If you use Arch Linux or one of its derivatives and you enjoy programming, sooner or later you're going to come across Visual Studio Code, Microsoft's cross-platform code editorIt's lightweight, very powerful, and full of extensions, but when it comes to installing it on Arch, several questions arise: Should I use the official Microsoft package? Should I use the AUR? What are the differences between it and Code-OSS or VSCodium? Here you'll find all that, step by step and without any fuss.
Throughout this guide you will learn How to install Visual Studio Code on Arch Linux and derivative distributions Using different methods, you'll learn which package to choose in each case, what the licensing and telemetry implications are, and also how to install it on other GNU/Linux distributions if you work with multiple systems. In addition, you'll see a good overview of its features, advantages and limitations compared to the "big" Visual Studioso that you are clear about what you can expect from the editor.
What exactly is Visual Studio Code?
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) It is a cross-platform source code editorDeveloped by Microsoft, it features a modern interface, quite good performance, and a huge community of extensions. Although it was completely closed for quite some time, the core of the project was released under MIT license, and its code can be viewed, analyzed and modified on GitHub.
It is important to note one key distinction: the source code is under MIT, but the “Visual Studio Code” package distributed by Microsoft it is not free softwareThis binary includes proprietary components (icons, branding, integrated services, telemetry, etc.). In practical terms, it's free, very usable, and has excellent integration with Linux, but if you're a strict purist when it comes to free software, this difference is important to you.
Languages and technologies supported by VS Code
One of the great strengths of VS Code is that It is not limited to Microsoft languages like C# or Visual BasicIt supports a huge catalog of languages and technologies out of the box and through extensions, with syntax highlighting, autocompletion, debugging and specific tools.
You can work with it natively or with official extensions. C, C++, Java, Go, Python, PHP, Ruby, Perl, Rust, PowerShell, Bash, Batch and many othersFurthermore, it integrates everything related to web development very well: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript, JSON, Less, Sass and derivatives.
It also includes support for configuration files and common formats such as XML, Markdown, Dockerfile, Makefile, INI, SQL, Lua, F#, Objective-C, Razor, and many more. Thanks to the extension marketplace, virtually any modern language you can think of has one. a plugin with syntax support, snippets, and tools.
Key features of Visual Studio Code
Beyond being "just another editor," VS Code shines thanks to a number of features that have made it one of the favorite options for developing in .NET and a bunch of different stacks, on Windows, macOS and Linux.
True cross-platform
VS Code is available with official binaries for Windows, macOS and GNU/LinuxOn Linux you can download it directly from the Microsoft website in DEB and RPM formats, or install it through official repositories, third-party repositories, or the AUR in the case of Arch.
In practice, the experience is fairly homogeneous across systems: same interface, same extensions, and same configuration logicThis is an advantage if you work daily switching between operating systems or if you have mixed environments.
Extensions and plugins
Through its marketplace, VS Code allows install extensions for almost anything: new languages, color themes, linters, formatters, integrations with Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub, GitLab, databases, cloud tools like Azure, etc.
For the Microsoft ecosystem, the integration is especially good: Official plugins for Azure, remote development, containers, DevOps, and continuous deploymentsYou can have a complete work environment within the editor itself, without having to leave it for many common tasks.
IntelliSense and smart autocomplete
One of its star features is its autocomplete engine called IntelliSenseBasically, as you type, the editor suggests methods, variables, properties, or code snippets based on the context and the language's type information.
This prediction system makes it you don't have to write the complete instructionsIt reduces syntax errors and significantly speeds up writing, especially in large projects. In languages like TypeScript, C#, or JavaScript, the productivity boost is very noticeable.
Integration with version control
VS Code integrates Git support as standard, allowing Perform commits, view changes, manage branches, and review history directly from the editor interface. For many simple projects, you don't even need to open the terminal for basic version control tasks.
If you want to go further, there are extensions that add Advanced integrations with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or other servicesThis allows you to review pull requests, manage issues, and perform other tasks directly from VS Code.
Licensing, open source, and participation
Although the official Microsoft binary is not free software, The main source code for VS Code is released under the MIT licenseThis means that anyone can download it from GitHub, review it, modify it, and submit suggestions to the development team.
Thanks to that openness, the following have emerged forks like VSCodium or Code – OSSThese versions remove the proprietary components (Microsoft trademarks, telemetry, etc.) and are distributed under completely free licenses. Understanding this difference is important when choosing which variant to install on your Arch system.
Differences between Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code
Many people confuse the two products, but Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code are not the same and are not used in the same wayThey share a name and part of the approach, but their nature is different.
Visual Studio (plain and simple) is a complete IDE For Windows, designed primarily for large projects in .NET, C++, heavy desktop development, etc. Includes compilers, advanced debuggers, project wizards, testing tools, and a host of extra components.
For its part, Visual Studio Code is a code editorIt's lighter, more modular, and more extensible, but it doesn't come with compilers or toolchains by default. To compile and run it, you need to have... the language tools installed separately (for example, the .NET SDK, your system's C++ compiler, Node.js, etc.).
This has some clear consequences: VS Code does not include complex project templates like Visual StudioInstead, you typically boot from existing folders or using external generators (for example, framework CLIs). Furthermore, debugging depends on extensions and the installed compilers or runtimes themselves.
Installing Visual Studio Code on Arch Linux and derivatives from the AUR
Now we get to what you're really interested in: how to install Visual Studio Code on Arch Linux or its derivatives (Manjaro, EndeavourOS, etc.). In the Arch ecosystem, VS Code is primarily distributed through packages from the AUR, which are managed by the community.
VS Code bundles available in AUR
In the AUR you will find various packages related to VS Code. The most common ones are:
- visual-studio-code-bin: package with the Official Microsoft VS Code pre-compiled, exactly as distributed by the company.
- visual-studio-code (sometimes): version that compiles the editor from the source code, but keeping Microsoft components.
- queues or derivatives like vscodium-bin: variants reconstructed from the MIT code, without telemetry or Microsoft branding.
If what you want is the VS Code "as is," the one from Microsoft, with all its features and branding, the package you're interested in is usually visual-studio-code-bin, which directly downloads the official binaries and integrates them into your Arch system.
Manual installation from AUR using git and makepkg
If you want maximum control over what you install, you can clone the AUR repository and generate the package with makepkg manually. First, make sure you have Git and basic compilation tools installed (base-devel in Arch).
Un typical flow it would be something like:
Create a working directory to clone AUR repositories (optional, but recommended to keep it organized):
$ mkdir -p /home/user/git
$ cd /home/user/git
Clone the visual-studio-code-bin package repository from the AUR:
$ git clones https://aur.archlinux.org/visual-studio-code-bin.git
After cloning, enter the package directory:
$ cd visual-studio-code-bin
At this point you can Open and review the PKGBUILD file. Use your favorite editor to check where it downloads the binaries from and what exactly it does during the installation process.
When you're clear on that, Generate and install the package with makepkg (the -s option installs dependencies and -i installs after compiling):
$ makepkg -Yes
The system will download the official Microsoft binary, package it in Arch style, and install Visual Studio Code on your computer. This method is more transparent because you see the entire process and have direct control over the build files.
Installing VS Code on Arch with yay or paru
If you prefer to go faster and you already use a AUR helper like yay or paruThe process is greatly simplified, as these tools automatically clone, build, and install the package.
For example, with yay To install the official binary, you can do the following:
$yay -S visual-studio-code-bin
The program will download the AUR repository, show you the PKGBUILD for you to review if you wish, and It will then proceed to build and install VS Code on your system.It's a quick and convenient way, especially if you're coming from other distros with simple package managers.
With published The approach is almost identical, you simply change the initial command:
$ paru -S visual-studio-code-bin
In both cases, you will have the official Microsoft version integrated into your applications menu and updatable along with the rest of the packages when you run your regular AUR updates.
Free alternatives: Code – OSS and VSCodium on Arch
If you're worried about the licensing or telemetry aspects, you can opt for open source-based alternatives to VS Codewhich eliminate branding and certain functionalities connected to Microsoft.
In Arch and its derivatives, it is common to find packages like queues, code-oss o vscodium-binwhich are reconstructions of the editor from the MIT repository, without the proprietary elements. The user experience is very similarwith the same extensions and almost the same options, but without the “Visual Studio Code” branding and with a more privacy-friendly approach.
In either case, if your priority is to have the same feel as the official VS Code And you don't care about the proprietary license, the package visual-studio-code-bin From the AUR, it remains the most direct option.
With all this in mind, if you like Arch and want to use the Microsoft Visual Studio Code with all its featuresThe combination of AUR + visual-studio-code-bin (whether with git and makepkg or with yay/paru) is a mature, tested and widely used solution by the community, so it shouldn't be a real obstacle to making the switch to this distribution.