VS Code
"Lightweight editor with extensions and built-in terminal"
What is VS Code?
VS Code (Visual Studio Code) is a free, cross-platform code editor by Microsoft. It supports many languages via extensions and has built-in Git, terminal, and debugging.
Memory hook
"Editor + extensions + terminal + Git + debug = daily driver"
Core features
- IntelliSense — autocomplete, hover info, go to definition
- Integrated terminal — run commands without leaving the editor
- Git integration — stage, commit, diff, blame in the UI
- Debugging — breakpoints, watch, call stack (Node, Python, C#, etc.)
- Extensions — language support, themes, linters, formatters
- Multi-cursor / refactor — rename symbol, find and replace
Essential shortcuts (Windows/Linux)
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Command palette | Ctrl+Shift+P |
| Quick open file | Ctrl+P |
| Toggle sidebar | Ctrl+B |
| Toggle terminal | Ctrl+` |
| Find in file | Ctrl+F |
| Find in workspace | Ctrl+Shift+F |
| Go to definition | F12 |
| Rename symbol | F2 |
| Format document | Shift+Alt+F |
| Comment line | Ctrl+/ |
Useful extensions (examples)
- ESLint — JavaScript/TypeScript linting
- Prettier — code formatting
- GitLens — Git blame, history, compare
- Docker — manage containers and images
- Remote - SSH / WSL — edit on remote or WSL
- Thunder Client / REST Client — API testing
Settings and keybindings
- Settings:
Ctrl+,or File → Preferences → Settings - Keybindings:
Ctrl+K Ctrl+S - Settings sync — sign in with Microsoft/GitHub to sync across machines
- settings.json — edit JSON for full control
Workspace vs folder
- Open folder — single root; settings can be in
.vscode/(workspace-specific) - Workspace file (
.code-workspace) — multiple folders, shared settings and launch configs
Interview one-liner
"VS Code is a lightweight, extensible code editor with IntelliSense, integrated terminal, Git, and debugging. Extensions add languages and tools; Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) is the main way to run commands."
Cheat sheet
Ctrl+Shift+P = command palette
Ctrl+P = quick open
F12 = go to definition; F2 = rename
Ctrl+` = terminal
Extensions = language + lint + format
.vscode/ = workspace settings, launch, tasks