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This open source program for Windows users can make coding a lot easier and more user-friendly

This open source program for Windows users can make coding a lot easier and more user-friendly

Vote: (23 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: GitHub

Version: 1.39.2

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(23 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

GitHub

1.39.2

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Features support for hundreds of different programming languages
  • Using rich semantic parsing, syntax highlighting, and Intellisense code completion that make it appropriate for programmers of all skill levels
  • Backed by hundreds of dedicated developers that extend the functionality of VSCode all the time
  • Includes step-by-step code walkthrough, allowing users to examine variable values, call stacks, and executables

Cons

  • Not as fully-fledged as some language-specific integrated development environments

VSCode, also known as Visual Studio Code, is one of the largest open source, integrated development environments for developers. Over sixty four different developers have come together to create thousands of new features, updates, and enhanced language parsing capabilities for all types of programming.

Featuring support for hundreds of different languages, VSCode combines the simplicity of a code editor with the powerful support of a debugging tool. Using IntelliSense code completion and robust compiler testing programs, VSCode looks very lightweight while providing comprehensive support for every experience level of developer.

Though the app can be highly customized and integrated with other development environments, the base VSCode application is incredibly simple to use. The base application features syntax highlighting, bracket matching, automatic indentation, code selection, and parsing support.

New developers love the automatic code completion, semantic understanding, and error report generation capability of VSCode. With an interactive step-through code checker, users can walk through their source code line by line while inspecting variable values, call stacks, and executable commands.

Since VSCode is completely open source, it's both free to use and improved all the time by charitable development teams. Additionally, the development environment has built in support for Node.js, Javascript, typescript, and other underlying technologies.

Many users boast that VSCode is perfect for complex web development stacks that feature React, HTML, CSS, Less, and JSON.

Moreover, the VSCode team features extensive documentation and tutorials through both their github and unaffiliated Youtube channels. The application is available for all major operating systems, including macOS, linux, and windows.

Users should keep in mind that VSCode has limited support for some languages, such as Python, since it doesn't support concurrent multiple CPU use. It also lacks some of the power of language-specific development environments, like NetBeans and JetBrains.

Most users opt to pair VSCode with other development environments in order to get the most out of the software. Thousands of development teams and individual programmers have switched over to VSCode since its release in 2015.

Pros

  • Features support for hundreds of different programming languages
  • Using rich semantic parsing, syntax highlighting, and Intellisense code completion that make it appropriate for programmers of all skill levels
  • Backed by hundreds of dedicated developers that extend the functionality of VSCode all the time
  • Includes step-by-step code walkthrough, allowing users to examine variable values, call stacks, and executables

Cons

  • Not as fully-fledged as some language-specific integrated development environments