Choosing the Best Java IDE Guide: Visual Studio Code

1. Introduction

If you are looking for a Java IDE that is lightweight, versatile, and easy to use, you might want to consider Visual Studio Code. Visual Studio Code is a popular code editor that supports many programming languages, including Java. In this tutorial, you will learn how to use Visual Studio Code for Java development, and why it is a great choice for beginners and experts alike.

Visual Studio Code is not a full-fledged IDE, but rather a code editor that can be enhanced with extensions. Extensions are add-ons that provide additional features and functionalities for Visual Studio Code, such as code completion, debugging, testing, refactoring, and more. By installing the right extensions, you can turn Visual Studio Code into a powerful and productive Java IDE.

In this tutorial, you will learn:

• What is Visual Studio Code and what are its main features?
• Why use Visual Studio Code for Java development?
• How to set up Visual Studio Code for Java development?
• How to create and run a Java project in Visual Studio Code?

By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to use Visual Studio Code as your Java IDE and enjoy its benefits. Ready to get started? Let’s go!

2. What is Visual Studio Code?

Visual Studio Code is a code editor that lets you write and edit code for various programming languages. It is developed by Microsoft and released as an open source project. You can download it for free from the official website.

Visual Studio Code is not an IDE (Integrated Development Environment), which means it does not have all the features and tools that you would expect from a full-fledged development environment, such as a compiler, a debugger, a project manager, etc. However, Visual Studio Code can be enhanced with extensions, which are add-ons that provide additional features and functionalities for the code editor. There are thousands of extensions available for Visual Studio Code, covering various aspects of coding, such as syntax highlighting, code completion, debugging, testing, refactoring, formatting, and more.

One of the advantages of Visual Studio Code is that it is lightweight and fast. It does not consume a lot of resources or take a long time to load. It also has a simple and intuitive user interface, which makes it easy to use and customize. You can access the main features of Visual Studio Code from the menu bar, the sidebar, the status bar, and the command palette. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to perform common tasks quickly and efficiently.

Another advantage of Visual Studio Code is that it is cross-platform. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and you can use the same settings and extensions across different devices. You can also sync your settings and extensions with your GitHub account, so you can access them from anywhere.

Visual Studio Code is a great choice for Java development, as it supports the Java language natively and has many extensions that can enhance your Java coding experience. In the next section, we will see why you should use Visual Studio Code for Java development and what are its main benefits.

3. Why use Visual Studio Code for Java development?

Visual Studio Code is a great choice for Java development, as it offers many benefits that can make your coding experience more enjoyable and productive. Here are some of the reasons why you should use Visual Studio Code for Java development:

3.1. Lightweight and fast

Visual Studio Code is a lightweight and fast code editor that does not consume a lot of resources or take a long time to load. Unlike some IDEs that can be slow and bulky, Visual Studio Code runs smoothly and efficiently on your machine. You can also customize Visual Studio Code to suit your preferences and needs, by enabling or disabling extensions, changing the theme, modifying the settings, and more. You can also use Visual Studio Code in portable mode, which means you can run it from a USB drive or a cloud storage service without installing it on your machine.

3.2. Rich extensions ecosystem

Visual Studio Code has a rich extensions ecosystem that provides additional features and functionalities for the code editor. There are thousands of extensions available for Visual Studio Code, covering various aspects of coding, such as syntax highlighting, code completion, debugging, testing, refactoring, formatting, and more. You can browse and install extensions from the Extensions Marketplace, which you can access from the sidebar or the command palette. You can also search for extensions by keywords, categories, ratings, or popularity. You can also uninstall or disable extensions that you don’t need or use.

3.3. Integrated terminal and debugger

Visual Studio Code has an integrated terminal and debugger that can help you run and debug your Java code. You can access the terminal from the bottom panel or the menu bar, and use it to execute commands, run scripts, or interact with your program. You can also customize the terminal by changing the font, color, or shell. You can also open multiple terminals and switch between them easily.

The debugger is a powerful tool that can help you find and fix errors in your code. You can access the debugger from the sidebar or the menu bar, and use it to set breakpoints, inspect variables, watch expressions, evaluate expressions, step through code, and more. You can also customize the debugger by changing the settings, adding launch configurations, or installing extensions.

3.4. Customizable and cross-platform

Visual Studio Code is a customizable and cross-platform code editor that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can use the same settings and extensions across different devices, and sync them with your GitHub account. You can also change the appearance and behavior of Visual Studio Code by modifying the settings, changing the theme, adding keyboard shortcuts, or installing extensions. You can also create your own extensions or contribute to the existing ones, as Visual Studio Code is an open source project.

3.1. Lightweight and fast

One of the main benefits of using Visual Studio Code for Java development is that it is a lightweight and fast code editor. Unlike some IDEs that can be slow and bulky, Visual Studio Code runs smoothly and efficiently on your machine. It does not consume a lot of resources or take a long time to load. You can also customize Visual Studio Code to suit your preferences and needs, by enabling or disabling extensions, changing the theme, modifying the settings, and more.

Visual Studio Code is designed to be responsive and performant, even when working with large and complex projects. It has a smart code editor that provides features such as syntax highlighting, code completion, code folding, code navigation, and more. It also has a powerful search and replace tool that lets you find and modify code across files and folders. You can also use Visual Studio Code in portable mode, which means you can run it from a USB drive or a cloud storage service without installing it on your machine.

Visual Studio Code also has a simple and intuitive user interface, which makes it easy to use and customize. You can access the main features of Visual Studio Code from the menu bar, the sidebar, the status bar, and the command palette. You can also use keyboard shortcuts to perform common tasks quickly and efficiently. You can also drag and drop files and folders to open them in Visual Studio Code, or use the integrated file explorer to browse and manage your files.

Visual Studio Code is a great choice for Java development, as it offers a lightweight and fast code editor that can handle large and complex projects. You can also customize Visual Studio Code to your liking, by changing the settings, theme, extensions, and more. In the next section, we will see how Visual Studio Code has a rich extensions ecosystem that can enhance your Java coding experience.

3.2. Rich extensions ecosystem

Another benefit of using Visual Studio Code for Java development is that it has a rich extensions ecosystem that provides additional features and functionalities for the code editor. Extensions are add-ons that you can install from the Extensions Marketplace, which you can access from the sidebar or the command palette. There are thousands of extensions available for Visual Studio Code, covering various aspects of coding, such as syntax highlighting, code completion, debugging, testing, refactoring, formatting, and more.

For Java development, there are some extensions that are essential and highly recommended. These are:

• Java Extension Pack: This is a bundle of extensions that provide basic support for Java development, such as code editing, code navigation, code generation, code formatting, code refactoring, and more. It includes the following extensions:
• Language Support for Java(TM) by Red Hat: This extension provides language features such as syntax highlighting, code completion, code outline, code folding, code snippets, and more. It also supports Maven and Gradle projects.
• Debugger for Java: This extension provides debugging features such as setting breakpoints, inspecting variables, watching expressions, evaluating expressions, stepping through code, and more. It also supports hot code replacement and conditional breakpoints.
• Java Test Runner: This extension provides testing features such as running and debugging JUnit and TestNG tests, viewing test results, generating test reports, and more.
• Maven for Java: This extension provides Maven support, such as creating and importing Maven projects, executing Maven goals, managing Maven dependencies, and more.
• Java Dependency Viewer: This extension provides a graphical view of the dependencies of your Java project, such as classes, packages, libraries, and modules. You can also use it to create, delete, or rename Java elements.
• Visual Studio IntelliCode: This extension provides AI-assisted code completion and recommendations, based on the context and the best practices of thousands of open source projects. It also supports argument completion, code formatting, and code refactoring.
• Spring Boot Extension Pack: This is a bundle of extensions that provide support for Spring Boot development, such as code editing, code navigation, code generation, code testing, code debugging, and more. It includes the following extensions:
• Spring Boot Tools: This extension provides Spring Boot features such as syntax highlighting, code completion, code snippets, code validation, code navigation, code outline, and more. It also supports Spring Boot properties, YAML configuration, and live application information.
• Spring Boot Dashboard: This extension provides a dashboard that shows all the Spring Boot applications in your workspace. You can use it to start, stop, restart, or debug your applications, or open a terminal or a browser for your applications.
• Spring Initializr Java Support: This extension provides a wizard that helps you create and import Spring Boot projects from the Spring Initializr service. You can choose the dependencies, the packaging, the Java version, and the group and artifact IDs for your project.
• Spring Boot Test Runner: This extension provides testing features such as running and debugging Spring Boot tests, viewing test results, generating test reports, and more.

These are some of the most popular and useful extensions for Java development in Visual Studio Code, but there are many more that you can explore and install from the Extensions Marketplace. You can also uninstall or disable extensions that you don’t need or use.

Visual Studio Code is a great choice for Java development, as it offers a rich extensions ecosystem that can enhance your coding experience. You can install extensions that provide features and functionalities for various aspects of coding, such as syntax highlighting, code completion, debugging, testing, refactoring, formatting, and more. In the next section, we will see how Visual Studio Code has an integrated terminal and debugger that can help you run and debug your Java code.

3.3. Integrated terminal and debugger

Another benefit of using Visual Studio Code for Java development is that it has an integrated terminal and debugger that can help you run and debug your Java code. You can access the terminal from the bottom panel or the menu bar, and use it to execute commands, run scripts, or interact with your program. You can also customize the terminal by changing the font, color, or shell. You can also open multiple terminals and switch between them easily.

The debugger is a powerful tool that can help you find and fix errors in your code. You can access the debugger from the sidebar or the menu bar, and use it to set breakpoints, inspect variables, watch expressions, evaluate expressions, step through code, and more. You can also customize the debugger by changing the settings, adding launch configurations, or installing extensions.

To use the terminal and the debugger, you need to have the Java Development Kit (JDK) installed on your machine. The JDK is a software package that contains the tools and libraries needed to compile and run Java programs. You can download the JDK from the official website. You also need to set the JAVA_HOME environment variable to point to the location of the JDK on your machine.

Once you have the JDK installed and configured, you can use the terminal and the debugger in Visual Studio Code. Here are some examples of how to use them:

• To run a Java program from the terminal, you can use the java command, followed by the name of the class that contains the main method. For example, if you have a class named HelloWorld in the default package, you can run it by typing

  java HelloWorld

  in the terminal.

• To debug a Java program from the debugger, you need to create a launch configuration, which is a JSON file that specifies how to launch and debug your program. You can create a launch configuration by clicking on the Run and Debug icon in the sidebar, and then clicking on the Create a launch.json file link. You can then choose the Java option from the list of available configurations. This will create a launch.json file in the .vscode folder of your workspace, with some default settings. You can modify the settings according to your needs, such as the name of the main class, the arguments, the classpath, the source path, etc. You can also create multiple configurations for different scenarios.
• To start debugging, you need to set one or more breakpoints, which are markers that tell the debugger where to pause the execution of your program. You can set a breakpoint by clicking on the left margin of the code editor, next to the line number where you want to pause. A red dot will appear to indicate the breakpoint. You can also remove a breakpoint by clicking on it again.
• To launch the debugger, you need to select the launch configuration that you want to use from the dropdown menu in the Run and Debug panel, and then click on the Start Debugging button (or press F5). The debugger will start and run your program until it reaches a breakpoint or an error. You can then use the debugger toolbar or the keyboard shortcuts to control the execution of your program, such as stepping over, stepping into, stepping out, continuing, or stopping. You can also use the Debug Console, the Variables, the Watch, and the Call Stack panels to inspect and modify the state of your program.

Visual Studio Code is a great choice for Java development, as it offers an integrated terminal and debugger that can help you run and debug your Java code. You can use the terminal to execute commands, run scripts, or interact with your program. You can use the debugger to set breakpoints, inspect variables, watch expressions, evaluate expressions, step through code, and more. In the next section, we will see how Visual Studio Code is customizable and cross-platform, and how you can use it on different devices and platforms.

3.4. Customizable and cross-platform

One of the best features of Visual Studio Code is that it is customizable and cross-platform. You can tailor Visual Studio Code to your preferences and needs, and use it on different operating systems and devices.

Visual Studio Code allows you to customize various aspects of its appearance and behavior, such as the theme, the font, the editor layout, the keyboard shortcuts, the settings, and more. You can access the customization options from the menu bar, the command palette, or the settings.json file. You can also install extensions that add more customization options, such as icons, snippets, themes, etc.

Visual Studio Code also supports multiple workspaces, which are collections of folders and files that you can open and work on together. You can create and manage workspaces from the menu bar, the sidebar, or the command palette. You can also use extensions that help you organize and switch between workspaces, such as Project Manager, Workspace Switcher, etc.

Another great feature of Visual Studio Code is that it is cross-platform. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and you can use the same settings and extensions across different devices. You can also sync your settings and extensions with your GitHub account, so you can access them from anywhere. You can enable the sync feature from the menu bar, the status bar, or the settings.json file.

Visual Studio Code also supports remote development, which allows you to work on code that is running on a remote machine, container, or Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). You can use the Remote Development extension pack to connect to and work on remote environments, as if they were local. You can access the remote development features from the status bar, the command palette, or the settings.json file.

As you can see, Visual Studio Code is a highly customizable and cross-platform code editor that can adapt to your workflow and environment. In the next section, we will see how to set up Visual Studio Code for Java development.

4. How to set up Visual Studio Code for Java development?

In this section, we will see how to set up Visual Studio Code for Java development. We will cover the following steps:

1. Install Visual Studio Code
2. Install Java Development Kit (JDK)
3. Install Java extensions for Visual Studio Code
4. Create and run a Java project

By following these steps, you will be able to use Visual Studio Code as your Java IDE and start coding in Java. Let’s begin with the first step: installing Visual Studio Code.

4.1. Install Visual Studio Code

The first step to set up Visual Studio Code for Java development is to install Visual Studio Code on your computer. You can download Visual Studio Code for free from the official website. You can choose the version that matches your operating system: Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Once you have downloaded the installer, you can run it and follow the instructions to complete the installation. The installation process is simple and straightforward, and it should not take more than a few minutes. You can accept the default settings or customize them according to your preferences.

After the installation is finished, you can launch Visual Studio Code and see its main window. You will see a welcome screen that shows some useful links and tips to help you get started. You can also access the welcome screen anytime by clicking on the Help menu and selecting Welcome.

Congratulations, you have successfully installed Visual Studio Code on your computer! You are now ready to use it as your code editor for Java development. In the next step, we will see how to install the Java Development Kit (JDK), which is required to run and compile Java code.

4.2. Install Java Development Kit (JDK)

The second step to set up Visual Studio Code for Java development is to install the Java Development Kit (JDK) on your computer. The JDK is a software package that contains the tools and libraries that you need to run and compile Java code. You can download the JDK for free from the official website. You can choose the version that matches your operating system and your Java version. For this tutorial, we will use JDK 11, which is the latest long-term support (LTS) version of Java.

Once you have downloaded the installer, you can run it and follow the instructions to complete the installation. The installation process is similar to that of Visual Studio Code, and it should not take more than a few minutes. You can accept the default settings or customize them according to your preferences.

After the installation is finished, you need to set the JAVA_HOME environment variable on your computer. This variable tells Visual Studio Code where to find the JDK. The way to set the JAVA_HOME variable depends on your operating system. You can find detailed instructions for Windows, Mac, and Linux on the official documentation.

Once you have set the JAVA_HOME variable, you can verify that it is working by opening a terminal and typing the following command:

java -version

This command should display the version of Java that you have installed. If you see an error message, you might need to restart your computer or check your JAVA_HOME variable again.

Congratulations, you have successfully installed the JDK on your computer! You are now ready to use the Java tools and libraries for your Java development. In the next step, we will see how to install the Java extensions for Visual Studio Code.

4.3. Install Java extensions for Visual Studio Code

The third step to set up Visual Studio Code for Java development is to install the Java extensions for Visual Studio Code. These extensions provide various features and functionalities that enhance your Java coding experience, such as code completion, syntax highlighting, debugging, testing, refactoring, and more.

There are many Java extensions available for Visual Studio Code, but the most essential one is the Java Extension Pack. This extension pack contains a collection of popular and useful extensions that cover the basic needs of Java development. You can install the Java Extension Pack from the Visual Studio Marketplace or from the Extensions view in Visual Studio Code.

To install the Java Extension Pack from the Extensions view, you can follow these steps:

1. Open Visual Studio Code and click on the Extensions icon in the sidebar.
2. Type “Java Extension Pack” in the search box and press Enter.
3. Find the Java Extension Pack by Microsoft and click on the Install button.
4. Wait for the installation to complete and reload Visual Studio Code if prompted.

After installing the Java Extension Pack, you will have access to the following extensions:

• Language Support for Java(TM) by Red Hat: This extension provides basic language support for Java, such as code completion, syntax highlighting, code navigation, code formatting, etc.
• Debugger for Java: This extension allows you to debug Java code using breakpoints, watch expressions, call stacks, etc.
• Java Test Runner: This extension enables you to run and debug JUnit and TestNG test cases.
• Maven for Java: This extension helps you manage Maven projects and execute Maven commands.
• Java Dependency Viewer: This extension shows the package structure and dependencies of your Java projects.
• Visual Studio IntelliCode: This extension uses artificial intelligence to provide smart code completion and suggestions.

These extensions are the core components of the Java Extension Pack, but you can also install other extensions that suit your specific needs and preferences. For example, you can install extensions that support other frameworks, tools, or languages that you use with Java, such as Spring Boot, Gradle, Lombok, Groovy, etc. You can browse and search for more extensions in the Visual Studio Marketplace or in the Extensions view.

Congratulations, you have successfully installed the Java extensions for Visual Studio Code! You are now ready to use the advanced features and functionalities that they provide for your Java development. In the next step, we will see how to create and run a Java project in Visual Studio Code.

4.4. Create and run a Java project

Now that you have installed Visual Studio Code, the JDK, and the Java extensions, you are ready to create and run your first Java project. In this section, you will learn how to create a simple Java application, write some code, and run it in Visual Studio Code.

To create a Java project, you need to follow these steps:

1. Open Visual Studio Code and select File > Open Folder.
2. Choose a folder where you want to store your Java project and click Select Folder.
3. In the Explorer sidebar, right-click on the folder and select New File.
4. Enter a name for your Java file, such as HelloWorld.java, and press Enter.
5. A new file will be created in the folder, and you will see a pop-up message asking you to generate a Java project for the file. Click Yes.
6. Visual Studio Code will generate a Java project for you, and you will see some files and folders created in the folder, such as .classpath, .project, and bin.
7. You can ignore these files and folders for now, as they are used by Visual Studio Code to manage your Java project.

Congratulations, you have created your first Java project in Visual Studio Code!

Now, you can write some code in your Java file. For example, you can write a simple program that prints “Hello, World!” to the console. To do that, you need to write the following code in your HelloWorld.java file:

public class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, World!");
    }
}

This code defines a public class named HelloWorld, which has a public static method named main. The main method is the entry point of any Java application, and it takes an array of strings as a parameter, which represents the command-line arguments. The main method then calls the System.out.println method, which prints a message to the standard output stream, which is usually the console.

After you have written your code, you can run it in Visual Studio Code. To do that, you need to follow these steps:

1. Right-click on your Java file in the Explorer sidebar and select Run Java.
2. Visual Studio Code will compile and run your Java file, and you will see the output in the Terminal panel at the bottom of the window.
3. You should see the message “Hello, World!” printed in the terminal.

Congratulations, you have run your first Java program in Visual Studio Code!

You can also debug your Java program in Visual Studio Code, which allows you to inspect and modify the state of your program as it runs. To do that, you need to follow these steps:

1. Set a breakpoint in your Java file by clicking on the left margin of the line where you want to pause the execution. A red dot will appear to indicate the breakpoint.
2. Right-click on your Java file in the Explorer sidebar and select Debug Java.
3. Visual Studio Code will launch the debugger and run your Java file until it reaches the breakpoint.
4. You will see the Debug toolbar at the top of the window, which allows you to control the execution of your program, such as stepping over, stepping into, stepping out, resuming, and stopping.
5. You will also see the Debug sidebar, which shows you the variables, call stack, breakpoints, and watch expressions of your program.
6. You can inspect and modify the values of the variables, evaluate expressions, and execute commands in the Debug Console panel at the bottom of the window.

Congratulations, you have debugged your first Java program in Visual Studio Code!

In this section, you have learned how to create and run a Java project in Visual Studio Code. You have also learned how to write some code, and how to debug your program. You have seen how Visual Studio Code makes Java development easy and enjoyable, with its features, extensions, and terminal. In the next section, we will conclude this tutorial and give you some tips and resources to learn more about Visual Studio Code and Java development.

5. Conclusion

In this tutorial, you have learned how to use Visual Studio Code as your Java IDE. You have seen how Visual Studio Code is a lightweight and versatile code editor that supports many programming languages, including Java. You have also seen how Visual Studio Code can be enhanced with extensions that provide additional features and functionalities for Java development, such as code completion, debugging, testing, refactoring, and more.

You have also learned how to set up Visual Studio Code for Java development, by installing Visual Studio Code, the Java Development Kit (JDK), and the Java extensions for Visual Studio Code. You have also learned how to create and run a Java project in Visual Studio Code, by creating a Java file, writing some code, and running it in the terminal. You have also learned how to debug your Java program in Visual Studio Code, by setting breakpoints, launching the debugger, and inspecting the variables, call stack, and console.

By following this tutorial, you have gained a solid foundation for Java development in Visual Studio Code. You have also discovered some of the benefits of using Visual Studio Code for Java development, such as its speed, simplicity, customizability, and cross-platform compatibility. You have also experienced how Visual Studio Code makes Java development easy and enjoyable, with its features, extensions, and terminal.

We hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and found it useful. If you want to learn more about Visual Studio Code and Java development, here are some resources that you can check out:

• The official documentation of Visual Studio Code, where you can find more information about its features, settings, extensions, and tips.
• The Java in Visual Studio Code page, where you can find more tutorials, videos, and guides on how to use Visual Studio Code for Java development.
• The Java extensions for Visual Studio Code, where you can browse and install more extensions that can enhance your Java coding experience.
• The official documentation of Java, where you can find more information about the Java language, the JDK, and the Java platform.
• The Java Tutorial by W3Schools, where you can learn the basics of Java programming, such as variables, data types, operators, control structures, arrays, methods, classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, interfaces, exceptions, and more.

Thank you for reading this tutorial and happy coding!