Visual Studio Code - End-To-End Editing and Debugging Tools for Web Developers

Expert guidance on using Visual Studio Code for editing and debugging your web development projects
 
Visual Studio Code, a free, open source, cross-compatible source code editor, is one of the most popular choices for web developers. It is fast, lightweight, customizable, and contains built-in support for JavaScript, Typescript, and Node.js extensions for other languages, including C++, Python, and PHP. Features such as debugging capability, embedded Git control, syntax highlighting, code snippets, and IntelliSense intelligent code completion support--several of which set it apart from the competition--help make Visual Studio Code an impressive, out-of-the-box solution.
 
Visual Studio Code: End-to-End Editing and Debugging Tools for Web Developers helps readers to become familiar with and productive in Visual Studio Code. This up-to-date guide covers all of the essential components of the software, including the editing features of the workspace, advanced functionality such as code refactoring and key binding, and integration with Grunt, Gulp, NPM, and other external tools. New users, experienced developers, and those considering moving from another developer tool will benefit from this book's detailed, yet easy-to-follow information on Visual Studio Code. This book:
* Teaches readers how to use Visual Studio Code to do full-stack development
* Explains the steps to install Visual Studio Code on Windows, Mac and Linux platforms
* Provides a foundation for non-users considering moving to Visual Studio Code
* Helps current users expand their knowledge of the tool and its available extensions
* Describes how to open a .NET Core project and get end-to-end execution and debugging functionality
 
Visual Studio Code: End-to-End Editing and Debugging Tools for Web Developers is an invaluable guide for both professional and hobbyist web developers seeking immediately-useful information on Visual Studio Code.

List of contents

Introduction xv
 
Chapter 1: Introducing Visual Studio Code 1
 
Getting Started 1
 
Installing Visual Studio Code 2
 
Windows 2
 
Linux 6
 
macOS 10
 
How Cross-Platform Works 11
 
Summary 12
 
Chapter 2: Exploring the User Interface 13
 
Editors 14
 
Activity Bar 15
 
Editing Settings Manually 17
 
Status Bar 18
 
Other Windows 23
 
Command Palette 23
 
Terminal Window 24
 
Output Window 25
 
Debug Console 26
 
Problems Window 27
 
Summary 29
 
Chapter 3: Files and Folders and Projects (Oh My) 31
 
Explorer 31
 
Project View 32
 
Decorations 36
 
Workspaces 37
 
Saving the Workspace 37
 
Adding Folders 38
 
Settings 38
 
Search 38
 
Advanced Searches 39
 
Regular Expression Matching 39
 
Specifying Files 40
 
Replacing Text 41
 
Settings 41
 
Summary 42
 
Chapter 4: Editing Code in Your Language of Choice 43
 
Editor Area 43
 
Editor Groups and Layouts 45
 
Open Editors 48
 
Outline View 51
 
Editing Functionality 52
 
Keyboard Shortcuts 53
 
Choosing Your Language 57
 
Formatting 58
 
Code Writing Assistance 59
 
IntelliSense 61
 
Method Info 61
 
Completions 62
 
Settings 62
 
Find and Replace 63
 
Minimap 64
 
Code Snippets 65
 
Multiple Cursors 67
 
Auto Save 67
 
Hot Exit 68
 
Editor Settings 68
 
Summary 71
 
Chapter 5: Integrating with Source Control 73
 
Source Control Management 73
 
Using Git 75
 
Cloning a Repository 76
 
Staging and Committing 76
 
Branches 77
 
Working with the Tracking Branch 78
 
Merge Conflicts 80
 
Miscellaneous Support 82
 
Git Output 82
 
Default Git Editor 83
 
Git Diff Tool 83
 
Other SCMs 83
 
Installing the Extension 84
 
Configuring the Extension 85
 
Summary 86
 
Chapter 6: Debugging Code 87
 
Debugging Node.js 87
 
Launching the Session 88
 
Launch Configurations 89
 
Launch vs. Attach Execution 91
 
Adding a Configuration 92
 
Simultaneous Configurations 94
 
Debug Actions 95
 
Breakpoints 95
 
Stepping through Code 97
 
Data Inspection 97
 
Advanced Launch Configuration 98
 
Variable Substitution 98
 
Launching a Browser on Debug 99
 
Summary 100
 
Chapter 7: External Tools and Task Automation 101
 
Tasks Defined 101
 
Creating Custom Tasks 104
 
Compound Tasks 106
 
Problem Matchers 107
 
Multiline Matchers 108
 
Background Patterns 109
 
Advanced Task Configuration 110
 
Platform-Specific Properties 110
 
Variable Substitution 110
 
Summary 112
 
Chapter 8: Unit Testing 113
 
Testing a Unit 113
 
Python Unit Testing 114
 
Unittest Framework 115
 
PyTest Framework 116
 
JavaScript Unit Testing 118
 
Jest Extension 118
 
Refactoring 121
 
Code Actions 122
 
Summary 124
 
Chapter 9: Working with Extensions 125
 
Extension Marketplace 126
 
Searching for Extensions 127
 
Installing Extensions 129
 
Extension Configuration 133
 
Updating Extens

About the author

BRUCE JOHNSON is a partner at ObjectSharp Consulting. He has spent most of his career in the computer industry, working on projects at the leading edge of Windows technology. Bruce has spoken hundreds of times at conferences and user groups throughout North America. He is a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), and has been recognized numerous times as a Microsoft MVP.

Product details

• Authors: b Johnson, Bruce Johnson
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.08.2019
• EAN: 9781119588184
• ISBN: 978-1-119-58818-4
• No. of pages: 192
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > IT, data processing > Programming languages; Informatik, Visual Studio, Programmierung, computer science, Objektorientiertes Programmieren / Java, Object Technologies - Java, Programmierung / Visual Basic, Programming / Visual Basic