VISUAL STUDIO CODE (VS CODE) BASIC USER MANUAL

Cybersecurity boot camp English Project

Fredy Alexander Lerma González

Stiven Alejandro Suarez Barrero

Fabiana Collazos
04/04/2025
Introduction

Visual Studio Code (also known as VS Code) is a

source code editor developed by Microsoft for
Windows, Linux, macOS, and the web. It includes
support for debugging, integrated Git control, syntax
highlighting, smart code completion, snippets, and
code refactoring. It's also customizable, allowing users
to change the editor theme, keyboard shortcuts, and
preferences. It's free and open-source software,
although the official download is under proprietary
software and includes features customized by
Microsoft.
1. Download and Install:

- Step 1: Go to the official VS Code website:

https://code.visualstudio.com/

- Step 2: Download the appropriate version for

your operating system (Windows, macOS, or
Linux).

- Step 3: Run the downloaded file and follow

the installer's instructions. Generally,
accepting the terms and default options is
sufficient.
2. Main Interface:
When you open VS Code for the first time, you'll see a
window similar to this:

The main sections are:

- Activity Bar: Contains icons for accessing the

main views: Explorer, Search, Source Control
(Git), Run and Debug, and Extensions.
- Menu Bar: Provides access to different features
through drop-down menus (File, Edit, Select,
View, Go, Run, Terminal, Help).

- Explorer: Displays your project's folder and file

structure.

- Editor: Where you write and edit your code. You

can have multiple editors open in tabs or divided
into panels.

- Debug Console, Terminal, Issues, Output:

Displays relevant information depending on the
action you are performing (errors, program
output, terminal commands, etc.).

- Status Bar: Displays information about the

current file (language, encoding, indentation, etc.)
and quick actions.
3. Open or Create a Project:
- Open an existing folder: Go to File > Open
Folder... and select the folder containing your
project.

- Create a new file: With a folder open in

Explorer, you can right-click the folder or an
empty space within Explorer and select New
File.

- Create a new folder: Similarly, you can right-

click and select New Folder.
4. Edit Code:
- Open a file by double-clicking it in Explorer. The
file's contents will be displayed in the Editor.

- Start writing your code. VS Code offers syntax

highlighting for many languages, making it easier
to read and detect errors.

- IntelliSense (Auto-Complete): As you type, VS

Code will suggest keywords, functions, variables,
and more. You can select a suggestion with the
arrow keys and press Tab or Enter to insert it.

- Save: To save your changes, go to File > Save (or

press Ctrl + S on Windows/Linux or Cmd + S on
macOS).
5. Explorer (Activity Bar - First Icon):
The Explorer allows you to navigate through your
project's files and folders.

Main Functions:

- View your project's structure.

- Open, create, rename, and delete files and
folders.
- Drag and drop files between folders or between
editors.
6. Search (Activity Bar - Second Icon):
The search function allows you to find specific text
within your files.

Main Functions:

- Search for text in all files in the project.

- Replace found text.
- Filter results by file type or folder.
7. Source Code Control (Git) (Activity Bar -
Third Icon):
If your project uses Git for version control, this view
will allow you to perform operations such as commits,
pushes, pulls, etc.

Note: For this section to be useful, you must have Git

installed and your project initialized as a Git
repository.
8. Run and Debug (Activity Bar - Fourth
Icon):
This view allows you to configure and run your code,
as well as debug it to find and fix errors.

Main Functions:

- Configure launches for different execution

environments.
- Set breakpoints in your code.
- Inspect variables and the call stack while
debugging.
- Execute code step by step.

Note: The run and debug configuration will depend on

the programming language you are using.
9. Extensions (Activity Bar - Fifth Icon):
Extensions are a fundamental part of VS Code. They
allow you to add support for new languages, tools,
themes, and features.

Main Functions:

- Search for extensions in the VS Code

Marketplace.
- Install, disable, and uninstall extensions.
- Manage installed extensions.

Some recommended extensions to get started:

- For syntax highlighting and language-specific

support: Search by language name (e.g.,
"Python," "JavaScript," "Java").
- Prettier: To automatically format your code and
maintain a consistent style.
- ESLint or similar linters: To analyze your code for
errors and style issues.

- Live Server: For web development, allows you to

see changes in your browser in real time.
10. Integrated Terminal (Terminal Menu >
New Terminal):
VS Code includes an integrated terminal that you can
use to run commands directly from the editor.
Main Features:

- Run commands from the command line without

leaving VS Code.
- Interact with Git, compilers, interpreters, and
other tools.

11. Customization:
VS Code is highly customizable. You can change the
theme, settings, keyboard shortcuts, and much more.

- Theme: Go to File > Preferences > Color Theme

(or Ctrl + K Ctrl + T).
- Settings: Go to File > Preferences > Settings.
You can edit the settings in the graphical
interface or directly in the settings.json file.
12. Useful Keyboard Shortcuts:
Learning some keyboard shortcuts will help you work
more efficiently. Here are some basics:

- Ctrl + S (Windows/Linux) / Cmd + S (macOS):

Save
- Ctrl + F (Windows/Linux) / Cmd + F (macOS): Find
- Ctrl + H (Windows/Linux) / Cmd + Option + F
(macOS): Replace
- Ctrl + X (Windows/Linux) / Cmd + X (macOS): Cut
line (or selection)
- Ctrl + C (Windows/Linux) / Cmd + C (macOS):
Copy line (or selection)
- Ctrl + V (Windows/Linux) / Cmd + V (macOS):
Paste
- Ctrl + Z (Windows/Linux) / Cmd + Z (macOS):
Undo
- Ctrl + Y (Windows/Linux) / Cmd + Shift + Z
(macOS): Redo
- Ctrl + Tab (Windows/Linux) / Cmd + Tab (macOS):
Switch between open tabs
- Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux) / Cmd + Shift + P
(macOS): Open the Command Palette (allows you
to access all VS Code features via search)

Visual Studio Code FAQ

- What is the difference between Visual
Studio Code and Visual Studio IDE?

Visual Studio Code is a streamlined code editor

with support for development operations like
debugging, task running, and version control. It
aims to provide just the tools a developer needs
for a quick code-build-debug cycle and leaves
more complex workflows to fuller featured IDEs,
such as Visual Studio IDE.

- Is VS Code free?

Yes, VS Code is free for private or commercial

use. See the product license for details.

If you don't yet have a Copilot subscription, you

can use Copilot for free by signing up for the
Copilot Free plan and get a monthly limit of
completions and chat interactions

- Which OSs are supported?

VS Code runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows. See

the Requirements documentation for the
supported versions. You can find more platform
specific details in the Setup overview.

- Can I run a portable version of VS Code?

Yes, VS Code has a Portable Mode that lets you

keep settings and data in the same location as
your installation, for example, on a USB drive.
Roles
- Fredy Lerma (Product Owner): Defines what
needs to be built, prioritizes tasks, and represents
business needs.

- Alex Lerma (Scrum Master): Facilitates the Scrum

process, removes obstacles, and helps the team
adhere to agile practices.

- Fredy Alexander Lerma (Development Team):

Develops, tests, and implements the product
according to the defined requirements.