Microsoft has FINALLY taken Visual Studio Code online. Once you launch https://vscode.dev from your browser, you’ll be presented with a lightweight version of VS Code running fully in the browser… Open a folder on your local machine and start coding! No installation required at all.
The reason for this version being known as the “lightweight” version is because it can’t yet match the desktop version in functionality. There’s currently no internal debugging or terminal with VS Code for the Web.
There is local machine file access, however, enabled by the File System Access API. That allows for:
- Local file viewing and editing. Quickly take notes (and preview!) in Markdown. Even if you are on a restricted machine where you cannot install the full VS Code, you may still be able to use vscode.dev to view and edit local files.
- Build client-side HTML, JavaScript, and CSS applications in conjunction with the browser tools for debugging.
- Edit your code on lower powered machines like Chromebooks, where you can’t (easily) install VS Code.
- Develop on your iPad. You can upload/download files (and even store them in the cloud using the Files app), as well as open repositories remotely with the built-in GitHub Repositories extension.
You will still have the privilege of making quick edits, reviewing PRs, and continuing with your local clone or even making use of a GitHub Codespace.
We will continue to keep you posted as VS Code for Web evolves! 😀
