Visual Studio Code allows users to set the code page in which the active document is saved, the newline character, and the programming language of the active document. Code can be synced between the editor and the server, without downloading any extra software. Visual Studio Code includes multiple extensions for FTP, allowing the software to be used as a free alternative for web development.

A notable feature is the ability to create extensions that add support for new languages, themes, and debuggers, perform static code analysis, and add code linters using the Language Server Protocol. This includes additions to the editor and language support. Visual Studio Code can be extended via extensions, available through a central repository. Many Visual Studio Code features are not exposed through menus or the user interface but can be accessed via the command palette. Unwanted files and folders can be excluded from the project tree via the settings. It supports a number of programming languages and a set of features that differs per language. This allows it to operate as a language-agnostic code editor for any language.

Instead of a project system, it allows users to open one or more directories, which can then be saved in workspaces for future reuse. Visual Studio Code employs the same editor component (codenamed 'Monaco') used in Azure DevOps (formerly called Visual Studio Online and Visual Studio Team Services). It is based on the Electron framework, which is used to develop Node.js Web applications that run on the Blink layout engine. Visual Studio Code is a source-code editor that can be used with a variety of programming languages, including Java, JavaScript, Go, Node.js, Python and C++. In the Stack Overflow 2021 Developer Survey, Visual Studio Code was ranked the most popular developer environment tool, with 70% of 82,000 respondents reporting that they use it. Microsoft has released most of Visual Studio Code's source code on GitHub under the permissive MIT License, while the releases by Microsoft are proprietary freeware. On April 14, 2016, Visual Studio Code graduated from the public preview stage and was released to the Web. On November 18, 2015, the source of Visual Studio Code was released under the MIT License, and made available on GitHub. A preview build was released shortly thereafter. Visual Studio Code was first announced on April 29, 2015, by Microsoft at the 2015 Build conference. Users can change the theme, keyboard shortcuts, preferences, and install extensions that add additional functionality. Features include support for debugging, syntax highlighting, intelligent code completion, snippets, code refactoring, and embedded Git. Visual Studio Code is a source-code editor made by Microsoft for Windows, Linux and macOS.

Binaries built by Microsoft: Proprietary software.

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