How do you open an app in VS Code?
Choose File and open the project folder. The file list lets you move between pages, settings and setup notes without opening each file from your desktop. If the app has a README, start there.
If someone sends a project you haven’t reviewed, open it in Restricted Mode. VS Code limits features that can act on the folder, including tasks and extensions, while you inspect it. Trust it only after you understand who supplied it and what it needs to run. Installed extensions have their own publisher and permissions.
Where do you see one edit before saving a new version?
For a local project, install Git on your computer to use the Git tools in VS Code. Open Source Control and select a file under Changes. If the project already has a Git commit and nothing is staged, you’ll see the current file against that commit. Staging selects edits for your next saved version. If you have edits in both lists, check Changes and Staged Changes separately.
Suppose you changed the title on one page. Check that the title is the only change you expected. If another file changed, open it too. You can commit the intended edit to your local Git history. A push is the separate action that sends your saved versions to a shared repository.
Can you use VS Code without Copilot?
Yes. Opening files, editing and reading a Git diff work without a Copilot account. If you choose to use built-in chat and suggestions, sign in to GitHub and check the Copilot plan for that account.
You can turn off the built-in AI features in Settings. That setting controls the editor’s AI features and Copilot extensions. Other extensions have their own settings. GitHub says individual Copilot interaction data may be used to train models and documents an opt-out. Check the relevant account before sending project context.
| What you use | What to check |
|---|---|
| VS Code editor | Free for private and commercial use under the editor’s license. |
| GitHub Copilot | Free includes limited use. Pro is US$10 per user per month. Some chat and agent tasks use AI credits. Check the allowance and whether the account permits extra spending. |
| Other AI extensions | Check the extension’s service, account and costs separately. |
Can you use VS Code with a project on another computer?
Yes, if you have access to a supported computer that accepts an SSH connection. Remote SSH is an extension that opens that computer’s folder from your editor. When you run project commands in that remote window, they run there.
Check which computer the window is connected to before you run a command. That computer needs the app’s tools and the right test settings. An editor tab at vscode.dev is useful for lightweight changes. A hosted Codespace provides a separate running environment with compute and storage costs to check.
Can you keep your code if you change editors?
Yes. The project files stay in the folder or repository where you keep them. Open the same files from another editor and use Git to inspect the saved history. Keep a separate copy of local edits or settings you want to carry over.
Before moving, open a copy of the project and see if it works with its documented setup. Check whether the new editor supports the extensions you relied on. Some settings are saved with the project. Others belong to your old installation or account.