Why Visual Studio Code is So Popular (And Why You Should Be Careful)
A Look at the Most Popular Code Editor in the World, and the Risks of Using It
VS Code and Visual Studio: A Breakdown
If you've ever taken any programming classes, whether online or in a classroom, there's a good chance your teacher used VS Code. These two code editors, combined with IDEs, have a 41% market share, according to Google. Schools and companies often force their students and employees to use a particular IDE, and Visual Studio and VS Code are the most common choices.
The Appeal of VS Code and Visual Studio
VS Code and Visual Studio are feature-rich code editors. VS Code is an electron app that eats up RAM, so if you don't have a modern system, it's best to stick with a less bloated text editor. However, if you have a system with high RAM capacity, you can handle the bloat of VS Code and take advantage of the many extensions available. Microsoft is embracing the use of AI in VS Code, as evidenced by the presence of Chad GPT plugins in the editor.
The Importance of Extensions
Extensions are the most important feature of VS Code and Visual Studio. They can help you increase your productivity and streamline your workflow. For example, the Vim plugin provides Vim commands in VS Code, making it an absolute must-have for any developer who has seen the light.
The Dark Side of VS Code
Despite its popularity, VS Code is one of the worst editors you could use, as it is created by Microsoft, a company known for harvesting user data and cooperating with law enforcement agencies. Microsoft collects usage data from its end users via Telemetry, and the code that gathers this data is closed source. Users must trust Microsoft's word that they are not spying on them or logging everything they type.
Conclusion
VS Code and Visual Studio are the most popular code editors and IDEs, but their popularity comes at a cost. VS Code collects usage data from its users, and Microsoft is known for harvesting user data and cooperating with law enforcement agencies. However, despite these concerns, many developers continue to use VS Code and Visual Studio due to their feature-rich nature and the many extensions available.