# Notes on installing Visual Studio Code on Windows **Date:** 2024-10-06 **Author:** Kees C. Bakker **Categories:** Automation, Installation Notes, PowerShell **Original:** https://keestalkstech.com/notes-on-installing-visual-studio-code/ ![Notes on installing Visual Studio Code on Windows](https://keestalkstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/altumcode-dC6Pb2JdAqs-unsplash.jpg) --- I love using Visual Studio Code on Windows as it is very flexible and runs almost anywhere. It is usually the first editor I install on a new machine. Let's script those plugin installs, so we can roll them out to new machines. To import the settings, you'll need PowerShell 7. ## Installation Let's install Visual Studio Code and [JQ](https://github.com/jqlang/jq) using [Chocolatey](https://community.chocolatey.org/packages/vscode). JQ will be used to edit settings after the installation. ``` choco install vscode jq ``` ## Listing installation instructions Let's create a list with installation instructions for extensions from a machine that has Visual Studio Code installed: ```ps code --list-extensions ` | ForEach-Object { echo "code --install-extension $_" } ``` ## My arbitrary list of installed extensions I use my blog as notes to my future self. When I get a new machine, I usually install the following extension into my Visual Studio Code: ```ps & { # Prettier helps with formatting HTML, CSS, JS and TS code --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode # GitHub Copilot helps with coding code --install-extension github.copilot code --install-extension github.copilot-chat # Support for .NET / C# code --install-extension ms-dotnettools.csdevkit code --install-extension ms-dotnettools.csharp code --install-extension ms-dotnettools.vscode-dotnet-runtime # Support for Python and Jupyter notebooks code --install-extension ms-python.debugpy code --install-extension ms-python.python code --install-extension ms-python.vscode-pylance code --install-extension ms-toolsai.jupyter code --install-extension ms-toolsai.jupyter-keymap code --install-extension ms-toolsai.jupyter-renderers code --install-extension ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-cell-tags code --install-extension ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-slideshow # Support for Docker, WSL and dev containers. code --install-extension ms-azuretools.vscode-docker code --install-extension ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers code --install-extension ms-vscode-remote.remote-wsl code --install-extension ms-vscode.powershell ## Better node.js code --install-extension herrmannplatz.npm-dependency-links code --install-extension nsoult.typescript-imports-sort code --install-extension mrkou47.npmignore code --install-extension orta.vscode-jest # Live share - code together code --install-extension ms-vsliveshare.vsliveshare # Tools that help to improve the interface ## Git: who did what!? code --install-extension waderyan.gitblame ## Better icons == better overview of what's going on code --install-extension vscode-icons-team.vscode-icons ## Spell checking code --install-extension streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker ## Highlighting of TODO's code --install-extension jgclark.vscode-todo-highlight # File formats ## CSV - make those fields stand out! code --install-extension mechatroner.rainbow-csv ## .env support code --install-extension mikestead.dotenv ## cady file support code --install-extension matthewpi.caddyfile-support ## Proper XML viewing code --install-extension redhat.vscode-xml ## Terraform code --install-extension bmewburn.vscode-intelephense-client ## .editorconfig: code --install-extension editorconfig.editorconfig ## shell development code --install-extension foxundermoon.shell-format code --install-extension timonwong.shellcheck ## Powershell ms-vscode.powershell ## YML/YAML support code --install-extension redhat.vscode-yaml ## NGINX code --install-extension william-voyek.vscode-ngin ## Mermaid support in Markdown code --install-extension bierner.markdown-mermaid } ``` ## Let's set some settings Having all those extensions is one thing, but we need some configuration to make them work. This section will use `jq` to edit the user settings. ``` &{ # Check for PowerShell version 7 or higher if ($PSVersionTable.PSVersion.Major -lt 7) { Write-Host "This script requires PowerShell 7 or higher. Exiting..." return } $settingsPath = "$env:APPDATA\Code\User\settings.json" $backupPath = "$settingsPath.bak" # Check if settings file exists, if not, create an empty JSON file if (-not (Test-Path -Path $settingsPath)) { Set-Content -Path $settingsPath -Value '{}' -Encoding UTF8 Write-Host "Created empty settings file at $settingsPath" } elseif (-not (Test-Path -Path $backupPath)) { # Create a backup if it doesn't already exist Copy-Item -Path $settingsPath -Destination $backupPath Write-Host "Backup created at $backupPath" } else { Write-Host "Backup already exists at $backupPath" } # List of jq commands for updating settings with correct JSON syntax $jqCommands = @( '.["diffEditor.ignoreTrimWhitespace"] = false', '.["diffEditor.renderSideBySide"] = true', '.["dotnetAcquisitionExtension.enableTelemetry"] = false', '.["editor.formatOnType"] = true', '.["editor.renderWhitespace"] = "all"', '.["files.dialog.defaultPath"] = "c:\\projects\\"', '.["git.autofetch"] = true', '.["git.enableCommitSigning"] = true', '.["git.openRepositoryInParentFolders"] = "never"', '.["javascript.updateImportsOnFileMove.enabled"] = "always"', '.["telemetry.telemetryLevel"] = "off"', '.["typescript.updateImportsOnFileMove.enabled"] = "always"', '.["vsicons.dontShowNewVersionMessage"] = "true"', '.["workbench.iconTheme"] = "vscode-icons"', '.["[typescript]"] += {"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"}', '.["[javascript]"] += {"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"}', '.["[json]"] += {"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"}', '.["[html]"] += {"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"}', '.["[css]"] += {"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"}', '.["[scss]"] += {"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"}' ) # Apply each jq command to progressively edit the settings file foreach ($command in $jqCommands) { (Get-Content -Raw -Path $settingsPath | jq $command) | Set-Content -Path $settingsPath } # Finally sort the settings file by keys (Get-Content -Raw -Path $settingsPath | jq --sort-keys '.') | Set-Content -Path $settingsPath Write-Host "Finished updating settings." } ``` Enjoy! ## Changelog - 2024-11-13: Added settings for `typescript.updateImportsOnFileMove.enabled`, `editor.formatOnType`, `diffEditor.ignoreTrimWhitespace` and `diffEditor.renderSideBySide`. - 2024-11-08: Added settings for `files.dialog.defaultPath`, `git.autofetch` and `vsicons.dontShowNewVersionMessage`. - 2024-10-30: Added check of version of PowerShell. The script has problems on PowerShell 5 and runs on PowerShell 7. - 2024-10-06: Initial article.