Installing Visual Studio Code on Windows

Written by Martin-Luther Topico

Last updated on October 14, 2024

What is an Integrated Development Environment?

An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a software application that consolidates all the necessary tools for programming into one interface. It typically includes a code editor for writing and organizing code, a compiler or interpreter for running the code, a debugger to help identify and fix errors, and often version control features for tracking changes.

Lessons Learned: You need to have an IDE to simplify and accelerate your development process.

When I first started programming, I used the most basic tool available: Notepad. As my skills progressed, I switched to Notepad++, a lightweight, more feature-rich text editor. It was perfect for learning and working on small projects. However, its features are not enough for complex tasks.

What is Visual Studio Code?

I began exploring IDEs, starting with NetBeans for my PHP projects. As I shifted my focus to informatics, data science, and data engineering, I learned about how Python and R dominate these fields. Along the way, I learned about IDEs, such as PyCharm, RStudio, and Jupyter Notebook, each of which offered unique capabilities.

As my projects grew more diverse, I realized I needed an IDE that could handle all the different tools and languages. That’s when I discovered Visual Studio Code (VSCode). It’s a free, open-source code editor with a rich feature set and support for a vast ecosystem of extensions. VSCode offers compatibility with Python and R and even supports running Jupyter Notebook.

Installing VSCode

1. Download VSCode

Visit the official Visual Studio Code website, and click the Windows download button.

2. Run the Installer

Once the download is complete, locate the setup file (typically in your Downloads folder) and run it.

3. Accept the Agreement

Review the terms of the license agreement and click I accept the agreement, then Next.

4. Select Installation Location

Choose the directory where you want to install VSCode or leave it as the default location. Click Next.

5. Add to Start Menu folder

Continue to create the program’s shortcuts in the Start Menu.

6. Choose Additional Tasks

Mark the options:

✓ Add “Open with Code” action to Windows Explorer file context menu.
✓ Add “Open with Code” action to Windows Explorer directory context menu.
✓ Register Code as an editor for supported file types
✓ Add to PATH (requires shell restart)

After selecting, click Next.

7. Install

Click the Install button to begin the installation process.

8. Launch Visual Studio Code

Once installation is complete, you can launch VSCode by checking the Launch Visual Studio Code box and clicking Finish.