How to install vscode on Macos

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, lightweight code editor used for web development, Python programming, JavaScript, and many other programming languages. Installing VS Code on macOS is simple and takes only a few minutes.

Step 1: Check Your Mac's System Requirements

Before installing Visual Studio Code, check your macOS version, processor type, and available storage. Make sure your Mac runs a supported version of macOS.

sw_vers
uname -m

Step 2: Download Visual Studio Code

Visit the official VS Code download page and select the macOS version that matches your Mac.Choose the Universal build if you want a package that supports both Intel and Apple silicon Macs, or select the appropriate processor-specific version.

open "https://code.visualstudio.com/Download"

Step 3: Open the Downloaded Installer

After the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and locate the downloaded .dmg file.Double-click the VS Code installer to open it.

open ~/Downloads

Step 4: Install VS Code in the Applications Folder

Drag Visual Studio Code.app into the Applications folder when the installer window appears. Wait for the copying process to finish.

open /Applications

Step 5: Launch Visual Studio Code

Open VS Code from the Applications folder. You can also launch it using the Terminal after installation.If macOS displays a security prompt, verify that you downloaded VS Code from the official website before proceeding.

open -a "Visual Studio Code"

Step 6: Add VS Code to the Dock

Adding VS Code to the Dock makes it easier to open the editor whenever you need it.Once the application appears in the Dock, Control-click its icon and select Options → Keep in Dock.

open -a "Visual Studio Code"

Step 7: Install the code Command in PATH

To open projects directly from the Terminal, launch VS Code and press Command + Shift + P. Search for the following command and select it:Restart the Terminal before running the command if necessary.

code --version

Step 8: Create Your First Project Folder

Create a folder for your programming projects. For example, you can create a folder named MyProject in your home directory.

mkdir -p ~/MyProject
cd ~/MyProject

Step 9: Open Your Project in VS Code

After enabling the code command, open your project folder directly from the Terminal.You can now create files, edit code, and organize your project inside VS Code.

cd ~/MyProject
code .

Step 10: Verify the Installation

Check the installed version of Visual Studio Code to confirm that the command-line tool is working.You can also open VS Code and select Code → About Visual Studio Code to view the installed version.

code --version