and Linux. Based on open source, it is highly customizable with over 25,000 extensions, for every developer and every programming language." 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "GitHub - microsoft/vscode: Visual Studio Code". https://github.com/microsoft/vscode?tab=readme-ov-file#the-repository. "Visual Studio Code combines the simplicity of a code editor with what developers need for their core edit-build-debug cycle. It provides comprehensive code editing, navigation, and understanding support along with lightweight debugging, a rich extensibility model, and lightweight integration with existing tools." 
  5. ↑ "Download Visual Studio Code". Microsoft. https://code.visualstudio.com/Download. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Microsoft Software License Terms". Microsoft. https://code.visualstudio.com/license. 
  7. ↑ "LICENSE.txt". github.com/Microsoft/vscode. Microsoft. 17 November 2015. https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/blob/main/LICENSE.txt. 
  8. ↑ "The best parts of Visual Studio Code are proprietary". https://underjord.io/the-best-parts-of-visual-studio-code-are-proprietary.html. 
  9. ↑ Stanton, Lee (2021-08-17). "How to Run Code in VS Code" (in en-US). https://www.alphr.com/vs-code-run-code/. 
  10. ↑ Lardinois, Frederic (April 29, 2015). "Microsoft Launches Visual Studio Code, A Free Cross-Platform Code Editor For OS X, Linux And Windows". TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2015/04/29/microsoft-shocks-the-world-with-visual-studio-code-a-free-code-editor-for-os-x-linux-and-windows. 
  11. ↑ Devine, Richard (22 December 2022). "How to use Visual Studio Code in a web browser" (in en). https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-visual-studio-code-web-browser. 
  12. ↑ "Extending Visual Studio Code". October 10, 2016. https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/extensions/overview. 
  13. ↑ "Language Support in Visual Studio Code". October 10, 2016. https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/overview. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Dias, Chris (4 December 2015). "Issue: Menu license links to non Open Source license". Microsoft. Response #161792005. https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/issues/60#issuecomment-161792005. "We wanted to deliver a Microsoft branded product, built on top of an open source code base that the community could explore and contribute to." 
  15. ↑ Stack Overflow (2025). "Technology | 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey". Stack Overflow. https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/technology/#1-dev-id-es. 
  16. ↑ McBreen, Sean (April 29, 2015). "Announcing Visual Studio Code – Preview". http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vscode/archive/2015/04/29/announcing-visual-studio-code-preview.aspx. 
  17. ↑ "Visual Studio now supports debugging Linux apps; Code editor now open source". Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/11/visual-studio-now-supports-debugging-linux-apps-code-editor-now-open-source/. 
  18. ↑ "Visual Studio Code editor hits version 1, has half a million users". Condé Nast. 15 April 2016. https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/04/visual-studio-code-editor-hits-version-1-has-half-a-million-users/. 
  19. ↑ Kanjilal, Joydip (2015-05-06). "Visual Studio Code: A fast, lightweight, cross-platform code editor". InfoWorld. https://www.infoworld.com/article/2919555/microsoft-net/visual-studio-code-a-fast-lightweight-and-cross-platform-code-editor.html. 
  20. ↑ Bisson, Simon (2018-09-11). "It's gotten a little easier to develop PWAs in Windows". InfoWorld. https://www.infoworld.com/article/3304957/web-development/its-gotten-a-little-easier-to-develop-pwas-in-windows.html. 
  21. ↑ Krill, Paul (2018-02-24). "What's new in Microsoft Visual Studio Code". ChannelWorld. http://www.channelworld.in/news/whats-new-microsoft-visual-studio-code. 
  22. ↑ Wanyoike, Michael (2018-06-06). "Debugging JavaScript Projects with VS Code & Chrome Debugger". SitePoint. https://www.sitepoint.com/debugging-javascript-projects-vs-code-chrome-debugger/. 
  23. ↑ "Julia in Visual Studio Code" (in en). https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/julia. 
  24. ↑ "Monaco Editor". https://microsoft.github.io/monaco-editor/. 
  25. ↑ "Microsoft's new Code editor is built on Google's Chromium". 29 April 2015. https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/04/microsofts-new-code-editor-is-built-on-googles-chromium/. 
  26. ↑ "Visual Studio Code for the Web" (in en). https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/vscode-web. 
  27. ↑ "Programming Languages, Hundreds of programming languages supported". Microsoft. https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/overview. 
  28. ↑ Reid, Julia (2021-07-28). "Visual Studio Code C++ July 2021 Update: Disassembly View, Macro Expansion and Windows ARM64 Debugging" (in en-US). https://devblogs.microsoft.com/cppblog/visual-studio-code-c-july-2021-update-disassembly-view-macro-expansion-and-windows-arm64-debugging/. 
  29. ↑ "Debug code with Visual Studio Code". https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/debugging. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Language Support in Visual Studio Code". October 10, 2016. https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/overview. 
  31. ↑ "Visual Studio Code User Interface" (in en). https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/userinterface. 
  32. ↑ "Terminal Basics" (in en). https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/terminal/basics. 
  33. ↑ "Terminal Shell Integration" (in en). https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/terminal/shell-integration. 
  34. ↑ "Extending Visual Studio Code". October 10, 2016. https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/extensions/overview. 
  35. ↑ "Managing Extensions in Visual Studio Code". October 10, 2016. https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/extension-gallery. 
  36. ↑ "Creating Language Servers for Visual Studio Code". https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/extensions/example-language-server. 
  37. ↑ "Visual Studio Code FAQ". Microsoft. https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/supporting/faq#_how-to-disable-telemetry-reporting. "VS Code collects usage data and sends it to Microsoft to help improve our products and services. Read our privacy statement to learn more. If you don't wish to send usage data to Microsoft, you can set the telemetry.enableTelemetry setting to false." 
  38. ↑ "vscode/src/vs/platform/telemetry at main branch". microsoft/vscode repo. Microsoft. https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/tree/main/src/vs/platform/telemetry. 
  39. ↑ "vscode.dev(!)" (in en). https://code.visualstudio.com/blogs/2021/10/20/vscode-dev. 
  40. ↑ Chris, Dias (February 1, 2016). "Introducing the Insiders Build". https://code.visualstudio.com/blogs/2016/02/01/introducing_insiders_build. 
  41. ↑ "Developer Survey Results 2016". Stack Exchange. https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2016#technology-development-environments. 
  42. ↑ "Developer Survey Results 2018". Stack Exchange. https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2018/. 
  43. ↑ "Developer Survey Results 2019 – Most Popular Development Environments". Stack Exchange. https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2019#development-environments-and-tools. 
  44. ↑ "Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2021 – Integrated Development Environment". Stack Exchange. https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2021#section-most-popular-technologies-integrated-development-environment. 
  45. ↑ "Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2022 – Integrated development environment". Stack Exchange. https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2022/#section-most-popular-technologies-integrated-development-environment. 
  46. ↑ "Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2023 – Integrated development environment". Stack Exchange. https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2023/#section-most-popular-technologies-integrated-development-environment. 
  47. ↑ "Technology | 2024 Stack Overflow Developer Survey". Stack Exchange. https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2024/technology#1-integrated-development-environment. 
  48. ↑ "Technology | 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey". Stack Exchange. https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/technology#1-dev-id-es. 
  49. ↑ "Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2020 – Development Environments and Tools". Stack Exchange. https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2020#development-environments-and-tools. 



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