VS Code Installation Guide for IQ – VEX Library

This article is an overview for installing Visual Studio Code and the VEX Visual Studio Code Extension. The extension officially supports Windows and macOS.

Installing Visual Studio Code

Open a internet browser and navigate to: https://code.visualstudio.com/

Here are the guides provided by the VS Code website. These can be helpful or you can follow along with this article.

Installing for Windows

Visual Studio Code website homepage with a large heading that says Code editing. Redefined. A blue button labeled Download for Windows is shown below the heading.

Click the download for Windows button.

VS Code installer is shown downloading in the browser's downloads menu.

Then the download will begin in the browser.

File Explorer icon.

File Explorer icon shown on the Windows toolbar to the right of the Search bar.

Next open the File Explorer by clicking on the “File Explorer” icon located on the windows toolbar

The term File Explorer has been typed into the Windows Search Bar and the File Explorer app is shown in the search results.

Or by typing in FIle Explorer in the Windows Search bar and clicking on File Explorer App

Downloads shortcut option is shown in the File Explorer sidebar.

Next navigate to the download folder by clicking on Downloads shortcut in the sidebar.

Windows File Explorer is opened to the Downloads folder and the VS Code Installer file is shown.

Click on the VS Code installer.

Microsoft VS Code Setup window with a license agreement that must be agreed to. A button is selected below that reads I accept the agreement. The Next button is highlighted below.

Accept the agreement and click next.

Microsoft VS Code Setup window with options to select additional tasks. The options include creating a Desktop icon, adding an Open with Code action to the File Explorer context menu, and adding VS Code to the PATH. In this example, every checkbox option is checked. Below, the Next button is highlighted.

Configure installation and click next.

Microsoft VS Code Setup window that is now ready to install. The selected additional tasks are listed for review. Below, the Install button is highlighted.

Click install to begin installation.

Microsoft VS Code Setup window with a progress bar and a message that reads Installing, please wait while Setup installs Visual Studio Code on your computer.

Install process will begin.

Microsoft VS Code Setup window with a message that reads Completing the Visual Studio Code Setup Wizard. There is an option to Launch VS Code that is checked by default, and below there is a Finish button.

Once installation is complete, click finish and VS Code will launch.

VS Code application is opened with no project selected.

Visual Studio Code will Open.

Installing for macOS

Visual Studio Code website homepage with a large heading that says Code editing. Redefined. A blue button labeled Download Mac Universal is shown below the heading.

Click “Download Mac Universal” button.

VS Code zip file is shown downloading the browser's downloads list.

Then the download will begin.

Finder icon.

Finder app icon is shown on the macOS toolbar.

Next open Finder by clicking on the “Finder” icon on the macOS toolbar

Downloads shortcut option is shown in the Finder sidebar.

Next navigate to the “Downloads” folder by clicking on “Downloads” in the Favorites sidebar.

Finder is opened to the Downloads folder and the VS Code darwin universal zip file is shown.

Double click on the VS Code zip file to unzip.

Finder is opened to the Downloads folder and the VS Code darwin universal zip file has been double clicked to extract it. The VS Code application file has appeared next to the zip file.

Click and Drag the Visual Studio Code Application to the Applications folder.

Applications shortcut option is shown in the Finder sidebar. macOS toolbar is shown. Launchpad icon is shown in the macOS toolbar.

Click on the Launch Pad icon in the macOS toolbar.

VS Code application is shown in the macOS Launchpad menu.

Click on the Visual Studio Code icon to launch Visual Studio Code.

VS Code application is opened with no project selected.

Visual Studio Code will Open.

Installing the VEX Extension

The Extension icon on the side menu of VS Code is shown.

Click on the Extension icon in the VS Code activity bar

VS Code Extensions side menu is opened and VEX has been typed into the menu's search bar. The search results are shown below, and the VEX Robotics Extension is listed.

In the search bar type VEX

The VEX Extension will appear in the window below.

Click the install button next to the extension from VEX Robotics.

VS Code Extension is shown in the side menu and its status reads Installing.

Once installation begins, the text will change to installing. Wait for installation to complete before proceeding.

Installing the Supporting Extensions

In order to use Intellisense/Linting for both C++ and Python additional extensions will need to be installed. The VEX VS Code Extension will automatically configure VEX projects to work with these extensions. Other Intellisense/Linting extensions can be used but users will have to manually configure the projects as needed.

The Extension icon on the side menu of VS Code is shown.

Click on the Extension icon in the VS Code activity bar

VS Code Extensions side menu is opened and C++ has been typed into the menu's search bar. The search results are shown below, and the Microsoft C/C++ Extension is the first option listed.

In the search bar type “C++”

The Microsoft C++ Extension will appear in the window below.

Click the install button next to the C/C++ extension from Microsoft.

Microsoft C/C++ Extension is shown in the side menu and its status reads Installing.

Once installation begins, the text will change to installing. Wait for the installation to complete before proceeding.

VS Code Extensions side menu is opened and Python has been typed into the menu's search bar. The search results are shown below, and the Microsoft Python Extension is the first option listed.

In the search bar type “Python”

The Microsoft Python Extension will appear in the window below.

Click the install button next to the Python extension from Microsoft.

Microsoft Python Extension is shown in the side menu and its status reads Installing.

Once installation begins, the text will change to installing. Wait for the installation to complete before proceeding.