YKYH Picks
☰ Menu
Home›Developer Tools›Microsoft Visual Studio Code
App 36,536 installs/mo

Microsoft Visual Studio Code for Mac

Open-source code editor

Quick answer: Microsoft Visual Studio Code is a developer tool for macOS. Install it with brew install --cask visual-studio-code. The licence is not declared in Homebrew metadata. It has 36,536 Homebrew installs in the last 30 days.

What Microsoft Visual Studio Code is

Microsoft Visual Studio Code is a developer tool for macOS: open-source code editor.

It is distributed as a Homebrew cask, which installs a .app bundle into your Applications folder. Homebrew only automates the download and install step; the licence terms come from the vendor.

How to install Microsoft Visual Studio Code

  1. Open Terminal (press ⌘ + Space and type “Terminal”).
  2. If Homebrew is not installed yet, run the installer below once.
  3. Run brew install --cask visual-studio-code.

Homebrew installer, if you need it:

Prefer a graphical installer? Download it from the official site. MacPicks never hosts or mirrors binaries — the Homebrew command always pulls from the vendor's own release.

Alternatives to Microsoft Visual Studio Code

Compared within the same category and with a comparable install base, so the list stays useful rather than turning into a popularity chart.

Compare Microsoft Visual Studio Code with its alternatives in detail →

Frequently asked questions

How do I install Microsoft Visual Studio Code on Mac?

Run brew install --cask visual-studio-code in Terminal. This requires Homebrew; if you do not have it, install it first with the command below.

Is Microsoft Visual Studio Code open source?

Homebrew's metadata does not declare a licence for this app, so the official site is the authoritative source.

Does Microsoft Visual Studio Code run on Apple silicon?

Yes, as a universal binary.

How popular is Microsoft Visual Studio Code?

It was installed 36,536 times in the last 30 days according to Homebrew analytics, ranking #50 in this catalogue.

What version of Microsoft Visual Studio Code is current?

The latest packaged version is 1.143.1.