VS Code (Visual Studio Code) is an open source code editor developed and published by Microsoft. As of 2026, it is the most widely used editor in the world, and its rich extensions and AI integrations such as GitHub Copilot are a major reason.
This page explains how to set up VS Code for AI-era development, from installation to initial configuration and essential extensions.
Prerequisites
- You are using macOS or Windows with WSL2
- You know the basics of terminal commands. See Terminal Basics.
Installation
macOS (using Homebrew)
If Homebrew is installed, run:
brew install --cask visual-studio-codeDownload from the official website
- Go to https://code.visualstudio.com/
- Click Download for Mac or Download for Windows
- Open the downloaded file and follow the installation instructions
After installation, launch VS Code and continue with the next steps.
Basic Settings
Font Size and Theme
Open VS Code settings with Cmd + , on macOS or Ctrl + , on Windows.
Changing font size:
Type font size in the search box and change Editor: Font Size to your preferred value. Values between 14 and 16 are common.
Changing the theme:
Open the Command Palette with Cmd + Shift + P, then choose Preferences: Color Theme. Dark themes such as Dark+ or One Dark Pro are easier on the eyes.
Auto Save
Turn on Auto Save to avoid forgetting to save files manually.
Search for auto save in settings and set Files: Auto Save to afterDelay.
Integrated Terminal
VS Code includes an integrated terminal, so you can run commands without switching apps.
- Open it with
Ctrl + `orView > Terminal - Add a new terminal tab with the
+button in the terminal panel - See Choosing a Shell for shell configuration
Configuring code .
This lets you type code . in the terminal to open the current folder in VS Code.
- Launch VS Code
- Open the Command Palette with
Cmd + Shift + P - Select
Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH - Restart the terminal
After that, running the following command in any folder opens it in VS Code:
cd ~/projects/my-app
code .Using the Command Palette
The Command Palette is a core VS Code feature that lets you access almost every function from the keyboard.
- Open it with
Cmd + Shift + Pon macOS orCtrl + Shift + Pon Windows - Open files with
Cmd + P(search by file name) - Open settings with
Cmd + ,
If you get comfortable with the Command Palette, you can complete almost all tasks without using the mouse.
Must-Have Extensions in 2026
Install extensions by clicking the Extensions icon in the left sidebar or pressing Cmd + Shift + X, then searching by name.
GitHub Copilot (Most Important)
An extension that uses AI to complete and suggest code. In 2026, it makes a major difference in productivity compared with development without AI support.
- Extension name:
GitHub Copilot - What you need: a GitHub account, with a free plan available
- Features: code completion, code generation from comments, and fix suggestions for errors
GitLens
Lets you inspect Git commit history and authors directly in the editor.
- Extension name:
GitLens — Git supercharged - Features: line-by-line commit history, branch visualization, and diff inspection
ESLint
Automatically detects issues in JavaScript and TypeScript code.
- Extension name:
ESLint - Features: real-time detection of syntax errors and style violations
Prettier
A formatter that automatically formats code.
- Extension name:
Prettier - Code formatter - Features: auto-formatting on save
To run Prettier automatically on save, add the following to your settings:
{
"editor.formatOnSave": true,
"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"
}Python (Microsoft)
Provides the features needed for Python development in one package.
- Extension name:
Python(by Microsoft) - Features: syntax highlighting, debugging, and virtual environment switching
Error Lens
Shows errors and warnings inline on the right side of the code line, making them easier to notice.
- Extension name:
Error Lens - Features: see error messages without switching files
Settings Sync
Use your GitHub account to sync VS Code settings, extensions, and keybindings across multiple computers. This saves time when you move to a new machine.
- Click the account icon in the bottom-left corner of VS Code
- Select
Turn on Settings Sync... - Sign in with your GitHub account
- Choose what to sync, such as settings, extensions, and keybindings
Once enabled, you can work in the same environment on every computer.
Summary
- Install VS Code with
brew install --cask visual-studio-codeor from the official website - Enable
code .so you can open folders directly from the terminal - GitHub Copilot is essential for AI development environments in 2026
- Settings Sync lets you share the same setup across multiple computers
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between VS Code and VS Code Insiders?
A: VS Code Insiders is a daily-updated preview version that gives you early access to the latest features, including GitHub Copilot’s Agent Mode and MCP support. Use it when you care more about new features than stability. For normal development, I recommend the stable release of VS Code. See What Is VS Code Insiders for details.
Q: Will too many extensions make VS Code slow?
A: More extensions can affect startup time and memory use. Disable extensions you are not using so that only the ones needed for a particular project stay active.
Q: Is GitHub Copilot free?
A: As of 2026, the free GitHub plan includes a limited number of completions per month. If you need more, you will need a paid plan. See the GitHub Copilot pricing page for details.
Reference
See the references for the external specifications and background sources used on this page.[1][2]
References
- Microsoft, Visual Studio Code documentation
- GNU, Bash Reference Manual