Why VS code is probably the best Code Editor for beginners
VS Code or Visual Studio Code has ever since its stable release in 2016 gradually gained up steam, which eventually snowballed in it becoming the most popular Development Environment in 2019(source: stackoverflow). There are many reasons why this happened, and many of you probably already know some of its unique features, but I am not gonna focus on that today. Today I want to discuss why it could be best Code Editor for beginners, even though it was never intended to be beginner friendly!
Easy to set up
So, while some might not agree, I would argue that VS Code is among the most easiest to install, for example all you gotta do for making it ready for any language is
- Download and install VS Code
- Open your python file
- Just follow what VS:Code recommends.
That's it, VS code is intelligent enough to automatically chose the best settings for you. Its not magical though, this functionality comes from Microsoft's extensive experience in IDE software, and its access to user data/stats. Sometimes, even if the settings are not the perfect(EG. for C# Microsoft does not automatically set the Console to be internal Console) ,solution to all your problems is just a google search away. Which brings us neatly into
Extensive Documentation and awesome community
So, a beginner always needs a teacher, anyone who says otherwise assumes a teacher to be a class teacher. For the new age this teacher comes in endless shape and form. You have many choices as a beginner/ Something's not working? You can -:
- Check out Microsoft's awesome documentation.
- Check out the answers in stackoverflow/reddit.
- Chances are someone has written a weblog on the single issue
- The its a obscure bug, chances are someone has asked for it in GitHub. The devs at Microsoft are usually super helpful in answering such questions.
- Ask the question yourself in stackoverflow, its highly likely, with so many users enjoying the IDE, someone may already have solved the issue
With such a wide selection of answers on a single query, a beginner needn't fear if the don't understand something.
Its available everywhere
Yeah, VS code is pretty much available everywhere, and its largely due to it being open source. So, no more crying over Visual Studio not being available on Linux, VS Code would be available in your distro, right now. So, if you are not mad enough to be coding on your phone(or you can be) VS code got you covered.
Its free, period.
So, tools like Visual studio of Pycharm are also practically free. Even though intermediate users understand it beginners totally become intimated by upwards of 2 editions of the same tool, and assume the best editon to be the premium one. On, the other hand, no such headache in VSCode, users just need to click the download button. No edition choosing non-sense, the one you get is the best.
Lightweight
So, here's the feature that sold me to VS Code. Its very very lightweight, especially when you consider how many features it provides. Beginners usually don't need billion of features though, they just need to get coding on, easily, and VS Code provides just that. Mostly beginner don't have hefty and beefy rigs, they just have a dream, and a crappy laptop. VS Code doesn't care, it will run, just for you
That's why we sing for these kids who don't have a thing
Except for a dream and a f*&#in' rap magazine
Eminem - Sing for the moment. Probably dedicated to VS Code.
Conclusion
So, whether you like VS Code, or don't like Microsoft/electron, you have to admit; VS code has probably consolidated itself to be one of the archetypes of what going open-source can add to a project. You reach the zenith of good UX , when your Software that was intended for advanced users, become one of the best options for complete beginners, I think Microsoft has just achieved that with VS Code.