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VSCode vs. GitHub

Welcome to this episode of Bite-Sized! Today, we’ll explain why Visual Studio Code (VSCode) is our preferred tool over editing code directly on GitHub. We’ll also introduce what VSCode is and why it can make coding much easier and more efficient.

What is VSCode?​

Visual Studio Code (VSCode) is a free, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft. It supports many programming languages like Python, JavaScript, C++, and more.

Key features include:

  • Auto-completion & Syntax Highlighting: Helps you write code faster and spot errors quickly.
  • Error Checking: Real-time linting alerts you to mistakes as you type.
  • Built-in Git Integration: Manage your repositories directly from the editor.
  • Extensions: Customize VSCode with thousands of plugins, like debuggers, linters, themes, and AI coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot.

Explore VSCode here: https://code.visualstudio.com/

Why Not Just Code on GitHub?​

GitHub’s built-in web editor lets you make quick changes, but it has significant limitations:

  • You can only edit one file at a time — no multi-file editing or project-wide search.
  • It lacks coding tools like auto-complete, syntax highlighting, and error detection.
  • There’s no way to build, test, or debug your code before committing, which increases the chance of errors in your repository.

VSCode, on the other hand, runs locally on your computer and allows you to:

  • Edit multiple files and folders seamlessly.
  • Use advanced coding tools and extensions to boost productivity.
  • Test and debug your code before pushing changes to GitHub, ensuring higher code quality and fewer mistakes.

Plus, VSCode’s integration with GitHub means you can still commit, push, pull, and manage branches without leaving the editor.

Additional Resources​

Pro Tip

Installing the Python extension for VSCode is a great first step if you’re working with Python projects—it adds powerful features like IntelliSense and debugging tools.

Heads Up

Avoid committing code with obvious errors or unfinished features. Use VSCode’s tools to catch bugs before pushing to GitHub!

What’s Next?​

In the next video, we’ll guide you through installing VSCode and Python so you can get started with coding right away. Stay tuned!

Thanks for watching!