Visual Studio Code
by Microsoft Corporation Verified
Free source-code editor with built-in Git support, debugging, and extensions
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code is Microsoft's free, cross-platform source code editor. It first shipped in April 2015. As of May 2026 it sits at version 1.119 and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Under the hood it's an Electron app. The source is on GitHub as 'Code - OSS' under the MIT license, while the official Microsoft builds add telemetry and the proprietary Visual Studio Marketplace on top.
Out of the box you get IntelliSense for JavaScript, TypeScript, and Markdown. Hundreds more languages get syntax highlighting, with deeper support pulled in through extensions: Python from Microsoft, Java from Red Hat, Rust-analyzer, Go, C/C++, the works. An integrated terminal, a Git client, debugging through the Debug Adapter Protocol, settings sync, and multi-root workspaces all ship in the base download. Profiles let you keep separate setups for, say, web work versus data science without running two installs.
The 2025 to 2026 story is GitHub Copilot. Chat sits in the sidebar. Agent mode runs longer tasks with hooks, approval flows, and an integrated browser the agent can drive itself. Since v1.109 in January 2026, you can also point Copilot at Anthropic's Claude through the GitHub Copilot subscription. A free Copilot tier exists with monthly limits on inline suggestions and chat, though new Pro and Pro+ sign-ups were paused on April 20, 2026 while Microsoft tightens usage limits. If none of that appeals, VSCodium is the same editor without telemetry or the Microsoft-only marketplace.
- IntelliSense, refactoring, and Go-to-Definition for JavaScript, TypeScript, and Markdown out of the box
- Extension marketplace with packs for almost every language
- Integrated terminal and a Git client
- Debug Adapter Protocol means most languages plug in their own debugger
- Remote development over SSH, WSL, Dev Containers, or GitHub Codespaces
- Settings Sync across machines
- Profiles for different workflows in one install
- Copilot for inline completions, chat, and agent mode
- Web version at vscode.dev with no install needed
Incredibly fast, huge extension ecosystem, and the GitHub integration is seamless. Switched from PhpStorm and never looked back.
Great for JavaScript and TypeScript. PHP support is decent with extensions like Intelephense. Only gripe is RAM usage with many extensions.