How To Install Visual Studio Code (VSCode) On Fedora 38

In this short tutorial we will learn how to install Visual Studio Code (VSCode) on Fedora 38 operating system.

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of software development, choosing the right tools can significantly impact productivity and efficiency. Visual Studio Code (VSCode), developed by Microsoft, has emerged as a powerhouse code editor, providing developers with a feature-rich and customizable environment. In this article, we’ll explore the key features of VSCode and how it can elevate your coding experience.

VSCode Key Features

• Cross-Platform Compatibility. Visual Studio Code is designed to run seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering developers the flexibility to work across different operating systems without compromising functionality. This cross-platform compatibility ensures a consistent coding experience, regardless of the development environment.
• Extensibility Through Extensions. One of VSCode’s standout features is its extensive support for extensions. The Visual Studio Code Marketplace boasts a vast collection of extensions that enhance the editor’s capabilities, from language support to debugging tools and version control integrations. Developers can tailor their VSCode setup to suit their specific needs, thanks to this vibrant ecosystem of extensions.
• Intelligent Code Editing with IntelliSense. VSCode incorporates IntelliSense, a powerful code completion feature that provides intelligent suggestions as you type. This not only accelerates coding but also helps prevent common errors by offering context-aware recommendations, function signatures, and inline documentation.
• Efficient Debugging. Debugging is made seamless with VSCode’s built-in support for various languages. Developers can set breakpoints, inspect variables, and step through their code, all within the editor. This integrated debugging experience simplifies troubleshooting and contributes to a more efficient development workflow.
• Integrated Terminal. VSCode comes equipped with an integrated terminal, allowing developers to run command-line tools and scripts directly within the editor. This streamlines the development process, eliminating the need to switch between different applications for coding and terminal tasks.
• Version Control Integration. Git integration is a first-class citizen in VSCode. Developers can manage version control operations directly within the editor, facilitating tasks such as staging, committing, and pushing changes. This seamless integration enhances collaboration and code management.
• Customization and Theming. VSCode’s high degree of customization is another factor contributing to its popularity. Users can personalize the editor’s appearance, install themes, and configure keyboard shortcuts to match their preferences. This level of flexibility ensures that developers can create a coding environment tailored to their workflow.
• Active Community and Support. With a large and active community, VSCode benefits from continuous improvements and user contributions. The community actively shares tips, extensions, and provides support through forums and other collaborative platforms.

How To Install Visual Studio Code (VSCode) on Fedora 38

Before we start to install Visual Studio Code on Fedora, we have to prepare our system to meet the requirements. The requirements are as follow :

• A system which is running Fedora
• An account with sudo privilege
• Good internet connection

The Visual Studio Code installation process will be consist of several steps as shown below:

1. Update Fedora System
2. Installing Visual Studio Code
3. Launching Visual Studio Code on Fedora

Step 1: Update Fedora System

$ sudo dnf clean all 
$ sudo dnf update

Step 2: Installing Visual Studio Code

To install VSCode, we will do following steps :

1. Importing the Microsoft GPG key

To Import VSCode we will do the following command:

$ suio rpm --import https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc

2. Create a new repository file for Visual Studio Code

For this purpose we will create a new file /etc/yum.repos.d/vscode.repo.

$ sudo vi /etc/yum.repos.d/vscode.repo
[code]
name=Visual Studio Code
baseurl=https://packages.microsoft.com/yumrepos/vscode
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc

3. Update the package list

$ sudo dnf check-update

Output :

[ramansah@bckinfo ~]$ sudo dnf check-update
Visual Studio Code                                                             2.4 MB/s | 3.7 MB     00:01    
Last metadata expiration check: 0:00:02 ago on Fri 10 Nov 2023 05:17:54 PM CET.

4. Install VSCode on Fedora

$ sudo dnf install code

Output :

[ramansah@bckinfo ~]$
ramansah@bckinfo ~]$ sudo dnf install code
Last metadata expiration check: 0:00:52 ago on Fri 10 Nov 2023 05:17:54 PM CET.
Dependencies resolved.
===============================================================================================================
 Package              Architecture           Version                                Repository            Size
===============================================================================================================
Installing:
 code                 x86_64                 1.84.2-1699528436.el7                  code                 130 M

Transaction Summary
===============================================================================================================
Install  1 Package

Total download size: 130 M
Installed size: 366 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
code-1.84.2-1699528436.el7.x86_64.rpm                                          2.9 MB/s | 130 MB     00:44    
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                                          2.9 MB/s | 130 MB     00:44    
Running transaction check
Transaction check succeeded.
Running transaction test
Transaction test succeeded.
Running transaction
  Preparing        :                                                                                       1/1
  Installing       : code-1.84.2-1699528436.el7.x86_64                                                     1/1
  Running scriptlet: code-1.84.2-1699528436.el7.x86_64                                                     1/1
  Verifying        : code-1.84.2-1699528436.el7.x86_64                                                     1/1

Installed:
  code-1.84.2-1699528436.el7.x86_64                                                                            

Complete!

Step 3: Launching Visual Studio Code on Fedora

After VSCode installation has been completed done, then we will launch it by submitting command line :

$ code

Or by using GUI, we will find the Visual Studio Code icon then double click on it. We will be prompted with main menu as shown below. There will be four screen layout which will be chose: Dark Modern, Dark High Contrast, Light Modern and Ligh High Contrast.

Conclusion

Visual Studio Code has become a go-to choice for developers seeking a powerful, flexible, and cross-platform code editor. Its extensive feature set, combined with a vibrant extension ecosystem and active community support, makes it a valuable tool for projects of all sizes. Embrace the efficiency and productivity that VSCode offers, and elevate your coding experience to new heights.