If you’re a developer, there’s a good chance you’ve spent hours in Visual Studio Code (VS Code). It’s fast, sleek, and packed with features. But have you ever wondered what VS Code is actually made of? Everyone uses it, but hardly anyone knows the magic happening behind the scenes.
Let’s pull back the curtain and explore the languages, frameworks, and technologies that power this popular editor.
VS Code: Open-Source at Its Core
First, here’s a fun fact: while the VS Code you download from Microsoft is a packaged version, the core of VS Code — called Code ‑ OSS — is open-source and available on GitHub. Developers around the world contribute to it, making it one of the most starred projects on GitHub with nearly 180k stars!
This repo gives us a clear picture of what VS Code is built with.
The Heart of VS Code: TypeScript
The main language behind VS Code is TypeScript — a superset of JavaScript that adds static typing. If you’ve used TypeScript before, you know it’s perfect for building large, complex applications.
Here’s why Microsoft chose TypeScript for VS Code:
- It makes the codebase clean and maintainable, even with millions of lines of code.
- It powers features like IntelliSense, providing smart code suggestions and autocompletion.
- Developers can catch errors early thanks to strong typing.
In fact, over 95% of the VS Code repo is TypeScript, with other languages like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript making up the rest.
Running on Electron: Web Tech Meets Desktop
Unlike traditional IDEs written in C++ or Java, VS Code runs on Electron. Electron lets developers build cross-platform desktop apps using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Chromium handles rendering the interface — the same engine behind Google Chrome.
- Node.js powers backend operations like file management and interacting with your system.
This combination means VS Code can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux without rewriting the code for each platform.
Monaco Editor: The Engine Behind the Text
Ever wondered how VS Code handles editing, syntax highlighting, and code navigation so smoothly? That’s all thanks to Monaco Editor, also developed by Microsoft.
Monaco is essentially a web-based code editor that VS Code uses as its foundation. It’s the same editor behind Visual Studio Online and other web IDEs. By using Monaco, VS Code doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel for its core editing features.
Supporting Languages: Extensions and the Language Server Protocol
VS Code doesn’t just work with TypeScript. Thanks to its extensive extension system, it supports almost every programming language: Python, Go, C#, Rust, Java, and more.
Here’s how it works:
- Extensions are mostly written in TypeScript/JavaScript.
- The Language Server Protocol (LSP) allows VS Code to communicate with external language tools, no matter what language they’re written in.
This is why you can code in Rust one day, Python the next, and C# the day after — all in the same editor.
Other Technologies Behind the Scenes
Beyond TypeScript and Electron, VS Code’s repo also contains:
- HTML & CSS — for layout and styling of the interface.
- Node.js scripts — for building, packaging, and managing dependencies.
- Rust or other small components — occasionally used in specific tools or extensions.
Why This Matters
Knowing what VS Code is built with gives us a deeper appreciation of the editor:
- It’s lightweight but powerful, thanks to web technologies.
- It’s highly extensible, allowing developers to add features in almost any language.
- It’s cross-platform, running consistently across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Conclusion
So, the next time someone asks, “What language is VS Code written in?” you can give the full answer:
“VS Code is primarily written in TypeScript, runs on Electron, uses Monaco Editor for the core editing engine, and integrates web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Its extension system lets it work with almost any programming language via the Language Server Protocol.”
It’s not just a code editor — it’s a modern web app running on your desktop, combining some of the best technologies available today. And thanks to its GitHub repo, you can explore the source and see how all the pieces fit together.
