Visual Studio Code

{{Short description|Integrated development environment from Microsoft}} {{distinguish|Microsoft Visual Studio{{!}}Visual Studio}} {{Infobox software | logo = Visual Studio Code 1.35 icon.svg | logo caption = Logo used since May 2019 | screenshot = VS Code (Insiders).png | caption = Visual Studio Code starting screen with dark theme | author = Erich Gamma | developer = Microsoft | released = {{start date and age|2015|04|29}} | latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q19841877|P348|P548=Q2804309}} | latest release date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q19841877|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}<ref>https://code.visualstudio.com/updates/</ref> | latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q19841877|P348|P548=Q51930650}} | latest preview date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q19841877|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}}} | programming language = C++, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, CSS<ref name="github repo">{{Citation|title=GitHub repository microsoft/vscode|date=2020-12-20|url=https://github.com/microsoft/vscode|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=2020-12-20|archive-date=2015-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123164810/https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode|url-status=live}}</ref> | operating system = Windows 10 or later, macOS 12 or later, Linux | platform = x86-64, ARM32, ARM64 | size = {{Plainlist| * '''Windows:''' 104–110 MB * '''Linux:''' 108–145 MB * '''macOS:''' 147–247 MB }} | language = {{Wikidata|properties|normal|Q19841877|P407}} | language count = {{#expr: {{#invoke:String|count|{{Wikidata|properties|normal|Q19841877|P407}}|,}} + 1 }} | language footnote = {{Wikidata|references|edit|normal|single|Q19841877|P407}} | genre = Integrated development environment | license = Proprietary freeware<ref>{{Cite web |title=Download Visual Studio Code |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/Download |website=Visual Studio Code |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=16 August 2016 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817000302/http://code.visualstudio.com/Download |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="official-download-license">{{Cite web |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/license |title=Microsoft Software License Terms |website=Visual Studio Code |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=16 August 2016 |archive-date=21 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021202400/https://code.visualstudio.com/License |url-status=live }}</ref> based on open-source project<ref name="code-oss-license">{{cite web | url=https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/blob/main/LICENSE.txt | title=LICENSE.txt | publisher=Microsoft | work=github.com/Microsoft/vscode | date=17 November 2015 | access-date=17 April 2021 | archive-date=27 March 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327164850/https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/blob/main/LICENSE.txt | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |website=Underjord |title=The best parts of Visual Studio Code are proprietary |url=https://underjord.io/the-best-parts-of-visual-studio-code-are-proprietary.html |access-date=2021-02-10 |archive-date=2021-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206042655/https://underjord.io/the-best-parts-of-visual-studio-code-are-proprietary.html |url-status=live }}</ref> }}

'''Visual Studio Code''' (commonly referred to as '''VS Code''')<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanton |first=Lee |date=2021-08-17 |title=How to Run Code in VS Code |url=https://www.alphr.com/vs-code-run-code/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Alphr |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602104804/https://www.alphr.com/vs-code-run-code/ |url-status=live }}</ref> is an integrated development environment developed by Microsoft for Windows, Linux, macOS and web browsers.<ref name="TechCrunch">{{cite news |last=Lardinois |first=Frederic |date=April 29, 2015 |title=Microsoft Launches Visual Studio Code, A Free Cross-Platform Code Editor For OS X, Linux And Windows |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/04/29/microsoft-shocks-the-world-with-visual-studio-code-a-free-code-editor-for-os-x-linux-and-windows |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=October 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028161004/https://techcrunch.com/2015/04/29/microsoft-shocks-the-world-with-visual-studio-code-a-free-code-editor-for-os-x-linux-and-windows/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Devine |first1=Richard |title=How to use Visual Studio Code in a web browser |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-visual-studio-code-web-browser |website=Windows Central |access-date=11 April 2024 |language=en |date=22 December 2022 |archive-date=15 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415101247/https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-visual-studio-code-web-browser |url-status=live }}</ref> Features include support for debugging, syntax highlighting, intelligent code completion, snippets, code refactoring, and embedded version control with Git. Users can change the theme, keyboard shortcuts and preferences, as well as install extensions that add functionality, including to extend its capabilities to function as an IDE for other languages.

Visual Studio Code is proprietary software released under the "Microsoft Software License",<ref name="official-download-license"/> but based on the MIT licensed program named "Visual Studio Code{{dash}}Open Source" (also known as "Code{{dash}}OSS"), also created by Microsoft and available through GitHub.<ref name="built on top of OSS"/>

In the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, out of over 49,000 responses, 75.9% of respondents reported using Visual Studio Code, more than twice the percentage of respondents who reported using its nearest alternative, Visual Studio.<ref>{{cite web|author=Stack Overflow|date=2025|title=Technology {{pipe}} 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey|url=https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/technology/#1-dev-id-es|website=stackoverflow.com|publisher=Stack Overflow|access-date=2025-10-07}}</ref>

== History ==

Visual Studio Code was first announced on April 29, 2015, by Microsoft at the 2015 Build conference. A preview build was released shortly thereafter.<ref name="Visual Studio Blog">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vscode/archive/2015/04/29/announcing-visual-studio-code-preview.aspx|title=Announcing Visual Studio Code{{dash}}Preview|date=April 29, 2015| first=Sean| last=McBreen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009211114/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vscode/archive/2015/04/29/announcing-visual-studio-code-preview.aspx|archive-date=2015-10-09}}</ref>

On November 18, 2015, the project "Visual Studio Code{{dash}}Open Source" (also known as "Code{{dash}}OSS"), on which Visual Studio Code is based, was released under the open-source MIT License and made available on GitHub.<ref name="built on top of OSS">{{cite web|last1=Dias|first1=Chris|date=4 December 2015|title=Issue: Menu license links to non Open Source license|url=https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/issues/60#issuecomment-161792005|website=Microsoft/vscode repo|publisher=Microsoft|at=Response #161792005|via=GitHub.com|quote=We wanted to deliver a Microsoft branded product, built on top of an open source code base that the community could explore and contribute to.|access-date=21 February 2019|archive-date=4 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904000420/https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/issues/60#issuecomment-161792005|url-status=live}}</ref>

Extension support was also announced.<ref name=ars-opensource>{{cite news|title=Visual Studio now supports debugging Linux apps; Code editor now open source|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/11/visual-studio-now-supports-debugging-linux-apps-code-editor-now-open-source/|access-date=18 November 2015|work=Ars Technica|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411195700/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/11/visual-studio-now-supports-debugging-linux-apps-code-editor-now-open-source/|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 14, 2016, Visual Studio Code graduated from the public preview stage and was released to the web.<ref name="first RTW">{{cite web|title=Visual Studio Code editor hits version 1, has half a million users|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/04/visual-studio-code-editor-hits-version-1-has-half-a-million-users/|website=Ars Technica|publisher=Condé Nast|date=15 April 2016|access-date=15 June 2017|archive-date=7 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707120125/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/04/visual-studio-code-editor-hits-version-1-has-half-a-million-users/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Features ==

=== Code editor === Visual Studio Code includes a source-code editor that can be used with a variety of programming languages, including C, C#, C++, Fortran, Go, Java, JavaScript, Node.js, Python, Rust, and Julia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2919555/microsoft-net/visual-studio-code-a-fast-lightweight-and-cross-platform-code-editor.html|title=Visual Studio Code: A fast, lightweight, cross-platform code editor|first=Joydip|last=Kanjilal|date=2015-05-06|publisher=InfoWorld|access-date=2019-01-25|archive-date=2019-01-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125183306/https://www.infoworld.com/article/2919555/microsoft-net/visual-studio-code-a-fast-lightweight-and-cross-platform-code-editor.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3304957/web-development/its-gotten-a-little-easier-to-develop-pwas-in-windows.html|title=It's gotten a little easier to develop PWAs in Windows|first=Simon|last=Bisson|date=2018-09-11|publisher=InfoWorld|access-date=2019-01-25|archive-date=2019-01-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125183323/https://www.infoworld.com/article/3304957/web-development/its-gotten-a-little-easier-to-develop-pwas-in-windows.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channelworld.in/news/whats-new-microsoft-visual-studio-code|title=What's new in Microsoft Visual Studio Code|first=Paul|last=Krill|date=2018-02-24|publisher=ChannelWorld|access-date=2019-01-25|archive-date=2019-01-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125183213/http://www.channelworld.in/news/whats-new-microsoft-visual-studio-code|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sitepoint.com/debugging-javascript-projects-vs-code-chrome-debugger/|title=Debugging JavaScript Projects with VS Code & Chrome Debugger|first=Michael|last=Wanyoike|date=2018-06-06|publisher=SitePoint|access-date=2019-01-25|archive-date=2019-01-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125130917/https://www.sitepoint.com/debugging-javascript-projects-vs-code-chrome-debugger/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Julia in Visual Studio Code |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/julia |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Visual Studio Code |language=en |archive-date=2023-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526231012/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/julia |url-status=live }}</ref> Visual Studio Code employs the same editor component (codenamed "Monaco") used in Azure DevOps (formerly called "Visual Studio Online" and "Visual Studio Team Services").<ref>{{cite web|title=Monaco Editor|url=https://microsoft.github.io/monaco-editor/|website=microsoft.github.io/monaco-editor|access-date=2016-11-03|archive-date=2017-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830163725/https://microsoft.github.io/monaco-editor/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The downloadable version of Visual Studio Code is built on the Electron framework,<ref name="ars-electron">{{cite web |title=Microsoft's new Code editor is built on Google's Chromium |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/04/microsofts-new-code-editor-is-built-on-googles-chromium/ |website=Ars Technica |date=29 April 2015 |access-date=18 November 2015 |archive-date=7 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507020146/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/04/microsofts-new-code-editor-is-built-on-googles-chromium/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which is used to develop Node.js web applications that run on the Blink layout engine. Visual Studio Code for the Web is a browser-based version of the editor that can be used to edit both local files and remote repositories (on GitHub and Microsoft Azure) without installing the full program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Visual Studio Code for the Web |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/vscode-web |website=code.visualstudio.com |access-date=11 April 2024 |language=en |archive-date=9 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240409022034/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/vscode-web |url-status=live }}</ref> It is officially supported and hosted by Microsoft and can be accessed at {{URL|https://vscode.dev}}.

Out of the box, Visual Studio Code includes basic support for most common programming languages. This basic support includes syntax highlighting, bracket matching, code folding, and configurable snippets. Visual Studio Code also ships with IntelliSense for JavaScript, TypeScript, JSON, CSS, and HTML, as well as debugging support for Node.js. Support for additional languages can be provided by freely available extensions on the VS Code Marketplace.<ref>{{cite web |title=Programming Languages, Hundreds of programming languages supported |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/overview |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=2016-10-11 |archive-date=2017-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511180310/https://code.visualstudio.com/Docs/languages/overview |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Debugging === VS Code features a built-in debugger designed to enhance the development process. It provides native support for debugging Node.js applications, while additional debuggers for other programming languages can be installed via extensions. The debugger allows developers to attach to running processes and step through source code line-by-line during execution, offering a detailed view of program flow. It can also display disassembly for low-level analysis in C++.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Julia |date=2021-07-28 |title=Visual Studio Code C++ July 2021 Update: Disassembly View, Macro Expansion and Windows ARM64 Debugging |url=https://devblogs.microsoft.com/cppblog/visual-studio-code-c-july-2021-update-disassembly-view-macro-expansion-and-windows-arm64-debugging/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=C++ Team Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> Furthermore, users can set breakpoints{{dash}}either standard or conditional{{dash}}to pause execution at specific points and examine the program's state, while also monitoring variable values in real-time as the code runs.

An interactive feature of VS Code's debugging toolkit is the Debug Console.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Debug code with Visual Studio Code |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/debugging }}</ref> This panel is integrated directly into the debugging session, enabling users to evaluate expressions, such as checking variable values or testing functions, and execute commands on the fly. This functionality provides developers with greater control and deeper insight into the program's behavior.

=== File management and workspace === Instead of a project system, VS Code allows users to open one or more directories, which can then be saved in workspaces for future reuse. This allows it to operate as a language-agnostic code editor for any language. It supports many programming languages and a set of features that differ per language. Unwanted files and folders can be excluded from the project tree via settings.

=== Command Palette === Many Visual Studio Code features are not exposed through menus or the user interface but can be accessed via the Command Palette.<ref name="languages2">{{cite web |date=October 10, 2016 |title=Language Support in Visual Studio Code |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/overview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511180310/https://code.visualstudio.com/Docs/languages/overview |archive-date=2017-05-11 |access-date=2016-10-12 |website=Visual Studio Code}}</ref> The Command Palette is able to execute virtually every feature the graphical interface supports, making it very keyboard-accessible.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visual Studio Code User Interface |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/userinterface |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=code.visualstudio.com |language=en |archive-date=2024-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806050652/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/userinterface |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Integrated terminal === Visual Studio Code provides a fully featured ''integrated terminal'' that opens at the root of the current workspace, allowing users to run shell commands without leaving the editor environment.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Terminal Basics |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/terminal/basics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417044829/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/terminal/basics |archive-date=2025-04-17 |access-date=2025-04-25 |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> It can be toggled via '''View → Terminal''', the Command Palette (<code>View: Toggle Integrated Terminal</code>), or the keyboard shortcut (<code>Ctrl+'</code>). Users may open multiple terminals in tabs or split panes, rename them, and kill sessions individually, directly within the editor UI.

This terminal hosts any shell installed on the system—Bash, Zsh, PowerShell, Fish, Git Bash, WSL, etc.—and detects available profiles automatically, making it simple to switch contexts via the dropdown menu or the <code>Terminal: Select Default Profile</code> command.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Terminal Shell Integration |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/terminal/shell-integration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250423063113/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/terminal/shell-integration |archive-date=2025-04-23 |access-date=2025-04-26 |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

Beyond basic command execution, VS Code's shell integration also contains clickable file links, working directory awareness, and error-detection markers in the scrollbar. These enhancements simplify tracing errors and navigating code paths by allowing direct jumps to source files, preserving the current working directory context, and highlighting problems inline within the terminal's scroll bar.

=== Extensibility and customization === Visual Studio Code can be extended via extensions.<ref name="extensions">{{cite web |title=Extending Visual Studio Code |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/extensions/overview |website=Visual Studio Code |date=October 10, 2016 |access-date=2016-10-12 |archive-date=2016-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018124435/http://code.visualstudio.com/docs/extensions/overview |url-status=live }}</ref> Users may install extensions from the VS Code Marketplace to add language support,<ref name="languages2"/> editor,<ref name="editor">{{cite web |date=October 10, 2016 |title=Managing Extensions in Visual Studio Code |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/extension-gallery |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124105840/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/extension-gallery |archive-date=2021-01-24 |access-date=2016-10-12 |website=Visual Studio Code}}</ref> themes, debuggers, and additional utilities. A notable feature is the ability to create extensions that add support for new languages, themes, debuggers, time travel debuggers, perform static code analysis, and add code linters using the Language Server Protocol.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/extensions/example-language-server|title=Creating Language Servers for Visual Studio Code |website=Visual Studio Code |access-date=2017-02-27|archive-date=2017-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901125849/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/extensions/example-language-server|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Source control === Source control is a built-in feature of Visual Studio Code. It has a dedicated tab inside the menu bar where users can access version control settings and view changes made to the current project. To use the feature, Visual Studio Code must be linked to any supported version control system (Git, Apache Subversion, Perforce, etc.). This allows users to create repositories and to make push and pull requests directly from the Visual Studio Code program.

Visual Studio Code collects usage data and sends it to Microsoft to help improve the product. This telemetry feature can be disabled.<ref name="FAQ_telemetry">{{cite web |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/supporting/faq#_how-to-disable-telemetry-reporting |title=Visual Studio Code FAQ |website=Visual Studio Code |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=4 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828111301/https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/supporting/faq |archive-date=28 August 2016 |url-status=live |quote=VS Code collects usage data and sends it to Microsoft to help improve our products and services. Read our privacy statement to learn more. If you don't wish to send usage data to Microsoft, you can set the telemetry.enableTelemetry setting to false.}}</ref> The information contained in this telemetry data can be inspected by the public, since the product is open source.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/tree/main/src/vs/platform/telemetry |title=vscode/src/vs/platform/telemetry at main branch |work=microsoft/vscode repo |via=GitHub |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=24 March 2020 |archive-date=25 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125061716/https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/tree/main/src/vs/platform/telemetry |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Remote development and web-based access === VS Code supports remote development through extensions such as Remote–SSH, Remote–Containers, and Remote–WSL. These tools enable users to connect to and develop within remote environments, including servers and containers.

Visual Studio Code for the Web (accessible at vscode.dev) allows users to edit files directly in a web browser without the need to install the desktop application.<ref>{{cite news |title=vscode.dev(!) |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/blogs/2021/10/20/vscode-dev |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211163322/https://code.visualstudio.com/blogs/2021/10/20/vscode-dev |archive-date=2025-02-11 |access-date=2025-02-27 |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> This version supports basic editing tasks and integration with remote repositories.

=== Insiders === thumb|Visual Studio Code Insiders logo|alt=An orange version of the Visual Studio Code logo|160x160px

VS Code Insiders is a nightly build version of this code editor, providing users with the opportunity to experience new features, bug fixes, and improvements ahead of their official release. It is compiled every night based on the latest changes from the development team, allowing users to test and provide feedback before these updates are officially released in the stable version.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chris |first=Dias |date=February 1, 2016 |title=Introducing the Insiders Build |url=https://code.visualstudio.com/blogs/2016/02/01/introducing_insiders_build }}</ref>

This version is completely independent of the standard version, meaning users can install and run both simultaneously without any interference between their settings, extensions, or themes. This design enables developers to explore and experiment with the latest features of the code editor without affecting their primary development environment.

== Derivatives ==

{| class="wikitable" |+ |- ! Name ! Developed by ! License ! Notes |- | Antigravity | Google | {{Proprietary}} | <ref>{{cite web |last=David |first=Ramel |title=Google Joins AI IDE Race to Compete with VS Code, Apparently Forking VS Code – |url=https://visualstudiomagazine.com/articles/2025/11/20/google-joins-ai-ide-race-to-compete-with-vs-code-apparently-forking-vs-code.aspx |website=Visual Studio Magazine}}</ref> |- | Cursor | Anysphere | {{Proprietary}} | <ref name="register-721912">{{cite web |last1=Claburn |first1=Thomas |title=Microsoft subtracts C/C++ extension from VS Code forks |url=https://www.theregister.com/software/2025/04/24/microsoft-subtracts-c/c-extension-from-vs-code-forks/721912 |website=theregister |date=24 April 2025}}</ref> |- | Trae | ByteDance | {{Proprietary}} | <ref>{{cite web |last1=Devine |first1=Richard |title=ByteDance clarifies concerns over Trae, its fork of Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/tiktoks-owner-forked-microsofts-visual-studio-code-and-there-are-concerns |website=Windows Central |language=en |date=28 July 2025}}</ref> |- | VSCodium | VSCodium contributors | {{open source|MIT}} | <ref name="register-721912" /> |- | Windsurf | Windsurf | {{Proprietary}} | <ref>{{cite web |title=Recommended Plugins |url=https://docs.windsurf.com/windsurf/recommended-plugins |website=Windsurf Docs |language=en |quote=Windsurf, being a fork of VS Code}}</ref> |}

== Reception ==

In the 2016 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, Visual Studio Code ranked 13{{sup|th}} among the top popular development tools, with only 7% of the 47,000 respondents using it.<ref>{{cite web|title=Developer Survey Results 2016|url=https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2016#technology-development-environments|website=Stack Overflow Insights|publisher=Stack Exchange|access-date=7 April 2018|archive-date=18 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318113033/http://stackoverflow.com/research/developer-survey-2016#technology-development-environments|url-status=live}}</ref> Two years later, Visual Studio Code rose to the no.{{nbsp}}1 spot, with 35% of the 75,000 respondents using it.<ref name="StackOverflow2018">{{cite web |title=Developer Survey Results 2018 |url=https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2018/ |website=StackOverflow Insights |publisher=Stack Exchange |access-date=7 April 2018 |archive-date=6 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306080413/https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then Visual Studio Code has retained the no.{{nbsp}}1 spot, with the percentage of respondents reporting using it increasing to 50% in 2019,<ref name="StackOverflow2019">{{cite web |title=Developer Survey Results 2019 – Most Popular Development Environments |url=https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2019#development-environments-and-tools |website=Stack Overflow Insights |publisher=Stack Exchange |access-date=10 April 2019 |archive-date=7 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307082721/https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2019#development-environments-and-tools |url-status=live }}</ref> 74.5% in 2021,<ref name="StackOverflow2021">{{cite web |title=Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2021 – Integrated Development Environment |url=https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2021#section-most-popular-technologies-integrated-development-environment |website=Stack Overflow Insights |publisher=Stack Exchange |access-date=11 August 2021 |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413214054/https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2021#section-most-popular-technologies-integrated-development-environment |url-status=live }}</ref> 74.48% in 2022,<ref name="StackOverflow2022">{{cite web |title=Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2022 – Integrated development environment |url=https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2022/#section-most-popular-technologies-integrated-development-environment |website=Stack Overflow Insights |publisher=Stack Exchange |access-date=28 June 2022 |archive-date=27 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627034954/https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2022/#section-most-popular-technologies-integrated-development-environment |url-status=live }}</ref> 73.71% in 2023,<ref name="StackOverflow2023">{{cite web |title=Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2023 – Integrated development environment |url=https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2023/#section-most-popular-technologies-integrated-development-environment |website=Stack Overflow Insights |publisher=Stack Exchange |access-date=8 November 2023 |archive-date=4 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104170531/https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2023/#section-most-popular-technologies-integrated-development-environment |url-status=live }}</ref> 73.6% in 2024,<ref>{{cite web |title=Technology {{pipe}} 2024 Stack Overflow Developer Survey |url=https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2024/technology#1-integrated-development-environment |website=Stack Overflow Insights |publisher=Stack Exchange |access-date=12 November 2024}}</ref> and 75.9% in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Technology {{pipe}} 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey |url=https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/technology#1-dev-id-es |website=Stack Overflow Insights |publisher=Stack Exchange |access-date=11 August 2025}}</ref> (The 2020 Developers Survey did not cover integrated development environments.<ref name="StackOverflow2020">{{cite web |title=Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2020 – Development Environments and Tools |url=https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2020#development-environments-and-tools |website=Stack Overflow Insights |publisher=Stack Exchange |access-date=8 November 2023 |archive-date=1 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101001715/https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2020#development-environments-and-tools |url-status=live }}</ref>)

== See also == {{Portal|Free and open-source software}} * Comparison of integrated development environments * List of integrated development environments * Comparison of text editors * GitHub Copilot * GitHub Codespaces – Online integrated development environment that resembles VS Code * Visual Studio * Eclipse Theia

== References ==

== External links == * {{Official website|https://code.visualstudio.com/}} * [https://github.com/microsoft/vscode Microsoft's "Code{{dash}}OSS" Github repository]

Category:2015 software Category:Free software distributions Category:Free text editors Category:HTML editors Category:Java development tools Category:Linux text editors Category:MacOS text editors Category:Microsoft software Code Category:Windows text editors Category:XML editors Category:Electron (software framework)