Visual Studio Code

Description

Visual Studio Code is a free, open source code editor built for agent-first development. It lets developers build with AI agents that plan, code, and debug for them, work with any agent and any model, and manage multi-agent workflows and sessions from a single view across any environment.

At its core it remains a world-class code editor with rich language support, extensions, an integrated terminal, version control, build tasks, local history, themes, accessibility features, and web support. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and can be fully customized to fit any workflow.

GitHub Copilot is integrated into VS Code, with a free plan offering a monthly allowance of inline suggestions and AI credits, plus paid plans or the option to bring your own model keys. AI functionality can be disabled, and the team documents telemetry, offers opt-out controls, and publishes licenses and third-party notices.

VS Code is free for private or commercial use and is supported by a large extension ecosystem available through the Visual Studio Marketplace.

Visual Studio Code's Core Features

• AI agents that plan, code, and debug

• Multi-agent workflows managed in one view

• Support for any agent and any model

• Integrated GitHub Copilot with a free plan

• Extensive extension marketplace

• Integrated terminal, version control, and build tasks

• Cross-platform on Linux, macOS, and Windows

• Themes, accessibility, and full customization

How to use Visual Studio Code?

1. 1

   Download: Install Visual Studio Code for your operating system.

2. 2

   Add extensions: Install language and tooling extensions from the marketplace.

3. 3

   Enable AI: Sign in to GitHub Copilot or bring your own model keys.

4. 4

   Build with agents: Use AI agents to plan, code, and debug tasks.

5. 5

   Manage sessions: Coordinate multi-agent workflows across environments from one view.

Visual Studio Code's Use Cases

• Agent-first development
• Multi-agent workflows
• Everyday code editing
• Extensible tooling
• Cross-platform coding

FAQ from Visual Studio Code

• Is VS Code free?

  Yes. VS Code is free for private or commercial use. If you don't have a Copilot subscription, you can use Copilot for free by signing up for the Copilot Free plan, which includes a monthly allowance of inline suggestions and AI credits.

• Which operating systems are supported?

  Visual Studio Code runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and it also offers web support.

• Can I disable the AI functionality?

  Yes. AI functionality in VS Code can be disabled, and the FAQ documents how AI features and data collection work.

• How does VS Code work with AI agents?

  It supports agent-first development with any agent and any model, letting you build with AI agents that plan, code, and debug, and manage multi-agent workflows across environments.

• Are all VS Code extensions open source?

  No. Extension authors choose their own license. Many are open source, but some, such as Wallaby.js and the Remote Development extensions, use proprietary licenses.

• What is the difference between VS Code and Visual Studio IDE?

  They are different products; the FAQ explains the distinction, and VS Code is a lightweight, open source code editor available across platforms.