Mastering Visual Studio Code (2026)

Explore the VS Code interface, master basic features like the file explorer and code editing, and customize visual and functional settings for your workflow, including workspaces.

Navigate the Visual Studio Code interface, starting at the welcome screen, open a folder, and explore the menu bar, activity bar, status bar, sidebars, and chat interface with GitHub Copilot.

Explore the VSCode file explorer, preview and open files as tabs, view the outline view and language modes, edit code, view assets, and move files for multi-monitor setups.

Learn how editing in VSCode updates the file explorer, saves with save or save all, and uses the timeline and intellisense features for JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, and CSS.

open and manage folders in VS Code, including closing and resuming the last opened folder, dragging folders from the native file explorer, and opening folders via the terminal with code.

Mastering Visual Studio Code: learn to use the command palette and keyboard shortcuts to execute commands, manage key bindings, toggle views, and explore extensions for a faster workflow.

Explore how to visually customize VS Code by selecting color and icon themes, previewing options with keyboard arrows, and installing themes; adjust font size with Ctrl plus or minus.

Explore how settings work in VS Code, including user, workspace, and remote settings, and learn to customize auto save, modify settings.json locally or globally, and apply color themes.

Learn how VS Code extensions boost productivity by searching, installing, and managing extensions, including disabled and uninstalled states, with tips on extension packs and performance.

Learn how to search within file in Visual Studio Code using ctrl or cmd f, refine results by case and whole word, replace while preserving case, and use regular expressions.

Master the VS Code file search using ctrl-p and the command palette, refine results with case and whole-word options, perform search-and-replace, and view context or export results.

Master multi-cursor editing in VS Code to speed up repetitive changes, using Ctrl+D, Ctrl+Shift+L, and Alt-click, with JSON edits and cursor smooth settings.

Learn how to create and use multi-root workspaces in VS Code to manage multiple folders, save as a .code-workspace, and apply shared settings, searches, and debug configurations across projects.

Explore general coding guidelines in this section, previewing features and noting broad guidance before language-specific details, then begin the embedded terminal in VS Code.

Master VS Code terminal workflows by opening terminals, setting a default shell, using the panel for problems and logs, and launching VS Code from the terminal with the code command.

Explore how VS Code intellisense acts as a smart code assistant, predicting methods and arguments, with on-the-fly documentation and Python, JavaScript, and TypeScript support, triggered by Ctrl+Space.

Master VSCode's code commenting across Python, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, and JSON using ctrl+/ to add, toggle, or uncomment. Enable Jsdoc comments for on-the-fly documentation and manage settings.json comments.

Master how to format code in visual studio code using the format document command, adjust tab size, and enable format on paste or save, including Python and Black formatting.

Explore how the VSCode debugger works, from setting up launch.json and breakpoints to stepping through code, inspecting local and global variables, and reading the call stack in the debug console.

Explore how VS Code refactoring works across languages, trigger options with a light bulb or shortcut, and rename, extract, or update imports to streamline JavaScript projects.

Discover how code snippets in VS Code function as reusable blocks you insert with prefixes or the command palette, and how to create Python or JavaScript snippets.

Explore how to use the peek and find features in VS Code to navigate code, view definitions, references, and call hierarchies across languages for clearer debugging.

Explore three VS Code extensions—Colspan spellchecker, Code Runner, and Rest client—to improve code spelling, run code across languages, test APIs, and enable remote collaboration with Live Share.

Reach the halfway point to solidify your VSCode foundation and explore language-specific sections, future C# support, and AI-assisted programming with Copilot as you continue the course.

Explore how VSCode assists writing and navigating code, focusing on ESLint and Prettier extensions and debugging JavaScript and TypeScript in Node.js and the browser.

Discover how Visual Studio Code enhances JavaScript typing with content assist, type definitions for JavaScript, frontend and NodeJS back-end code, and the benefits of TypeScript installation for safer, typo-resistant code.

Explore how VS Code supports code navigation with examples, from importing a cool checker and inspecting generate ID, to using go-to-definition, find references, call hierarchy, and code lens for JavaScript.

Learn how Visual Studio Code enables ESLint linting through static analysis, install and configure ESLint, and use the VS Code extension to enforce consistent rules and catch unused variables.

Learn to format code with prettier in VS Code, using built-in formatters, a prettier rc file, and formatting on save for JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and JSON.

Learn to debug a NodeJS app in VS Code by creating a launch.json, choosing NodeJS, and using breakpoints, step controls, and the debug console to inspect requests and responses.

Learn to debug client-side JavaScript in a browser using Chrome-based browsers and VS Code, including setting breakpoints, inspecting call stacks, and configuring a Chrome or Brave launch for browser debugging.

Explore two debugging approaches for Node.js TypeScript: compile to dist with tsconfig and source maps, or run ts-node directly without dist. Configure launch.json and prelaunch tasks to enable each method.

Learn to debug TypeScript in the browser by manually compiling to JavaScript, enabling source maps, and configuring VS Code launch settings to hit breakpoints and inspect values.

Discover how the paste JSON as code extension in VS Code generates TypeScript types from JSON, names interfaces from the file, handles arrays, and updates types on edit.

Explore how Visual Studio Code enhances React development with intelligent JavaScript and JSX support, a Vite starter project, and extensions for snippets, refactoring, and component extraction.

Discover how VS Code treats Vue files without default assistance, install the Vue language features extension (Volar), and enable content assist and syntax highlighting in Vue projects.

Discover VS Code's angular development workflow with the angular language service, npm install, and angular CLI, then debug with breakpoints directly in the VS Code debugger using your browser.

Prepare your VSCode installation for Python development, enable linting and formatting, manage virtual environments, and debug and run unit tests, with an optional lecture on Jupyter notebooks.

Set up your Python environment in VS Code by ensuring Python and pip are installed, then install the Python extension and Pylance to enable a smooth development experience and linting.

Install and configure a Python linter and formatter in VS Code to improve code quality. Use pylint or flake8 for linting and black for formatting, addressing false positives.

Create and use a Python virtual environment in Visual Studio Code to install libraries locally with pip, manage dependencies via requirements.txt and requirements.dev.txt, and switch interpreters for projects.

Explore the python debugger in VS Code by configuring a launch.json, setting breakpoints, and stepping through code to inspect json responses and debug configurations.

Learn to write, run, and debug Python unit tests in VS Code using the pi test library or built-in test library, configure tests with the Python extension, and inspect results.

Discover how VS Code augments Jupyter notebooks with the official Jupyter extension and extension pack, including virtual environment activation and running code cells.

Discover how VSCode supports Java development with extensions for code assistance, unit test assistance, debugging, and refactoring, assuming a recent JDK and basic Java knowledge.

Prepare VS Code for Java development by installing Java and Maven, and adding the Java Extension Pack with a language server to enable project creation.

Open VS Code in an empty folder, create a Java class with a main method, and run it; then create a Maven project and manage dependencies in VS Code.

Use VS Code to write and run Java unit tests with JUnit 5 and JUnit Jupiter dependencies, view results, and debug directly in the editor.

Learn to debug Java in VS Code with breakpoints, variable inspection, and call stacks, using hot code replacement to update while running and simple launch.json configuration.

Discover how VS Code assists Java development with source actions for code generation and refactoring, including getters, setters, constructors, and safe rename refactoring.

Learn to format Java code in Visual Studio Code by using the format document command, configuring the Eclipse formatter, previewing changes, and adjusting brace position and blank lines.

Discover how VSCode assists C++ development, install a Windows compiler, set up VSCode for C++ development, build and run programs, and debug C++ code with VSCode.

Install a C++ compiler across Linux, Mac, and Windows, verify versions with gcc --version and g++ --version (or clang), and set the PATH after installation.

Discover how to set up c++ in vscode, install the official extension, use intellisense with iostream and cout, and configure gcc/g++ with tasks.json to compile and run programs.

Learn to debug C++ in VS Code by setting breakpoints, running, and stepping through code. Configure launch.json, prelaunch tasks, and tasks.json to persist debugging for complex programs.

Explore GitHub Copilot in VSCode, uncover AI features like Copilot chat, code completions, and explain review tools, and learn how to use Copilot as a learning tool within a project.

GitHub Copilot acts as an AI coding assistant that uses your context and language models to suggest code, explain and document, fix errors, and generate tests or boilerplate.

Sign up for GitHub Copilot by logging into your GitHub account, access Copilot via the upper-right menu, and explore the free tier and plans with chat inside VS Code.

Configure GitHub Copilot directly in Visual Studio Code by signing in with GitHub and authorizing VS Code, then Copilot installs and is ready to use.

Learn to open GitHub Copilot chat inside VS Code, reposition and toggle context from the active file or selection, and explore modes and voice chat setup.

Explore Copilot chat features in VS Code, including in-file chat with cursor awareness, edit modes, and file undo. Use participants, slash commands, and tools like fetch to access current data.

GitHub Copilot completions offer contextual ghost text and smart suggestions you can accept with tab or shortcuts, and you can tailor them via the command palette and file-type settings.

Learn how GitHub Copilot explains code, fixes issues, reviews changes, and generates professional documentation directly in the editor to improve function clarity and code quality.

Discover how GitHub Copilot fuels learning through ask-mode prompts, explainable feedback on regular expressions and scripts, and tailored quizzes to deepen understanding.

Explore three tips for better prompts with GitHub Copilot: context, simple prompts, and specific prompts to generate code and tests.

Master GitHub Copilot features in VS Code, including configuring Copilot, using custom instructions and prompts, and exploring Copilot agent mode for building a React snake game with model context protocol.

Explore how to standardize GitHub Copilot behavior using a copilot instructions markdown file inside a GitHub folder, and tailor code generation with language-specific guidelines across projects.

Customize GitHub Copilot actions in VSCode to enhance code reviews, generate commit messages and pull request notes with emojis, and enable test generation via a guidance markdown file.

Explore agent mode in GitHub Copilot to rapidly build a snake game with React and TypeScript, starting from a fresh Vite project and iterative fixes.

Configure a custom chat mode in GitHub Copilot to answer questions from up-to-date official documentation, using fetch to pull Playwright features and provide code samples.

Discover model context protocol, a secure standardized interface that lets AI systems invoke MCP servers to access internet services and tools, demonstrated with GitHub MCP and Copilot capabilities.

Install a VSCode-supported mcp server from the extensions view and authenticate with GitHub to access GitHub Copilot chat for branch creation, commits, pushes, and pull requests.

Install and run custom MCP servers inside VS Code using npm, pip, or docker images, and manage them with the MCP.json file in your workspace to extend Copilot tools.

Explore daily task management in vscode using the GitHub MCP server to pull requests, issues, and watched repositories, generating a date-named tasks file and reviewing with a scrum master prompt.