> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://moxwel.gitbook.io/basics/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://moxwel.gitbook.io/basics/software/wsl/vscode-integration.md).

# VSCode Integration

Visual Studio Code has an extension that enables integration with WSL.

Install the WSL extension for Visual Studio Code:

<figure><img src="https://1372910843-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fj93R6i5LFt65ZuPhYR8e%2Fuploads%2F5ICezKDhluMvtzYXxNlg%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=8d61622c-75a6-48f1-8198-75a3bc47554d" alt=""><figcaption><p>WSL extension in Visual Studio Code marketplace</p></figcaption></figure>

{% embed url="<https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-vscode-remote.remote-wsl>" %}
WSL Visual Studio Code extension webpage
{% endembed %}

With this, you can open VSCode in "Linux" mode. That means you can open any folder from Windows and work with it in a Linux environment.

It's like VSCode was runing natively on Linux! Everything you do in this mode is inside WSL (open folders, create files, install extensions, modify settings, etc.)

<figure><img src="https://1372910843-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fj93R6i5LFt65ZuPhYR8e%2Fuploads%2FXMwyRi6caUDLIqWdPltP%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=6554433d-3a56-4279-99c4-3c4e2cbdbe5b" alt=""><figcaption><p>Installing extensions in WSL mode in Visual Studio Code</p></figcaption></figure>

Notice the ***"WSL Ubuntu-20.04 - Installed"*** and ***"Local - Installed"*** groups. The extensions installed on WSL will remain in WSL and not in Windows. Extensions installed on Windows are called "local".

You can open a folder from WSL directly in VSCode using the command:

```
code .
```

{% hint style="info" %}
Don't forget the final dot.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://1372910843-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fj93R6i5LFt65ZuPhYR8e%2Fuploads%2FTElP7buXAPe4CWp7XJH7%2Fimage.png?alt=media&amp;token=5e84f36f-916e-41e5-bfe7-0c4e20610ec6" alt=""><figcaption><p>Opening a folder from WSL directly into Visual Studio Code</p></figcaption></figure>

&#x20;<mark style="background-color:green;">**👏 Congratulations!**</mark>**&#x20; Now you can use Visual Studio Code inside WSL.**

{% hint style="success" %}
You can stop here if you want.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
Now some advanced topics are coming...
{% endhint %}