VS Code Setup

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is the editor you will use to write code for CS courses. Although there are many editors that can be used to write code, we have set up various templates and tools for you that will only work in VS Code. If you try to use some other editor, you will be responsible for figuring out how to exactly replicate what those templates and tools do.

This video demonstrates setting up VS Code. It is NOT a replacement for following the directions below, but it does show you visually what needs to happen. (You will add the Project Templates on the next page.)

Make sure to follow the written instructions below to make sure you do not miss a step, especially if you are on a Mac/Linux where the instructions will be slightly different.

VS Code

Download VS Code and install it.

Then you need to install some extensions that will add features to VS Code.

Add Extensions

Open VS Code and hit Ctrl-Shift-X. In the search bar, type/paste each of the following one at a time. After finding each extension, click it and then click the Install button. See here for more information on installing extensions.

ms-vscode.cpptools
cschlosser.doxdocgen
usernamehw.errorlens
vsls-contrib.gitdoc

If you are on a Mac, you will also want to install this extra Extension:

vadimcn.vscode-lldb

Testing VS Code

Open VS Code and hit Ctrl-Shift-X. You should see a list of installed extensions. You should see 4 extensions listed (5 on a Mac).

  • C/C++
  • CodeLLDB (Mac Only)
  • Doxygen Document Generator
  • Error Lens
  • Git Doc

If that is working you can continue on to set up git.

Otherwise, go to try to fixVSCode Issues.