Visual Studio Code
The standard code editor
freeDevelopment
VS Code is the de facto standard: a marketplace with thousands of extensions, a built-in debugger, terminal, Git, and remote development over SSH/containers. Free and runs everywhere. The only downside is Electron, barely noticeable on Apple Silicon.
// Install
Your MacHomebrew in /opt/homebrew
brew install --cask visual-studio-code// What it is for
- There is an extension for every language and framework — the largest plugin ecosystem of any editor
- Remote SSH and Dev Containers: edit locally while the code runs on a server or in a container
- Built-in git tooling and a debugger close the daily loop without switching apps
- Settings and extensions sync across machines through your account
// Common questions
How does VS Code differ from VSCodium?
VSCodium is the same source built without Microsoft telemetry and without the proprietary marketplace. Extensions come from an open registry, and some proprietary plugins are simply unavailable there.
Is VS Code heavy on an older Mac?
It is an Electron app: a couple hundred megabytes per window plus separate processes for language servers. With 8 GB of RAM and a dozen extensions you will feel it — Zed is the lighter option.
