Visual Studio Code includes GitHub Copilot for free

Visual Studio Code is a lightweight but powerful source code editor from Microsoft that is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. It comes with built-in support for JavaScript, TypeScript and Node.js and has a rich ecosystem of extensions for other languages and runtimes (such as C++, C#, Java, Python, PHP, Go, .NET).

What is the difference between Visual Studio Code and Visual Studio?

Visual Studio Code is a code editor with support for development operations like debugging, task running, and version control, while Visual Studio is a fully featured IDE (integrated development environment) that can handle more complex workflows.

Is Visual Studio Code free?

Yes, VS Code is free for individual users or for commercial use.

Is VS Code good for beginners?

Yes. VS Code is a great code editor for professionals and beginners that are just starting with software development.

Can I do Python in VS Code?

Yes, Visual Studio Code fully supports almost every major programming language. Some examples are Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS, and HTML, and more rich language extensions can be found in the VS Code Marketplace.

Can I run VS Code on Windows 7?

No, Visual Studio Code versions starting with 1.71 (August 2022) no longer run on Windows 7. You will need to upgrade to a newer Windows version in order to use VS Code or use other code editors like Sublime Text and Notepad++, which are compatible with Windows 7.

Features

Meet IntelliSense

Go beyond syntax highlighting and autocomplete with IntelliSense, which provides smart completions based on variable types, function definitions, and imported modules.

Print statement debugging is a thing of the past

Debug code right from the editor. Launch or attach to your running apps and debug with break points, call stacks, and an interactive console.

Git commands built-in

Working with Git and other SCM providers has never been easier. Review diffs, stage files, and make commits right from the editor. Push and pull from any hosted SCM service.

Extensible and customizable

Want even more features? Install extensions to add new languages, themes, debuggers, and to connect to additional services. Extensions run in separate processes, ensuring they won't slow down your editor.

What's New

• Update 1.97.2: The update addresses these issues.
• Update 1.97.1: The update addresses these security issues.

Welcome to the January 2025 release of Visual Studio Code. There are many updates in this version that we hope you'll like, some of the key highlights include:

• Next Edit Suggestions (preview) - Copilot predicts the next edit you are likely to make.
• Reposition Command Palette - Drag the Command Palette and Quick Inputs to a new position.
• Auto accept edits - Automatically accept edits from Copilot after a configurable timeout.
• Extension publisher trust - Keep your environment secure with extension publisher trust.
• Compound logs - Combine multiple logs into a single, aggregated log view.
• Filter output logs - Filter the contents of the Output panel.
• Git blame information - Rich git blame information and open on GitHub.
• Search values in debug variables - Filter and search for specific values in debug variables.
• Notebook inline values - View inline values for code cell variables in notebooks.
• Python no-config debug - Quickly debug a Python script or module without setup.

If you'd like to read these release notes online, go to Updates on code.visualstudio.com.