How it works
VS Code combines a quick editor with many features of a heavier IDE: autocomplete and error checking through language servers, a debugger, Git integration, a built-in terminal and a huge extension marketplace for languages, linters, formatters and themes. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and its remote extensions let it edit code on a server over SSH, inside a container or in WSL.
It is built with Electron, and its core, Code - OSS, is open source under the MIT License; Microsoft's own build adds branding and telemetry under a free product licence. It is a different product from Visual Studio, Microsoft's larger IDE for .NET and C++. AI editors such as Cursor and Windsurf are forks of VS Code, and VSCodium ships the open-source build without Microsoft's telemetry.
VS Code pros and cons
Pros
- Free, quick to start and available on every desktop system
- Extensions for practically every language, framework and tool
- Built-in Git, terminal and debugger
- Remote editing over SSH, in containers and in WSL
Cons
- Its Electron base uses more memory than lighter editors
- Piles of extensions slow it down and can conflict
- Forks cannot use Microsoft's extension marketplace and rely on Open VSX
When to use VS Code
Pick it when
- Web, JavaScript, Python and most everyday development
- You want one editor for many languages and projects
Skip it when
- Native Android or iOS apps, where Android Studio and Xcode fit better
- Large Java, Kotlin or C# codebases that benefit from a full IDE
VS Code pricing
Free
Free for any use, including commercial work. Some extensions, such as GitHub Copilot, have paid plans.
Approximate, checked September 2026.What the other tools cost
Related terms
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