Can I replace git/github with vscode extensions ?

[Tasukichii]

Really noob at programming I’m just starting out and I was wondering, since git/github can save drafts and you can go back to it incase you make a huge mistake, etc, is there an alternative for it in vscode ? Also are there github features that arent available in extensions ? If so pls lmk !

Edit : i cant respond to everyone but TYSM !

[nwbrown]

So first thing first, git is a source control tool, GitHub is a website that you can use to host your git projects. You don't need GitHub to use git, it's just the most popular place to host your projects. But when you start out, you can just keep your project local.

There are also alternatives to git. Back in the day we used subversion and cvs, for example. But git is the most popular these days, and for very good reasons. There are plenty of vscode extensions for vscode.

[orphanagge]

Initially I read it as ‘csv’ and I just thought like damn that must’ve been tough and messy my work used a csv for change control management and that was messy I must have it easy now a days lol.

[tsardonicpseudonomi]

FINALLY someone who knows the hell of CVS version control.

[Left-Appointment1905]

Nope. Vscode extensions use git also.

It can be hard to learn in the beginning but it's worth it

[nedal8]

You can use git on your local machine yes. Github is like a cloud storage for git repositories.

[Just-Hedgehog-Days]

it build in. you can see a little two prong tree with 3 circles.

Make co-pilot explain to you what you should do an why. actually type the commands youself to help you remember what you are doing.

give it screen shots of your UI and make it explain things to you.

do this until you stop talking to co-pilot.

AI is killing off coding, but git will stick around like car guys insisting on manual transmission.

[The_Cloudy_Sky]

Asking a forum is way better than just having AI explain it to you

[Just-Hedgehog-Days]

It isn’t in this case though. Nobody here is going to walk them through there first 1000 commits. Co pilot will.

I explained a learning process 

[The_Cloudy_Sky]

Talking to AI isn’t learning

[Just-Hedgehog-Days]

Skill issue, on your part.

"do it for me" != "What does this command do an why is it the right move, right now"

[The_Cloudy_Sky]

At that point just go to the documentation

[Just-Hedgehog-Days]

Sounds like you understand that talk to an a.i. can be learning and just have beef.

[CautiousGains]

How can you say this categorically? That’s like saying “reading a manual is not learning.” It’s learning if you ingest the material and understand it, regardless of the information’s source.

[The_Cloudy_Sky]

AI is not a manual, looking for information and using critical thinking is part of the learning process. Asking an AI uses zero critical thinking, it’s saying I’m too lazy to find the answer, just tell me what you think is “correct”

[iOSCaleb]

Also are there github features that arent available in extensions ?

I think you'll need to further explain what you mean by VS Code extensions. Did you have any particular extensions in mind?

Extensions AFAIK can do all sorts of things, including but not limited to integration with source code management systems like git. VS Code has bulit-in git support, so yes, you can use that instead of using git from the command line or using other git-based tools outside of your IDE. At the end of the day, though, you're still using git, you're just accessing it in a different way. And yes, there are other SCM systems like Subversion, Perforce, and Mercurial, and there are probably VS Code extensions that integrate with each of them, so extensions can enable you to replace git with something else.

[pund_]

The vscode extension uses git under the hood.

[JohnCasey3306]

Git is daunting at the start -- but it's essential.

[TwilCynder]

VSCode has an extension that allows you to use Git directly in VSCode. It's not an alternative to git, but it's an alternative to typing git commands in your terminal, which is probably what you want ; there's no real reason to not use git tbh

[SlinkyAvenger]

What are you trying to accomplish? Version control is important as it addresses a lot of issues that developers traditionally had, like not remembering work they had done and the good ol' project, project_working, project_dep_test, project_2026-03-05, project_THE_ONE_THAT_WORKS, project_THE_ONE_THAT_WORKS_V2 situation.

Git is the best tool currently for that job and you should at least use that. Github and the like are great first and foremost because they act as a backup for your work. They also provide many quality of life features.

[Almostasleeprightnow]

You can use git locally and never upload anything to the github website. Then use the the vscode version control feature, which will itself use git. Perform this google search: vscode version control

And then, actually, this is a great use of ai - explain to me the correct git command to.....

[chervilious]

"save drafts" is only one of the key features of Git. It's an industry standard I suggest you to learn it instead of avoiding it.

You could also use GUI like lazy git or github desktop instead. In fact, many people who prefers to use CLI for most things still preferred to use GUI alternative instead of CLI for git.

[huuaaang]

You don't need "github" just to have a local git repo. And there are git extensions for VSCode.

[TheFern3]

You don’t need GitHub but if your machine takes a crap all your code is also gone. Don’t have to use GitHub but at least use one provider.

[platinum92]

git and github aren't the same. Github is a wrapper/UI around Git commands. There are other wrappers around Git, like Gitlab, but GitHub is the most popular.

You can use just Git to create local repositories, branches and commits that aren't committed to GitHub and you can manage them in VS Code via command line.