✨ How to start using VS Code on the AP as a beginner

[rogerbrownmoj]

Describe the feature request.

Hi. Can you please help with a query I have. Our team is looking at embracing VS Code but we are all pretty much at the beginner stage. Can you recommend the best resources to help in our learning please? Is there perhaps a VSCode expert who would be happy to present an interactive session to our team? Thanks

Describe the context.

• We would just like to hear from someone who considers themselves an experienced VS code user who could talk about some of the functionality they find useful. I think there's a lot in there that could help us to write better code. For example, I've been playing around with the PROBLEMS window and the automatic warnings in there.
• For us, it's less looking for answers to specific questions and more just a bit of a 'this is what VS code can be good for, here's some features I like'.
• We think the extensions and where 'VS Code really adds value/is differentiated from Jupyter/R Studio' would be top of our list
• we're a cross language team that works in both R and Python so would want assistance with the correct extensions
• what impact would the extensions have on the requirements files/ venv/ renv
• we have recently required need to access GPU for some .py files so advice on this
• we are interested in git integration
• can you access multiple projects at once like JupyterLab or is it one project at a time like R Studio?
• Also some initial start up advice so that everyone feels comfortable in a new environment
• So if there's someone who'd be willing to do a bit of an informal session with us, to show us how they use it and then we could fire questions at them, that would be perfect.

Value / Purpose

Having a single interface for all projects regardless of language written in is something that would make coding more efficient and streamlined. Especially if we understood how the various extensions can be accessed and leveraged to improve our projects

User Types

Anyone who codes in multiple languages on the AP

[simon-pope]

@rogerbrownmoj thank you for this request. Would you be able to attend the Feature Request forum on 14th October. This will give you the opportunity to present the request to the team, and for them to clarify the ask.

[rogerbrownmoj]

@simon-pope I would welcome the opportunity to attend. What time is it please?

[rogerbrownmoj]

I have a meeting at 4 and I finish today at 5. Do you have an update when this meeting is taking place please?

[rogerbrownmoj]

Can I please have an update on what is happening and/ or when the next Feature Request forum is?

[simon-pope]

@rogerbrownmoj apologies for the delay in getting back to you, I've been off for a couple of days. Are you able to attend the next forum on Monday 21st at 3pm.

[rogerbrownmoj]

Hi @simon-pope, yes I can attend next Monday. Can you please send me an invite?

[simon-pope]

@rogerbrownmoj invite sent.

Request to be presented on Monday 21st

[simon-pope]

Request forum: There are a number of requests within this FR. AP team will create a new Feature Request containing the elements of this FR that fall within our scope. This will then be prioritised and refined.

[simon-pope]

@rogerbrownmoj after reviewing with the team, the following actions have been agreed:

User story #5808 will cover the requests:

• we're a cross language team that works in both R and Python so would want assistance with the correct extensions
• what impact would the extensions have on the requirements files/ venv/ renv

User story #5809 will cover the requests:

• we have recently required need to access GPU for some .py files so advice on this
• we are interested in git integration
• can you access multiple projects at once like JupyterLab or is it one project at a time like R Studio?
• Also some initial start up advice so that everyone feels comfortable in a new environment

Could you provide clarification on the following ask. Is the environment referred to here VS Code or AP itself?

• Also some initial start up advice so that everyone feels comfortable in a new environment - what is this regarding? Confirmed this is regarding VS Code. Added to #5809

The following requests fall outside the AP teams role or knowledge. We suggest that support be sought from existing communities with experience of VS Code.

• We would just like to hear from someone who considers themselves an experienced VS code user who could talk about some of the functionality they find useful. I think there's a lot in there that could help us to write better code. For example, I've been playing around with the PROBLEMS window and the automatic warnings in there.
• For us, it's less looking for answers to specific questions and more just a bit of a 'this is what VS code can be good for, here's some features I like'.
• We think the extensions and where 'VS Code really adds value/is differentiated from Jupyter/R Studio' would be top of our list
• So if there's someone who'd be willing to do a bit of an informal session with us, to show us how they use it and then we could fire questions at them, that would be perfect.