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3.4 Working with VS Code and WSL

VS Code is more than just a text editor — it’s a full-featured development environment that integrates smoothly with Linux and Windows through WSL.

Why Use VS Code?​

  • Cross-platform: Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • Integrated terminal for shell commands.
  • Built-in Git and version control.
  • Rich extension ecosystem for languages, frameworks, and workflows.

Using VS Code with WSL​

  1. Install VS Code for Windows from the download page.

  2. During installation, select Add to PATH to enable the code command.

  3. In VS Code, install the Remote - WSL extension.

  4. Open a WSL terminal, then run:

    code .

    This opens your WSL project in VS Code with full Linux integration.

You can also connect manually:

  • Press Ctrl+Shift+P → choose Remote-WSL: New Window.
  • VS Code now runs inside WSL, with access to the Linux filesystem and toolchains.