Visual Studio Code is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). To learn more about what an IDE is,
please see this article.
Note: some users prefer to install Git first and then install their IDE. The author is choosing to install
the IDE (Visual Studio Code) first, then the Git later. Feel free to use whichever method you prefer.
Note the author has hidden certain fields (email addesses, account names, codes and credentials, etc.)
for security purposes using colored boxes.
Link to YouTube video: coming soon.
Prerequisits:
Ensure you have a valid email address.
Ensure you have a smartphone with a Two Factor Authentication tool such as Microsoft Authenticator.
Step 1: The author uses a Windows laptop and is choosing Visual Studio Code as their IDE, so the
steps and screenshots will be based on that. Navigate to the Visual
Stuiod homepage and click the “Download” button on the top right of the screen.
Step 2: You may be directed to another screen to select the version you want to download, or the
download may begin automatically. As mentioned previously, the author is choosing Windows.
Step 3: You should see a screen similar to the below and the download should happen automatically.
If it does not, you can click the link highlighted in the screenshot below to manually download the file.
Note depending on how your device is configured, the downloaded file may be in your “Downloads” folder or
somewhere else.
Step 4: Once you have located the file, you may want to move it to a folder prior to installing it.
The author has created a folder called “bin” on his hard drive for this purpose. Once the file is in the
location you want, double click the file to start the installation process.
Step 5: You will need to accept the agreement and then click “Next.”
Step 6: You can either leave the default installation location or choose a different location. The
author used the default location. Click “Next.”
Step 7: You can leave the default settings for the shortcuts or change it. The author left the
defaults. Click “Next.”
Step 8: Select any additional tasks you want the Visual Studio Code installation process to
undertake. The author selected all the checkboxes. Click “Next.”
Step 9: Review your selections. If you are not happy, you can use the “Back” button to make changes.
Click “Install” when ready.
Step 10: You should see a screen with a progress bar indicating how the installation is progressing.
Step 11: Once done, click the “Finish” button to launch Visual Studio Code. In the next section,
you will install Git. See this guide Step By Step — Install and Configure
Git