Tutorial: Setting Up VS Code
Configure Visual Studio Code for optimal productivity and development workflow.
By Upingi Team / Tutorial Level: Beginner
Why Customize VS Code?
Visual Studio Code is a powerful and popular code editor. Customizing its settings, themes, and extensions can significantly improve your coding experience and efficiency.
This tutorial covers the initial setup steps to get you started.
Prerequisites
- Install VS Code: Download and install VS Code for your operating system from the official VS Code website.
Let's configure your editor!
Chapter 1: Settings and Themes
Adjust basic settings and personalize the look and feel.
- Open Settings: Use `Ctrl+,` (Windows/Linux) or `Cmd+,` (Mac) or go to File > Preferences > Settings.
- UI vs JSON: Understand the Settings UI and the underlying `settings.json` file.
- Common Settings: Explore and adjust settings like `editor.fontSize`, `editor.tabSize`, `files.autoSave`, `workbench.colorTheme`, and `workbench.iconTheme`.
- Install a Color Theme: Go to the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X or Cmd+Shift+X), search for "theme", and install one you like (e.g., Dracula Official, Material Theme, One Dark Pro).
- Install an Icon Theme: Search for "icon theme" in Extensions and install one (e.g., Material Icon Theme, vscode-icons).
Your editor should now look more personalized!
Chapter 2: Must-Have Extensions
Extensions add new features, language support, and integrations to VS Code. Access the Extensions view using `Ctrl+Shift+X` (Windows/Linux) or `Cmd+Shift+X` (Mac), or by clicking the square icon in the Activity Bar.
Here are some highly recommended extensions to get started:
- Language Support: Install extensions for the languages you use most often. Examples:
- `Python` (Microsoft): IntelliSense, linting, debugging, etc.
- `ESLint` (Microsoft): Integrates ESLint JavaScript linting.
- `Prettier - Code formatter` (Prettier): Automatically formats your code for consistency.
- Code Formatting:
- `Prettier - Code formatter`: As mentioned, essential for consistent styling across many languages. Configure it to format on save (`"editor.formatOnSave": true` in settings.json).
- Git Integration:
- `GitLens — Git supercharged` (GitKraken): Enhances the built-in Git capabilities, showing code authorship, history, comparisons, and more directly within the editor.
- Web Development Helpers:
- `Live Server` (Ritwick Dey): Launch a local development server with live reload for static and dynamic pages.
- `Auto Rename Tag` (Jun Han): Automatically renames the matching HTML/XML tag when you rename one.
- Other Useful Tools:
- `Docker` (Microsoft): Manage Docker containers, images, and more directly from VS Code.
- `Remote - SSH` (Microsoft): Connect to remote servers using SSH and edit files as if they were local.
To install an extension, search for its name in the Extensions view and click the "Install" button. You might need to reload VS Code after installation.
Conclusion & Next Steps
You've configured the basic settings, themes, and know how to find and install essential extensions for VS Code. This setup forms a solid foundation for efficient development.
Continue enhancing your setup:
- Explore language-specific extensions and settings.
- Customize keybindings (File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts).
- Learn about the integrated terminal (Ctrl+` or Cmd+`).
- Discover debugging features within VS Code.
- Use workspaces and profiles for different projects.