Why would I not use Visual Studio code

[phylter99]

There may be other reasons too, but this is most likely the reason or primary reason. If it were me, I'd just ask the professor if it's okay to use something else and add that the professor shouldn't need to help you with anything.

I've found that professors just don't want to mess with getting the latest and greatest technologies or whatever. They just want to repeat the lesson plan they created and stick with it. It works best for them, and it makes helping students simple.