# The VS Code Text Editor We'll be writing Python scripts using software called a ["text editor"](https://idrh.ku.edu/text-editors-and-word-processors). Similar to word processing software like Microsoft Word, text editors allow us to write and save documents of text. But unlike word processors, which save extra metadata (e.g. styles and formatting) along with the underling text, text editors allow us to save files comprised of just text. This helps the computer more easily interpret them. There are many good text editor options out there, including [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/), [Atom](https://atom.io/), [Sublime](https://www.sublimetext.com/), and [Notepad++](https://notepad-plus-plus.org/), and it seems each developer has their own preference. Regardless of which text editor you choose, you are highly encouraged to configure it with certain plugins, packages and extensions to enhance your experience and save you time. There are two sets of functionality in particular which will prove especially valuable this semester. These are "Python syntax auto-completion" and "column-style selection", respectively (see basic configuration section below). ## Installation [Download VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/Download). ## Basic Configuration After you have downloaded VS Code, you'll want to take some time to familiarize yourself with its [settings](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/settings) and menus. The Command Pallete (accessible by typing "shift + command + P") is perhaps the biggest time-saving tool, and is worth exploring. ### Shell Commands On a Windows, you may not need to take any action. But on a Mac, follow [these steps](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/setup/mac#_launching-from-the-command-line) to enable VS Code shell commands. ![](https://2741866142-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-Lxirt-fOkHNRdT9uASu%2F-LxyAjPAv2RY6Fzg9ag1%2F-LxyAofZzgfu8VFF-VbR%2Fvs-code-enable-shell-commands.png?generation=1578370075757433\&alt=media) After enabling shell commands, you should be able to use the `code` command to open files and folders from the command-line: ```bash # open all files and folders in the current working directory: code . # open all files and folders in the specified directory, e.g. "path/to/my-project": code path/to/my-project ``` ### Python Syntax Auto-completion Once configured, the text editor is capable of automatically completing snippets of Python code for you. This helps improve accuracy, and saves time. ![a screenshot of the text editor's autocomplete functionality](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/1328807/50870477-2e02ed80-1386-11e9-9a83-506d9c9d39ec.gif) When you open a Python file in VS Code, it should prompt you to install the official Python extension (`ms-python.python`). You are recommended to install this extension to enable Python syntax auto-completion. ### Column Selection If configured, your text editor can also enable vertical text selection. This comes in handy if you have to change multiple lines of text at the same time, including commenting-out many lines at once. ![a screenshot of the text editor's column selection](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/1328807/50870478-2e9b8400-1386-11e9-9378-0afadc4a7dce.gif) By default, you should be able to achieve column selection functionality in VS Code by pressing "shift + alt" (Windows) or "shift + option" (Mac), then clicking and dragging up or down. ## Further Optional Configurations These are some of the professor's personal VS Code configurations, for your reference. Feel free but not obligated to use them. ### Additional Extensions A sample of the professor's installed extensions (results from running `code --list-extensions`): ```bash HookyQR.beautify mechatroner.rainbow-csv mikestead.dotenv ms-python.python sleistner.vscode-fileutils streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker whizkydee.material-palenight-theme xamm.filepath yzhang.markdown-all-in-one ``` You might try searching these manually or [importing them programmatically](https://stackoverflow.com/a/49398449/670433) via `code --install-extension EXTENSION_NAME`, where "EXTENSION\_NAME" is the extension's identifier (see list above). For example: ```bash code --install-extension HookyQR.beautify code --install-extension mechatroner.rainbow-csv code --install-extension mikestead.dotenv code --install-extension ms-python.python code --install-extension sleistner.vscode-fileutils code --install-extension streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker code --install-extension whizkydee.material-palenight-theme code --install-extension xamm.filepath code --install-extension yzhang.markdown-all-in-one ``` ### User Settings A sample of relevant settings from the professor's `settings.json` file: ```javascript { "workbench.activityBar.visible": false, "workbench.colorTheme": "Palenight Theme", "breadcrumbs.enabled": true, "editor.fontSize": 14, "editor.wrappingIndent": "none", "editor.formatOnPaste": true, "editor.formatOnType": true, "editor.tabSize": 4, "explorer.confirmDragAndDrop": false, "explorer.confirmDelete": false, "files.trimTrailingWhitespace": true, "files.insertFinalNewline": true, "files.trimFinalNewlines": true, "emmet.showSuggestionsAsSnippets": true, "diffEditor.ignoreTrimWhitespace": false, "window.zoomLevel": 0, } ``` ### Keybord Shortcuts Keyboard shortcut overrides: ```javascript // Place your key bindings in this file to override the defaults [ { "key": "cmd+\\", "command": "workbench.action.toggleSidebarVisibility" }, { "key": "cmd+b", "command": "-workbench.action.toggleSidebarVisibility" } ] ``` ### Python Snippets Use the command palette and start typing "snippets" to find the "Preferences > Configure User Snippets" setting which should yield a snippets JSON file. Feel free to update yours to include these helpful Python snippets: ``` { // Place your global snippets here. Each snippet is defined under a snippet name and has a scope, prefix, body and // description. Add comma separated ids of the languages where the snippet is applicable in the scope field. If scope // is left empty or omitted, the snippet gets applied to all languages. The prefix is what is // used to trigger the snippet and the body will be expanded and inserted. Possible variables are: // $1, $2 for tab stops, $0 for the final cursor position, and ${1:label}, ${2:another} for placeholders. // Placeholders with the same ids are connected. // Example: // "Print to console": { // "scope": "javascript,typescript", // "prefix": "log", // "body": [ // "console.log('$1');", // "$2" // ], // "description": "Log output to console" // } "Python Function Definition": { "prefix": ["def"], "body": [ "def my_func():", " pass" ], "description": "A function definition in Python." }, "Python Class Constructor": { "prefix": ["init", "__init", "defi"], "body": [ "def __init__(self):", " pass" ], "description": "A class initializer method for Python." }, "Python Main Conditional": { "scope": "python", "prefix": ["main", "__main"], "body": [ "if __name__ == '__main__':", " pass" ], "description": "The main conditional for Python." } } ``` See also: --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://prof-rossetti.gitbook.io/intro-to-python/notes/devtools/vs-code.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.