How to Install VS Code: Beginner Setup in 3 Steps

In this lesson, you'll install VS Code, the free code editor used by millions of developers worldwide. By the end, you'll have it running on your computer, a folder open inside it, and your first extension installed.

Key Takeaways

• VS Code is free, works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and takes about 2 minutes to install
• It understands the code you type: highlights mistakes, autocompletes commands, and flags errors
• Prettier is the one extension every beginner should install right away, it keeps your code tidy automatically
• Three things to do in this lesson: install VS Code, open a folder, install Prettier

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VS Code is Google Docs for your code

If you've ever tried opening a code file in Notepad, you've seen what code looks like without a proper editor, a wall of plain text with no visual help at all.

VS Code is the opposite. It's a free application built specifically for writing code, and it understands what you're typing. Write a Python variable and it highlights it in one color. Write a function and it highlights that differently. Make a typo in a common command and it puts a red squiggle underneath, just like spell-check in a word processor.

The simplest way to think about it: VS Code is to code what Google Docs is to writing. It's a place to create, edit, and organize your work, and it actively helps you do it better.

It was built by Microsoft and released for free in 2015. About three out of four professional developers use it as their primary editor. You'll use it throughout this course.

You'll also see Cursor recommended in AI coding tutorials. That's a VS Code-based editor with a built-in AI assistant, it's the very next lesson. Start here first.

How to install VS Code for beginners

Installing VS Code takes about two minutes. No account required, nothing to configure, nothing to pay for.

Your first extension: Prettier

VS Code works on its own, but extensions make it smarter. There are over 50,000 extensions in the marketplace: tools for every language, workflow, and use case imaginable.

You need exactly one right now: Prettier.

Prettier is a code formatter. Every time you save a file, it automatically fixes your spacing, indentation, and line lengths. You write the code; Prettier keeps it readable. Start with this one. Add others as you need them.

Here's how to install it:

1. Click the Extensions icon in the left sidebar. It looks like four squares, with one slightly separated
2. In the search box, type Prettier - Code formatter
3. Click the blue Install button next to the result published by Prettier

Prettier is now installed and will run silently every time you save a file.

You'll install Node.js in a later lesson, it's the runtime that powers most AI CLI tools. For now, VS Code and Prettier are all you need.

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Your Task

FAQ

Common questions

• Is VS Code free to use?

  Yes, VS Code is completely free. Microsoft released it as open-source software in 2015, and it costs nothing to download, install, or use. No subscription, no trial period, no hidden fees, free for personal and commercial use.

• Does VS Code work on Windows, Mac, and Linux?

  Yes. VS Code runs on all three operating systems. The download page at code.visualstudio.com automatically detects your OS and offers the right installer. The experience is nearly identical across platforms, so the steps in this lesson work wherever you are.

• What is Prettier and do I really need it?

  Prettier is a code formatter that automatically fixes your indentation, spacing, and line breaks every time you save a file. You don't need it to write code, but it prevents sloppy formatting from becoming a habit. Every beginner should install it on day one, it makes code easier to read and debug.

• Can I use VS Code to write Python, JavaScript, and other languages?

  Yes. VS Code works with almost every programming language with no extra setup. It detects the language automatically and adjusts its syntax highlighting and suggestions. You'll use it throughout the Seekvana Getting Started path for Python, JavaScript, and terminal work.