# Visual Studio Code

Microsoft’s free code editor, now pitched as “your home for multi-agent development” — GitHub Copilot’s AI agents built in, alongside the extension ecosystem that already made it the default.

- **Category:** [Utilities](https://notchlist.vercel.app/category/utilities/)
- **Price:** Free
- **Open source:** yes
- **Official site:** https://code.visualstudio.com/
- **Available via:** Homebrew, Direct
- **Requirements:** No fixed minimum version — Microsoft’s own requirements page states VS Code supports “macOS versions with Apple security update support,” which it defines as typically the latest release and the two previous versions, so the effective floor moves forward as older macOS releases age out of Apple’s own security-update window.
- **Maker:** Microsoft

## Kitsmith's take

The default for a reason: extensions for nearly every language, a huge community, and AI pair-programming via Copilot with a genuine free entry point (“no trial, no credit card required” per its own site). One nuance worth knowing: the underlying source (Code - OSS) is MIT-licensed on GitHub, but the actual Microsoft-branded build distributed from this site carries Microsoft’s own product license — telemetry and marketplace terms included — not a plain MIT license.

## Features

- **Extension marketplace:** Tens of thousands of extensions for language support, themes, and tooling.
- **Built-in AI agents:** GitHub Copilot agent mode can plan, edit, and run commands across files, using Copilot or third-party model providers.
- **Integrated terminal & Git:** A built-in terminal and source-control panel without leaving the editor.

## FAQ

**Is VS Code free?**

Yes, free to download and use. Copilot’s AI agent features start free, with paid plans for higher usage.

**Is VS Code open source?**

The underlying source is MIT-licensed on GitHub. The Microsoft-branded build distributed from the official site carries Microsoft’s own product license instead of the plain MIT license.

**Who makes VS Code?**

Microsoft.


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Hand-verified listing on Kitsmith: https://notchlist.vercel.app/apps/visual-studio-code/