Getting Started with Visual Studio Code on macOS

Pandiyan Murugan

Introduction

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a powerful, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft. It is highly customizable and supports a wide range of programming languages and frameworks. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to get started with VS Code on macOS.

Step 1: Download and Install VS Code

  1. Download VS Code:
  2. Install VS Code:
    • Once the download is complete, open the .zip file.
    • Drag the Visual Studio Code.app to the Applications folder.

Step 2: Launch VS Code

  1. Open VS Code:
    • Navigate to the Applications folder.
    • Double-click on Visual Studio Code.app to launch it.
  2. Add VS Code to Dock:
    • Right-click on the VS Code icon in the Dock.
    • Select Options > Keep in Dock for easy access.

Step 3: Install Extensions

VS Code’s functionality can be extended with extensions. Here are some essential extensions to get you started:

  1. Open the Extensions View:
    • Click on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window.
    • Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Cmd+Shift+X.
  2. Install Extensions:
    • Search for the following extensions and click Install:
      • Python: For Python development.
      • C#: For C# development.
      • Prettier – Code formatter: For code formatting.
      • ESLint: For JavaScript and TypeScript linting.
      • GitLens: For enhanced Git capabilities.

Step 4: Customize VS Code

  1. Change Theme:
    • Go to Code > Preferences > Color Theme.
    • Choose a theme that suits your preference.
  2. Customize Settings:
    • Go to Code > Preferences > Settings.
    • Adjust settings such as font size, tab size, and more.

Step 5: Open a Project

  1. Open a Folder:
    • Go to File > Open Folder.
    • Select the folder containing your project files.
  2. Open a File:
    • Use the Explorer view to navigate and open files in your project.

Step 6: Use the Integrated Terminal

  1. Open Terminal:
    • Go to View > Terminal.
    • Alternatively, use the shortcut `Ctrl+“ (backtick).
  2. Run Commands:
    • Use the integrated terminal to run commands, manage version control, and more.

Step 7: Debugging

  1. Set Up Debugging:
    • Go to the Run and Debug view by clicking the play icon in the Activity Bar.
    • Click on create a launch.json file to configure debugging for your project.
  2. Start Debugging:
    • Set breakpoints by clicking in the gutter next to the line numbers.
    • Click the green play button to start debugging.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up Visual Studio Code on your macOS machine. With its powerful features and extensive customization options, VS Code is an excellent choice for developers of all levels. Explore the various extensions and settings to tailor the editor to your workflow and start coding!

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