Is Visual Studio Code Available on Linux?
Introduction
Visual Studio Code is the most popular code editor in the world, and Linux is a first-class supported platform. Microsoft provides official packages for all major distributions.
Key Takeaways
- Officially supported — Microsoft provides .deb, .rpm, Snap, and tarball packages.
- Feature parity — The Linux version has the same features as Windows and macOS.
- Multiple install methods — Package manager, Snap Store, Flatpak (community), or direct download.
- ARM support — ARM64 and ARMhf builds are available.
- Extensions work cross-platform — Almost all extensions work on Linux.
Installation Methods
Debian/Ubuntu (.deb)
sudo apt update
sudo apt install codeOr download the .deb package from the VS Code website and install with:
sudo dpkg -i code_*.deb
sudo apt install -fFedora/RHEL (.rpm)
sudo rpm --import https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc
sudo dnf install codeSnap
sudo snap install code --classicArch Linux
yay -S visual-studio-code-binWhat Works Perfectly
- Integrated terminal — Full Linux shell integration (bash, zsh, fish).
- Git integration — All Git features work natively.
- Remote development — SSH, WSL, and container extensions.
- Language support — All language servers and debuggers work on Linux.
- Extensions — The vast majority of the ~50,000+ extensions are cross-platform.
Minor Differences
- Keyboard shortcuts — Some default bindings differ. For example,
Ctrl+Shift+Pfor the command palette is the same, but terminal shortcuts may vary by desktop environment. - Title bar — By default, VS Code uses a custom title bar. You can switch to the native one in settings.
- File watching — On Linux, the inotify file watch limit may need to be increased for large projects. Add
fs.inotify.max_user_watches=524288to/etc/sysctl.conf.
Conclusion
VS Code is fully available and well-supported on Linux. It offers the same rich editing experience as on Windows and macOS, with official packages for every major distribution and architecture. For Linux developers, it’s a top-tier choice alongside native editors like Neovim and Emacs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VS Code on Linux the same as on Windows?
Almost identical. The interface, extensions, and features are the same. Minor differences exist in keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl instead of Cmd) and some OS-specific integrations.
Can I use VS Code on ARM Linux (Raspberry Pi)?
Yes. Microsoft provides ARM64 and ARMhf builds of VS Code for Linux.
What is VSCodium?
VSCodium is a community build of VS Code without Microsoft's telemetry and branding. It is functionally identical but uses the Open VSX extension marketplace instead of Microsoft's.