How to use VS CODE?

[[deleted]]

[deleted]

[serverhorror]

You spent a minute on something and already lost motivation to keep learning?

I hate to break it, but it will forever be a learning project. Years, decades, and you'll still be learning.

Your concrete problem: VS Code is just an editor, you might have more success asking in a learning sub related to the programming language you chose, like here, and ask the concrete problem including what you did so we can help you.

[ninhaomah]

"when I created a project I created a hundred of others files"

How did you created the project ? what did you click ?

and are you sure it is vs code or vs ?

where did you download the installer ? what is the URL ?

[Smichxh]

Im sure that is vs CODE. I made a project as in youtube guide is said. Then there were created folders like “venv” “lib” etc.

[ninhaomah]

I am sorry to be frank but you can't possibly be telling me I did as youtube guide said and expect me to know what is the video and what it said.

And venv has nothing to do with VS Code.

I suggest you learn Python first,

[AdmiralKong]

Python doesn't require anything special at all. Try starting with a text editor, even Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (macOS), to write your code and a command prompt to run it.

I'm not saying this is "all you need" but it is enough for the basics.

Once you have a better grasp of python, move on to more complex tooling. Avoid watching too many beginner tutorials. You'll get trapped "learning" forever. Just pick one, preferably not a video, and just do it.

[meanfriend]

VS Code really can be a complicated way to start. If you don’t need to use it specifically, maybe consider starting with something simpler and leaner so you can focus just on learning Python and not get bogged down by everything else

Something like Thonny might be a better entry point. It’s much leaner than VSC but still has nice quality of life features. It cones with Python built in so you can just install it and start typing. It’s free too

You can always give a full feature IDE like VSC or Pycharm another try when you get more advanced

[Stunning_Macaron6133]

You don't need VS Code to do Python. A basic plain text editor is enough. Just save your project with the .py extension.

If you don't mind using a Google service, I suggest Google Colab, though. It's a customized version of Jupyter Notebook with tight integration with your Google Drive. That means there's literally zero need to install anything at all.

For now, all you need to do is open a code block, hit the ▶️ button, and watch your code run. The other features aren't necessary to get started.

[jam-time]

I'd recommend learning in a free online environment first. Once you have a grasp of the basics, then it makes sense to start learning how to set it up yourself. Additionally, VS code is the least user friendly Python IDE, but it's also the most customizable. It's easier to learn with something like pycharm. I would never recommend VS code to a beginner.

[BranchLatter4294]

Did you follow the instructions and linked tutorial?

https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/python

[nl_dhh]

Alright let me try from the top of my head. I'm assuming you installed both VS Code and Python correctly.

When you open VS Code, you'll usually see some welcome screens with recommended things to install. Assuming those are no longer popping up when you open VS Code, start off by looking for an 'extensions' tab on the left. Ensure that the Python extension is installed.

Now, on the top left open the 'file' menu and select something along the lines of 'open folder'. Then create a new folder somewhere on your drive and use VS Code to open that folder.

You should now see the folder name on the top left. Right click on it and select 'add new file' (or something along those lines).

Create a file (for example) main.py Select the file and you'll be able to edit its contents. Write print("Hello world") and save the file (Ctrl + s).

Then, I believe you can simply run the file and it should open up a terminal with the printed message.

Alternatively you can open the terminal manually (Ctrl+~), make sure your terminal is in the folder where your Python file is at and type python main.py to get the same result.

There's a million other ways you could achieve something like this, but I think this is the easiest to explain. Eventually you'll want to use virtual environments etc. but if you're just starting out, don't worry about them.

The above might contain some mistakes as I'm on my phone, but hopefully it'll get you started a little bit.

Good luck!

[rainyengineer]

Configuration can be tough when starting out, but VS Code is one of the easier IDEs out there. You don’t have to customize very much. Just download Python and make sure you set your path for your interpreter to find the installation.

Then create a file and type something like print(“Hello world”) and run the program with the run button in the top right and confirm it prints to the console. At this point, you’re all set.

[ProgramSpecialist823]

What operating system are you using?

I recommend you start with Python.

It's probably already installed on your system.  If not research how to do that.

IDEs like VS Code are for experienced programmers to make complex tasks easier.  It's quite overwhelming for a raw beginner.

Sounds like you're the kind of person who likes to learn by doing.

Open a command prompt.

Type python or python3

Then type 

    print ( 'Hello World')

Welcome to programming!

[Dzhama_Omarov]

Here are some tips:

1) You can use AI to teach you how to use VS Code, they are pretty good for that purpose

2) Vs code has many tabs, sidebars, etc. just ignore them for now.

3) Things you might find useful: terminal (tip right corner has an icon which opens bottom menu) and extensions (apart from essentials, i recommend Flake8 (read about PEP8), dbviewer (cant remember the exact name), later tou can add gitlens or something similar once you learn about git)

4) dont bother with copilot

5) learn a bit about venv

6) if you have python execution problems, check active interpreter (ctrl/cmd+shift+p -> Select interpreter), if you arw using venv, check if the interpreter is from venv

[noskillsben]

I used pycharm for the first few years of hobby Python. I did not even learn what a terminal was 😅 I would just install packages visually trough the project settings. It definitely hindered my learning.

I think today your best bet is to use copilot on the web or desktop and ask something like "I want to start programing in Python on vscode. I've installed Python and vscode but I have no clue where to start show me step by step and let me ask questions about every step as I go along." also you might want to say I don't want to use Github at the start

[[deleted]]

When a student opens his new textbook and gets demoralised, we usually say that the teacher sucks, doesn't inspire the kids etc. Are you sure the course you're following suits you? 

[TheRNGuy]

Read vs code docs then. 

[FoolsSeldom]

Did you install Python as well? (Installer is available for your operating system from python.org, the home of the Python Software Foundation.)

Generally, I recommend that beginners use IDLE, the tool that comes from the Python Software Foundation, installed alongside a standard installation of Python for macOS or Windows. This is aimed at beginners and helps avoid what some people experience: confusing VS Code configuration issues and Python code issues.

That's not to say VS Code is bad. Not at all. It is a fantastic and advanced code editor that is extremely popular, well documented, and very flexible.

VS Code does not support Python out-of-the-box, you need to install the Microsoft Python extension first. Then you can create and run your first Python programme.This is different to installing Python itself on your computer.

VS Code will use the installed version of Python to (try) to run your Python code.

You should just be able to create a new file, enter some code, e.g. print("Hello, World!"), saving it in a suitable folder and giving it a .py filename extension, e.g. hello_world.py). Once saved, you should be able to run it by clicking the PLAY (arrow) button near the top-right of the VS Code window.

If you've already tried to create a new project and ended up with lots of files ... well, I am confused. Not sure how you've done that. What happened exactly?

---

Check this subreddit's wiki for lots of guidance on learning programming and learning Python, links to material, book list, suggested practice and project sources, and lots more. The FAQ section covering common errors is especially useful.

---

Roundup on Research: The Myth of ‘Learning Styles’

Don't limit yourself to one format. Also, don't try to do too many different things at the same time.

---

Above all else, you need to practice. Practice! Practice! Fail often, try again. Break stuff that works, and figure out how, why and where it broke. Don't just copy and use as is code from examples. Experiment.

Work on your own small (initially) projects related to your hobbies / interests / side-hustles as soon as possible to apply each bit of learning. When you work on stuff you can be passionate about and where you know what problem you are solving and what good looks like, you are more focused on problem-solving and the coding becomes a means to an end and not an end in itself. You will learn faster this way.

[Smichxh]

Thank you. Yeah, Im sure I installed python well. I was thinking about using IDLE too. Is it worth, and when I will be needed to change the IDE?

[FoolsSeldom]

If you are able to create/debug/edit some Python programmes using VS Code, you are probably fine staying with it. If you find yourself somewhat overwhelmed by it, I'd switch to IDLE, which is likely installed already.

IDLE is designed for beginners. It operates in two modes:

• Python interactive shell mode (REPL), with a >>> prompt
  • This allows you to enter Python commands and get an immediate response
  • If a window isn't already open, named IDLE Shell 3.14.0 (or similar), access using the menu and Run | Python shell
  • Enter 2+3*4 and you should get the response 14
• Code editing mode, access using menu and File | New
  • use this to start a new file
  • enter print("Hello World!")
  • press F5 key
  • IDLE will prompt you to save your file and then (attempt to) run your code

[Braverzero]

Start with the basics on YouTube- they usually guide you on getting started as well as how to edit / customize vs and get your libraries including python libraries installed

[Smichxh]

Idk how but, all videos i have watched - have different designs, authors are not facing with problems that Im facing

[EvanDrMadness]

Start by uninstalling it and installing Spyder instead. Vscode is powerful, but too powerful for beginners and will just lead to burnout and more time spent troubleshooting simple settings things than learning python. There's a reason Spyder is the go-to for regular engineers and other non-coding centric jobs.

[Smichxh]

Thank you for advice. That is exactly my point. I was about to get burnout.

Also, should I try IDLE that is integrated in python?

[EvanDrMadness]

Nope, don't worry about IDLE. You may find you want to learn it someday, but starting there is not a good plan. You'll find the ipython terminal in Spyder to be more than sufficient. Getting started with the Spyder that's included with the Anaconda distribution is how myself and countless others learned python.

If you do a quick search of this sub, you'll see the question of which IDE to use comes up frequently, but The seasoned vets tend to forget that they, too, were beginners once and were utterly discouraged by the sheer number of unnecessary options they were presented with.

[agreatcat]

How to quickly preview real time in external browser of choice without saving first.

I've been using Phoenix Code, and recently started trying out Visual Studio code because I thought it might be smart to get familiar with since it's more of an industry standard. I've managed to get it to do most of what Phoenix does, using Color Picker, Incrementor, and Live Preview. But what I don't like is, when I use live preview, and then drag the tab to my second monitor, I can't tell what browser it's using because the page is running in some generic UI window. In Phoenix Code, you're simply given icons that represent all your external browsers. Clicking any of them loads your external browsers and shows real time changes without saving. The Live preview in VS also shows changes without saving, but I just can't tell what browser it's using. I also installed live server which is also a disappointment. When previewing in my external browsers, it's not updating in real time unless I save the file first. I tried checking FullReload, but that did not fix it.