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Funny to read VSCode described as an IDE.
Where I work, I'm the weird one for preferring VSCode over Visual Sudio or Rider.
I prefer using a terminal to run build tasks and execute tests and do version control, and have mostly Language Server stuff integrated into the editor.
I only use vscodium for things that are not that well supported by neovim, in my case it's only Scala basically, but I guess I'm just to lazy to properly configure metals. I use Sway as my desktop and I don't want to go into configuring DPI just for vscodium or switch to gnome to not ruin my vision even further when using it. This is what I like about terminal-based editors - the whole Ui scales with a single key combination. Speaking of which I also consider the combinations provided by many Neovim "distributions" (and my workflow ;p) way more ergonomic than emacs-y finger gymnastics of vscode and the likes, since I just hit the space twice and type a command alias without moving my fingers from where they should be on the keyboard instead of memorizing gazillion combinations working little by little towards giving me a carpal tunnel.
I used Sublime Text for YEARS, then they kept changing the license and pricing model, so with everyone at work going to VSCode I finally gave in for scripts and web dev. For Java (which is a decent chunk of my day) I use Intellij.
I use jetbrains' PyCharm. Work paid for it. It does the things I want it to do (works with docker, git integration, local history, syntax highlighting for every language I use, refactor:rename and move, safe delete, find usages,.find declaration, view library code, database integration, other stuff I'm forgetting)
Hell no, Emacs and nvim UX is far superior. I won't ever go back to clicking.
Been using vim+tmux for the last 8 years and still going strong. Wouldn't ever give it up. Vscode's pretty lackluster in comparison.
What's the tech stack you work with with that setup?
Last 3 years has been working on large backend web services in Haskell and Postgres, with some shell scripting thrown in here and there.
Before that, it was a mix of Python, Typescript (React), Rust, and C++.
What's even the point then?
The point is that you can enable each separate extension you want running on your code editor or uninstall them if you're unsatisfied. This makes it as light as you want it to be - or as heavy as you need it to.
I was doing fine with just vim and tmux
VSCode is like vim without vim controls and in a browser. Seen that way, it makes more sense. With Vim, you have to hunt for obscure Github repositories and follow arcane installation instructions for hidden extensions that you may or may not need and you have to learn a whole-ass keyboard-shortcut-based programming language just to use any of it.
With VSCode, you click on Extensions, search what you want and it'll probably be there unless it's a toxic ecosystem like PHP/C# or some niche ecosystem that no one heard about.
It's good for new, unrelated stuff. For example if you're just starting to work with python, or just want to test some project, its much easier to setup than nvim or emacs. I also like intellij idea. I think in terms of just works, it is much better. But it is more resource intensive
I tried using VS Code but the fact that it's not fully open source (VSCodium has limitations) bothers me a lot, as does the presence of telemetry.
I like some of the convenience features, like having a file picker when you're writing paths, my students use it a lot, but I'm sticking with Kate.
VS Code is a highly configurable editor that can get really close to being like an IDE, but you should really check out the Jetbrains IDEs. Best in class for just about every language they support.
Sublime Text with plugins. It's 100% because it's what I'm used to.
No, it was far too "fiddly" and I have no problem with the performance of full ides from jetbrains.
everyone and their mother uses VS Code
This is usually a good reason to avoid something. Especially if that something comes from Microsoft.
I use Vim, more specifically Neovim with the LazyVim setup. It turns it into a full fledged IDE basically, with LSPs, hotkeys and everything setup. I started a few years ago with original Vim without plugins. I have 2 problems with my current setup: a) I don't understand the complete setup and don't know Lua enough, and b) LazyVim actually updates ton and sometimes things break.
And last time it broke something with my Rust setup, I could not find a solution quickly, but was working on a Rust project. So I installed VSCode the first time, but the Open Source version just called Code in the Linux repositories. But because it is Open Source, it does not come with the VSCode addon repository from Microsoft. I didn't want do that, so I went back to solving the issue with my Neovim setup. Shortly after I found the solution and worked on my (little) project.
All in all, if you just want an out of the box experience without too much tinkering or problem solving, I wouldn't recommend the Vim route. There is lot of stuff you have to setup, or at least change settings and understand how to do this. I assume the VSCode version from Microsoft has a better out of the box experience, from the just works perspective.
What issues specifically?
It takes maybe 10 minutes to find good extensions and get them set up
No way. I'm happy about the stuff it brought (LSP, remote debugging protocol, maybe other stuff), but VSCode itself is just not good enough and always takes a bunch of configuration to get working. It's better than neovim, that's for sure.
If there were an opensource IDE with a GUI (not TUI) that didn't use web rendering to draw its interface, worked on Linux, weren't bought by yet another tech-overlord, and were comparable to a Jetbrains IDE, there's a good chance it'd get my money. Until then, it's Jetbrains for me. I hope they never go public.
Do not use Microsofts Telemetry Studio Code but Code-OSS or VSCodium.
See: https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium/issues/267
Regarding your question Code is not powerful enough of what we do at work. There we use IntelliJ IDEA. Our frontend guys use Code as it's enough for them and they usually are not that quality oriented, be it their tools or their product. Sadly mediocre is enough.
could you give a couple examples of how vscode degrades quality?
I do a lot of c++ and c# stuff. That feature where it opens a list of all the member functions and or variables of a given class or data type, the part where it underlines incorrect code as well as the thing that adds tooltip type documentation with comments to everything you hover your mouse over is invaluable.
The idea that there are people who program without that type of thing blows my mind. I can't just memorize the entire code base myself 🤷 if I had to search the source code to verify every little thing every single time, it would take ages to get anything done.
I only use Linux and I don't know what I'll do when Microsoft eventually takes vs code away from us, whether by making it paid or dropping linux compatibility. I guess I'll have to pirate the jetbrains software or something.
