Getting Started with VSCode

Visual Studio Code is the editor most network engineers reach for when they start automating, but very few people are ever shown how to actually set it up properly. The result is a tool that works, but one that is doing a fraction of what it could be.

This course takes you from a fresh install through to a fully configured, portable development environment. Along the way you will learn the interface, the extensions worth installing, how VSCode handles Python environments, and how to run, debug, and version control your code without leaving the editor.

In this course, you will learn:

• What VSCode is, why it has become the default editor for network automation, and how to install it on your platform.
• How the interface is laid out, including the activity bar, side bar, editor, command palette, and the bottom panel.
• How to use the integrated terminal, problems, output, and debug console panes as part of your day-to-day workflow.
• How to find, install, and manage extensions, along with the extensions we recommend for network automation work.
• How VSCode works with environments, including workspaces, virtual environments, interpreter selection, and remote development.
• How to run your first Python script and use the built-in debugger with breakpoints, watches, and step-through execution.
• How to use the built-in Git integration to stage, commit, branch, and review changes from within the editor.
• How to customize VSCode with settings, themes, keybindings, and snippets, and how to export and share that configuration across machines.
• How to make use of the AI features now built into the editor.