Why I Use VS Code to Build Tools and Develop Projects
🚀 VS Code: Free, Fast & Built on Open Source
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, cross-platform code editor built by Microsoft. It’s powered by an open-source core (Code-OSS) under the MIT license. While the official version includes proprietary branding and telemetry, the base is fully transparent and community-maintained.
That open-source foundation gives developers trust, flexibility, and the freedom to customize or fork it as needed.
- It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
- You can use alternatives like VSCodium if you want a telemetry-free experience.
This balance between open-source flexibility and enterprise support makes it ideal for professional workflows.
🛠️ Why It Powers My Project Workflow
1. IntelliSense & Smart Editing
VS Code provides intelligent code completion, syntax highlighting, and inline documentation across many languages. It adapts to your stack—whether you write Python, JavaScript, Bash, or YAML.
2. Integrated Debugger & Terminal
The built-in debugger and terminal mean no context switching. You can write, run, test, and debug in one window.
3. Rich Extensions Ecosystem
With thousands of extensions available, you can supercharge your development workflow with tools for linting, version control, container management, and more.
🔐 Trust But Verify: Open Source & Privacy
Because the core is open, the community can audit and improve it continuously. Users who want a fully open-source build without Microsoft’s telemetry can opt for community builds like VSCodium.
Privacy-conscious users can also disable telemetry in the official version with just a few settings.
🌱 How I Set It Up for Productivity
Here’s a snapshot of how I configure VS Code for development:
| Extension | Why I Use It |
|---|---|
| Settings Sync | Keeps settings and extensions in sync across all my devices |
| ESLint / Prettier | Helps enforce code quality and style consistently |
| Live Share | Enables real-time collaboration during pair programming |
| GitHub Repos | Makes cloning and pushing repos super convenient |
| Live Server | Provides auto-refreshing preview for web development |
✅ Takeaways for Your Projects
- VS Code offers open-source transparency backed by enterprise-level support.
- It’s lightweight, fast, and used by developers worldwide.
- Whether you’re coding, debugging, writing docs, or automating tasks, it brings everything into one place.
Final Thoughts
VS Code isn’t just a text editor—it’s the central hub of my development workflow. From building scripts to deploying full-stack applications, it supports me every step of the way.
If you haven’t used it yet, now’s a great time to try it. Set up your workspace, install your favorite extensions, and see how it transforms your productivity.