Microsoft Visual Code (not Visual Studio)
I love using Visual Studio 2002 for .NET Development and C++, but if I had to choose exactly one editor to use for the rest of my life, it would be Visual Code (or VS Code or just Code). With this tool, I can literally do everything. It is practically its own operating system, much like Emacs used to claim decades ago. This entire site was built solely in VS Code - the Python Flask web site, HTML, CSS, (not much JavaScript), Markdown, YAML, and Git.
It has these modern features:
- Intellisense
- Huge ever-growing number of extensions that can do anything you want.
- Support for all languages; Python, Go, C, C++, C#, Ruby, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, LaTeX, Markdown, ... you name it.
- Built-in debugging hooks; run and hit breakpoints.
- Built-in Git workflow. Commit, Push, create Pull Requests, Rebase, ...
- Free and Open-Source. Tons of code on GitHub. Incredible documentation. ChatGPT knows it well.
- Can install in user mode, without admin permissions.
- Cross platform: Windows, Linux, Max, Raspberry Pi
Purpose
- Install VS Code in user-mode so you can add any extension without consulting an administrator.
- Know the primary productive tricks for getting things done.
- Learn how to create these types of artifacts:
- Web pages
- Python Program
- Markdown Documents and Books
- Configuration Files: YAML, JSON, XML, INI
- PDF Files
- Mermaid Diagrams - create
- Search, install, configure, and use plug-ins - this is actually quite easy.
- Customize VS Code
- Editors and IDEs Text editors and Interactive Development Environements