Installation and Navigation of Visual Studio Code (VS Code) Instructions: Answer the following questions based on your understanding of the installation and navigation of Visual Studio Code (VS Code). Provide detailed explanations and examples where appropriate.

Questions:

1. Installation of VS Code:

   • Describe the steps to download and install Visual Studio Code on Windows 11 operating system. Include any prerequisites that might be needed. Prerequisites: Ensure your Windows 11 operating system is up to date. You need to have administrative privileges on your computer to install software. A stable internet connection is required to download the installer. Downloading Visual Studio Code: Open your web browser and go to the official Visual Studio Code website: https://code.visualstudio.com/. Click on the “Download for Windows” button. Installing Visual Studio Code: Once the installer is downloaded, locate the file in your downloads and double-click it to run the installation. Follow the installation prompts. You can choose the default settings or customize them according to your preferences (e.g., selecting the installation path). After selecting your preferences, proceed with the installation.

2. First-time Setup:

   • After installing VS Code, what initial configurations and settings should be adjusted for an optimal coding environment? Mention any important settings or extensions. Extensions: Install extensions that enhance your development experience. e.g Python, C++, Java, etc., which provide intelligent code completion, linting, and debugging Theme: Choose a theme that is comfortable for your eyes. VS Code offers several built-in themes, both light and dark. Font and Font Size: Adjust the editor’s font and font size to your preference for better readability File Auto Save: Enable auto-save to automatically save your changes after a delay or when the editor loses focus.

3. User Interface Overview:

   • Explain the main components of the VS Code user interface. Identify and describe the purpose of the Activity Bar, Side Bar, Editor Group, and Status Bar. Activity Bar: Located on the far left-hand side, the Activity Bar contains icons for quick access to different views and features. It includes icons for: Explorer: To browse, open, and manage all of your files and folders. Search: To find and replace text across your files. Source Control: To manage version control and repository hosting services like Git. Run: To debug your code and view output. Extensions: To browse, install, and manage extensions.

   Side Bar: Adjacent to the Activity Bar, the Side Bar displays various views like the Explorer to manage files, Search results, Source Control options, and more. It changes contextually based on the selected icon in the Activity Bar.

   Editor Bar: The central area where you can view and edit files. You can open multiple editors side by side vertically and horizontally. Each editor has tabs for quick navigation between open files.

   Status Bar: Located at the bottom of the window, it provides information about the opened project and files you’re working on. It shows: Problems: Warnings and errors in your code. Indentation settings: Current tab size or spaces configuration. Line ending sequence: Whether you’re using LF or CRLF. Encoding: File encoding type. Language mode: Programming language of the active file.

4. Command Palette:

   • What is the Command Palette in VS Code, and how can it be accessed? Provide examples of common tasks that can be performed using the Command Palette. The Command Palette in Visual Studio Code is a powerful feature that allows you to quickly access commands and features. It acts as an all-in-one search bar and command runner, enabling you to execute commands, open files, search for settings, and more without navigating through menus or remembering keyboard shortcuts.

   You can access the Command Palette by pressing Ctrl+Shift+P. Alternatively, you can use F1 as a shortcut to open it.

   Some tasks include, openin files, fomartting code and running git commands.

5. Extensions in VS Code:

   • Discuss the role of extensions in VS Code. How can users find, install, and manage extensions? Provide examples of essential extensions for web development. They add new features, language support, debuggers, and more to the editor, allowing you to tailor your experience to your workflow and the technologies you’re working with. Search for the extension you want. Install it. Examples of web dwvelopment extensions include live server, prettier and eslint.

6. Integrated Terminal:

   • Describe how to open and use the integrated terminal in VS Code. What are the advantages of using the integrated terminal compared to an external terminal? Once open, you can type and execute commands just like you would in an external terminal. Convenience: The integrated terminal is embedded within VS Code, so you don’t need to switch between windows or applications to run commands. Context-Aware: It automatically opens with the context of your workspace or folder, making it easier to run project-specific commands without navigating directories. Access to Editor Features: You can easily drag and drop text between the editor and the terminal, and use features like find and replace within the terminal output.

7. File and Folder Management:

   • Explain how to create, open, and manage files and folders in VS Code. How can users navigate between different files and directories efficiently? To manage files: Right-click on files or folders in the Explorer to access options like Rename, Delete, Copy, Paste, and Move. Navigation: Opened files appear as tabs in the Editor Group. You can click on tabs to switch between files.

8. Settings and Preferences:

   • Where can users find and customize settings in VS Code? Provide examples of how to change the theme, font size, and keybindings. For font size, click on the settings icon, go to settings the font size under user. For keybindings, go to File then preferences then Keyboard Shortcuts or use the Command Palette and type “Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts”.

9. Debugging in VS Code:

   • Outline the steps to set up and start debugging a simple program in VS Code. What are some key debugging features available in VS Code? Press F5 or click on the play button to start debugging. Your program will run and pause at any breakpoints you’ve set. Features: Breakpoints: Set breakpoints to pause code execution at specific lines. Variable Inspection: Hover over variables during a debug session to see their current values. Step Over/Into/Out: Use these commands to step through your code line by line. Call Stack: View the call stack to see the path your code has taken. Watch Expressions: Add expressions to watch their values change in real-time. Debug Console: Use the Debug Console to evaluate expressions or log information during a debug session.

10. Using Source Control: -How can users integrate Git with VS Code for version control? Describe the process of initializing a repository, making commits, and pushing changes to GitHub. Integrating Git with Visual Studio Code for version control involves the following steps: Create a new repository, open the gitbash terminal, navigate to the directory of your project and type the following commands; git init (To initialise your repository) then press enter; git add . (Adds the files in the local repository and stages them for commit.) and press enter finally git commit -m 'Your message' (Commits the tracked changes and prepares them to be pushed to a remote repository.) Go to your github account and create a new repository and clone it. On your gitbash, run the following command git remote add origin "link copied" then press enter. Then git push -u origin master to push the files to your repository.

References Documentation for Visual Studio code. (2021, November 3). https://code.visualstudio.com/docs

Submission Guidelines:

• Your answers should be well-structured, concise, and to the point.
• Provide screenshots or step-by-step instructions where applicable.
• Cite any references or sources you use in your answers.
• Submit your completed assignment by 1st July