VS Code is technically an editor, not a full IDE (Integrated Development Environment). Unlike IDEs like Visual Studio or JetBrains products that bundle everything together, VS Code starts minimal and lets you add what you need. But here's where it gets interesting: features like the integrated terminal, source control integration, debugging, and extensions blur that line significantly. By integrating tools into VS Code—especially the terminal—you're not adding bloat; you're building a customized developer experience tailored to your workflow.
This is the power of VS Code: you control what you integrate. In this tutorial, you'll learn to use the integrated terminal to run commands, build projects, commit code, and debug applications—turning VS Code into an environment that feels more like an IDE without the overhead. As covered in Part 1 of this series, understanding terminals and how they integrate into your workflow is foundational. Here, we'll make that integration practical.
Why Use the Terminal in VS Code?
Problem: Switching Between Windows
Without an integrated terminal, you're constantly:
