Visual Studio Code

january 20, 2024 - blog

 

I once started learning HTML using the standard Notepad application in Windows. Then, Dreamweaver introduced a WYSIWYG editor with a code side that I utilized; it was also the first time the codes had colors.

After that, Notepad++ emerged, a lightweight editor with code highlighting and, with extensions, a preview screen, which often didn't work well for me. However, I used it for quite some time; it was and still is a great editor for coding, simple and not overwhelming.

Then came Atom and Visual Studio Code, both tried out, and eventually stuck with VS Code, and it suits perfectly. It offers countless options, but you don't have to use them all. The extensions are superb; even AI helps a lot with typing much code. For instance, if you use Bootstrap, it's even easier; with one click, you can have a whole layout or a responsive top menu.

I still find VS Code the most suitable for me, just like millions of others who use it. No, I don't see myself just switching back to another code editor easily.

image Visual Studio Code

Why is VS code free?

 

Visual Studio Code is a versatile and user-friendly code editor developed by Microsoft. It's used by a wide range of people, including developers, programmers, and students, for writing and editing code in various programming languages like JavaScript, Python, HTML, and many more.

With Visual Studio Code, you can do things like writing code, debugging programs, and even managing projects efficiently. It offers features like syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and integrated terminal for executing commands right from the editor. Plus, it supports extensions that add extra functionalities, making it customizable to suit different needs.

One of the key reasons why Visual Studio Code is free is because it's open source. This means that its source code is openly available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute. By being open source, Microsoft encourages collaboration and contributions from the community, leading to continuous improvements and innovations in the software. This helps make Visual Studio Code accessible to a wider audience without any cost, promoting learning and development in the programming community.

image domain

Visual Studio Code and Visual Studio

 

Visual Studio Code and Visual Studio are both products developed by Microsoft, but they serve different purposes.

Visual Studio Code is a lightweight and versatile code editor primarily used for writing and editing code. It's great for various programming tasks and supports many programming languages. It's free, open-source, and highly customizable through extensions.

On the other hand, Visual Studio is a full-featured integrated development environment (IDE) with a wide range of tools and features for building applications across different platforms like Windows, Android, and iOS. It offers more advanced features such as project management, debugging, and design tools. However, Visual Studio is not as lightweight as Visual Studio Code and is typically used for larger and more complex development projects.

In summary, Visual Studio Code is a lightweight and versatile code editor, while Visual Studio is a comprehensive integrated development environment with advanced features for building applications.

image Visual Studio Code