Presentation

Visual Studio Code, generally abbreviated as VS Code, is a free code editor developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS and Linux. A Web version available through vscode.dev also makes it possible to browse and edit code directly from a browser.

The editor combines a relatively lightweight interface with features commonly found in more complete development environments: intelligent completion, code navigation, refactoring, debugging, integrated terminal, Git management and an extension system.

VS Code directly supports several Web technologies such as JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS and JSON. Its Marketplace can then add languages, frameworks, debuggers, linters, cloud tools or specialized environments.

Artificial intelligence features are now deeply integrated into the ecosystem but remain optional: the core editor can be used without an account and without an AI assistant.

As of October 3, 2026, Visual Studio Code 1.140.0 is the latest stable version, released on September 30, 2026.

Features

Editing and IntelliSense

VS Code provides syntax highlighting, snippets, automatic indentation, search, symbol navigation and various refactoring tools.

IntelliSense adds contextual completion based on language understanding, with information about available functions, parameters, types and symbols.

The level of support depends on the language: some features are built in directly, while others require an extension or language server.

Extensions

The Visual Studio Marketplace allows extensions to be installed directly from the editor.

They can add a language, debugger, theme, formatter, linter, container environment or tools related to specific frameworks and platforms.

Extensions have their own licenses and may require external components or services.

VS Code also allows organizations to control which extensions are permitted in their environment.

Debugging, terminal and tasks

VS Code includes a debugger that can notably set breakpoints, step through execution, inspect variables and view the call stack.

The integrated terminal runs the shells and commands available on the machine directly from the workspace.

The Tasks system can automate builds, tests, scripts, linters or other commands regularly used by a project.

Exact debugging support varies depending on the languages and extensions installed.

Git and version control

VS Code includes native integration with Git.

The Source Control interface displays modified files, shows diffs, stages changes, creates commits and works with branches.

Extensions can extend this foundation with GitHub, GitLab or other repository platforms.

The editor also remains compatible with Git commands executed directly from the terminal.

Remote Development

The Remote Development extensions make it possible to work on code located somewhere other than the local machine.

VS Code can connect to a remote machine over SSH, work inside WSL on Windows, use a tunnel or open an environment running inside a container.

Required extensions and development tools can run directly inside the remote environment while the interface remains displayed locally.

This architecture notably makes it possible to develop in an environment close to production without necessarily moving the code onto the main computer.

Dev Containers

Dev Containers uses a container as a complete development environment.

A project can describe its dependencies, tools, extensions and settings in a reproducible configuration.

Developers can therefore work with a more consistent environment across several machines or team members.

VS Code AI agents can also work in these environments when the corresponding configuration is enabled.

Profiles and Settings Sync

Profiles make it possible to maintain several VS Code configurations for different uses.

A profile can group settings, shortcuts, extensions, snippets, tasks and interface customization.

Settings Sync can synchronize part of this configuration across several machines after signing in with a compatible account.

This feature is particularly useful for keeping separate environments for Web, Python, C++, writing or other workflows.

Agents and AI features

VS Code now provides AI capabilities ranging from code suggestions to full agents capable of exploring a project, modifying multiple files and running checks.

The environment can use several agent harnesses, including GitHub Copilot, Claude or Codex depending on the available services and accounts.

Agents can also be extended with project instructions, skills, plugins and MCP — Model Context Protocol servers.

AI remains an optional layer: the editor core, terminal, Git, debugger and extensions work independently of these services.

VS Code for the Web

VS Code for the Web, available through vscode.dev, provides a free version running directly in the browser.

It can open local files or remote repositories, search through code, provide syntax highlighting and install selected Web-compatible extensions.

It remains more limited than the desktop application, however: the browser does not directly provide the same access to a terminal, local runtimes or debugger.

For more advanced requirements, the Web version can be connected to a remote machine, tunnel or cloud environment.

Use cases

Develop in multiple languages

The extension system makes it possible to use VS Code for JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, C++, Rust, Java, PHP and many other languages.

Each environment can have its own extensions, debuggers and tools.

Work on a Web project

VS Code provides a strong foundation for HTML, CSS, JavaScript and TypeScript, and can then be extended for React, Vue, Angular, Svelte or backend frameworks.

Terminal, Git and debugger remain available in the same workspace.

Develop remotely

Remote SSH, WSL and Dev Containers make it possible to edit locally while actually running tools in another environment.

This approach suits Linux servers, containerized environments or machines with specialized resources.

Customize a development environment

Themes, shortcuts, extensions, profiles and settings allow the editor to be extensively adapted to a specific workflow.

A team can also share extension recommendations and selected configurations with its repository.

Use AI assistants and agents

VS Code can serve as a shared environment for different AI assistants integrated directly with code, terminal and development tools.

A developer can therefore request an explanation, a targeted change or delegate a broader task while retaining the ability to review the changes.

Conclusion

Visual Studio Code combines code editing, extensibility and integrated development tools in an environment available across the main desktop operating systems.

IntelliSense, debugger, terminal, Git and Marketplace cover core needs, while Remote Development, Dev Containers, profiles and synchronization allow it to adapt to much more complex workflows.

The arrival of AI agents now adds a new layer of automated work, but it does not replace the editor’s traditional features and remains optional.

This modularity is one of VS Code’s main strengths: an installation can remain relatively simple or become a highly specialized environment through extensions.

For developing in multiple languages with a customizable, cross-platform and highly extensible editor, Visual Studio Code remains a major reference.

Points to consider

  • Visual Studio Code 1.140.0 is the latest stable version as of October 3, 2026, released on September 30, 2026.

  • VS Code is free, and the editor’s main features do not require a user account.

  • Visual Studio Code and Code - OSS do not use exactly the same license. The microsoft/vscode source repository is published under the MIT license, while Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code distribution contains additional customizations and components governed by the Microsoft Software License Terms.

  • It is therefore more accurate to describe Visual Studio Code as a product built on an open-source project, rather than as a distribution entirely licensed under MIT.

  • Extensions have their own licenses and conditions. Installing an extension does not necessarily mean that it is open source or free.

  • The Visual Studio Marketplace has its own terms of use.

  • AI features are optional. Their availability, models, quotas and pricing notably depend on GitHub Copilot or the providers and harnesses being used.

  • AI agents can modify files and execute commands. Their changes should be reviewed before integration, especially in sensitive repositories or environments.

  • Remote Development installs some VS Code components on the remote machine or environment. Security policies and licensing should be considered in enterprise environments.

  • VS Code for the Web is more limited than the desktop version. Without a remote environment, it notably does not provide the same terminal, debugger or access to system runtimes.

  • Not all desktop extensions work in the browser. Web extensions must be compatible with the sandbox and APIs available there.

  • Settings Sync does not automatically synchronize extensions installed inside a remote environment such as SSH, WSL or Dev Containers.

  • VS Code Stable and VS Code Insiders follow different release cycles. Insiders builds provide earlier access to new features but may contain experimental or less stable functionality.