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Guide · Open source

How to use VS Code: install, edit, debug and extend

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Visual Studio Code is a code editor that pairs simple editing with the tools you need for the edit, build and debug cycle. This guide explains how to get it, what the open-source repository is, how bundled extensions work, and how to set up the development container if you want to build it yourself. By the end you will know which route fits your situation.

VS Codemicrosoft/vscode · ★ 194k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Download the official build. Get Visual Studio Code for Windows, macOS or Linux from the official website. Choose Insiders only if you want daily releases.
  2. 2Open the editor and learn the edit-build-debug cycle. Use the editor for code editing, navigation and lightweight debugging in your project.
  3. 3Add extensions. Install extensions to add language support and features through the extension system.
  4. 4Clone the source if you want to modify it. Run git clone https://github.com/microsoft/vscode to get the Code - OSS repository.
  5. 5Prepare Docker for the Dev Container route. Make sure Docker has at least 4 cores and 6 GB of RAM, with 8 GB recommended, before running a full build.
  6. 6Run Clone Repository in Container Volume. In VS Code, run Dev Containers: Clone Repository in Container Volume to create the dev container from the source.

What Visual Studio Code is and who it suits

Visual Studio Code combines the simplicity of a code editor with what developers need for their core edit-build-debug cycle. It offers code editing, navigation and understanding support, lightweight debugging, a rich extensibility model and lightweight integration with existing tools.

It suits developers who want a lightweight editor that can be extended with add-ons, and developers working across many languages who want built-in grammars and snippets. It is less suited to people who only need a basic text editor, or to non-developers looking for an office or note-taking tool.

Download and install the official build

Visual Studio Code is updated monthly with new features and bug fixes. You can download it for Windows, macOS and Linux from the Visual Studio Code website. If you want daily releases, the source describes an Insiders build you can install from the same site.

  • Download for Windows, macOS or Linux from the official download page.
  • For daily releases, install the Insiders build instead.

Understand the open-source repository (Code - OSS)

This repository, called Code - OSS, is where Microsoft develops the product together with the community. The source code is available under the MIT license. Visual Studio Code is a distribution of this repository with Microsoft-specific customizations released under a separate Microsoft product license, so the official product and this repo are not the same thing.

  • Use the official build for everyday editing.
  • Use the repository if you want to read, modify or contribute to the editor's source.

Build and run from source with Git and Docker

To work on the source, clone the repository with Git. The README recommends the Dev Containers route, which needs Docker. Running a full build is resource-heavy: Docker or your Codespace should have at least 4 cores and 6 GB of RAM, with 8 GB recommended. For the complete build and run steps, the project's How to Contribute wiki page is the reference.

  • Prerequisites: Git and, for the Dev Container route, Docker.
  • Dev Containers: use the command Dev Containers: Clone Repository in Container Volume, which creates a Docker volume for better disk I/O on macOS and Windows.
  • GitHub Codespaces: install the GitHub Codespaces extension in VS Code and run Codespaces: Create New Codespace.
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/vscode

Extend the editor and find bundled language support

The repository includes a set of built-in extensions in its extensions folder, including grammars and snippets for many languages. Extensions that provide rich language support, such as inline suggestions and Go to Definition, carry the suffix language-features. For example, the json extension provides coloring for JSON, while json-language-features provides rich language support for JSON.

  • Grammars and snippets are provided by extensions such as json.
  • Rich language support lives in extensions with the language-features suffix.

Get help and contribute

You can report bugs and feature requests on the project's issue tracker, review source changes and pull requests, and help with documentation. Questions can go to Stack Overflow under the vscode tag, and the wiki describes the other feedback channels.

  • Submit bugs and feature requests on the issues page.
  • Read the How to Contribute wiki page before submitting code.
  • Contributing to translations is covered through a separate localization link in the README.

What people use it for

  • Editing and debugging a project in one lightweight editor with extensions for your languages.
  • Reading the editor's source code to understand how a modern desktop code editor is built.
  • Fixing a bug or proposing a feature in the open-source Code - OSS project.
  • Working in a Codespace or Dev Container so the build environment is consistent.

Frequently asked questions

Is VS Code free to use?

The source code of this repository is available under the MIT license. The official Visual Studio Code product is a distribution of this code with Microsoft-specific customizations under a separate Microsoft product license, so check that license for the official build.

What do I need to install VS Code from source?

You need Git to clone the repository. For the Dev Container route you also need Docker, and the README recommends at least 4 cores and 6 GB of RAM, with 8 GB preferred, for a full build.

Is VS Code open source?

The repository this guide covers is open source under the MIT license and is called Code - OSS. The official product adds Microsoft-specific customizations and uses a different license.

What is the difference between VS Code and VSCodium?

This source does not compare the two projects in detail. The official product is a distribution of the Code - OSS repository with Microsoft customizations, so check each project's documentation for differences.

How do I install the Dev Containers or Codespaces extension?

For Dev Containers, run the command Dev Containers: Clone Repository in Container Volume in VS Code. For Codespaces, install the GitHub Codespaces extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace and use Codespaces: Create New Codespace.

Where do I get help if VS Code is not working?

The README points to Stack Overflow under the vscode tag, the project's issue tracker for bugs, and GitHub Discussions for extension authors. The project wiki describes each feedback channel.

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Our verdict

Choose the official Visual Studio Code build if you want a lightweight, extensible editor for everyday coding. Choose this open-source repository if you want to read, modify or contribute to the editor's source, and be prepared for a resource-heavy build. If you only need a basic text editor or an office or note-taking tool, pick something simpler.

Install options & downloads