Who is it for?
- Useful for people who want to write code, use Git and run a terminal in one editor for websites and applications.
- Useful for people who want to shape language support and tools to their own work with extensions.
Visual Studio Code — Code Editors
Microsoft
Visual Studio Code is a Microsoft code editor that runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and in the browser (vscode.dev), with extensions, Git, an integrated terminal and debugging.
Why it fits
| Good to know | Desktop | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Free output | Yes | Yes |
| No account needed | — | — |
| No watermark | — | — |
| Works offline | — | — |
| Batch processing | — | — |
| Content language | — | — |
— Unverified conditions. Official documentation reviewed. The app itself has not been hands-on tested. Matches only documented content-language support, not interface language.
Sources and review date3
Founder feedback and correction
Editorial selection guide
Last checked:
Getting started
- Download and install the version for your operating system from the official site; if you prefer no installation, try vscode.dev in the browser.
- Open your project folder, install the extension for your language from the Marketplace, and edit and save a file.
- Follow your changes with the Git panel and the integrated terminal; check the telemetry level in settings.
Decision points
- The official site counts more than 80,000 extensions; if you need support for a specific language or framework, check in the Marketplace that the extension is up to date.
- If you want a lighter editor, compare Zed or Sublime Text; for a simple source code editor on Windows only, compare Notepad++.
Limits
- The official FAQ says Microsoft's distributed VS Code differs from the Code - OSS open source base and that usage data collection is on by default; you can turn it off with the telemetry.telemetryLevel setting.
- vscode.dev has no terminal or debugger and runs only some extensions; local folder access depends on the browser and the documentation names Edge and Chrome.
- Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 and macOS Big Sur 11.0 and earlier are not supported; Linux needs glibc 2.28 or later.
Frequently asked questions
Is VS Code really open source?
The source code (Code - OSS) is published on GitHub under the MIT license; however, the official FAQ says Microsoft's distributed version includes additions such as proprietary icons, the Marketplace and remote development. That is why built on open source is the more accurate description.
Can I use it free in a commercial project?
The official FAQ states that VS Code is free for both private and commercial use. AI features may depend on separate plan and quota terms; check before you rely on them.