How To Install Visual Studio Code on Linux Mint 22

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) has become an indispensable tool for developers across various programming languages and platforms. Its versatility, extensive feature set, and a robust ecosystem of extensions make it a top choice for coding enthusiasts and professionals alike. If you’re running Linux Mint 22 and want to harness the power of VS Code, you’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through the process of installing Visual Studio Code on your Linux Mint 22 system, ensuring you have access to this powerful integrated development environment (IDE).

Introduction to Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code, developed by Microsoft, is a free, open-source code editor that has gained immense popularity among developers. It offers a wide array of features that streamline the coding process, including:

• Intelligent code completion
• Syntax highlighting for numerous programming languages
• Integrated debugging tools
• Git version control integration
• Extensive marketplace for extensions and themes

These features, combined with its lightweight nature and cross-platform compatibility, make VS Code an excellent choice for developers working on Linux Mint 22.

Why Install VS Code on Linux Mint 22?

Linux Mint 22, known for its stability and user-friendly interface, provides an excellent foundation for development work. By installing VS Code on this platform, you’re combining the robustness of Linux with the versatility of a modern code editor. This combination offers several advantages:

• Enhanced productivity with a tailored development environment
• Access to a vast array of Linux tools and utilities
• Improved system resource management
• Seamless integration with Linux file systems and permissions

Prerequisites for Installing VS Code

Before diving into the installation process, it’s crucial to ensure your system meets the necessary requirements and has the required packages installed.

System Requirements

Visual Studio Code is relatively lightweight, but it’s still important to verify that your Linux Mint 22 system meets these minimum specifications:

• 1.6 GHz or faster processor
• 1 GB of RAM
• 1 GB of available hard disk space
• 1024×768 or higher resolution display

Most modern systems will easily surpass these requirements, ensuring the smooth operation of VS Code.

Necessary Packages

To facilitate a smooth installation process, you’ll need to have certain packages installed on your Linux Mint 22 system. These packages are essential for adding new software repositories and managing package downloads. Ensure you have the following packages installed:

• software-properties-common: Provides scripts for managing software repositories
• apt-transport-https: Allows the package manager to transfer files and data over HTTPS
• wget: A utility for retrieving files using HTTP, HTTPS, and FTP protocols
• gpg: GNU Privacy Guard for encryption and signing

Don’t worry if you’re unsure whether these packages are installed; we’ll cover how to install them in the next section.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Now that we’ve covered the prerequisites, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of installing Visual Studio Code on your Linux Mint 22 system.

1. Downloading the VS Code .deb Package

While we won’t be directly using the .deb package in this guide, it’s worth noting that you can download it from the official Visual Studio Code website. However, we’ll be using the repository method for installation, which ensures easier updates and management.

2. Installing Prerequisites

Open your terminal (you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+T) and run the following commands to update your package list and install the necessary packages:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install software-properties-common apt-transport-https wget gpg

This command will update your package list and install the required packages if they’re not already present on your system.

3. Importing Microsoft GPG Key

GPG keys are crucial for verifying the authenticity of packages you download. To ensure you’re getting the genuine Visual Studio Code package, you need to import Microsoft’s GPG key. Run the following commands in your terminal:

wget -qO- https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor > packages.microsoft.gpg
sudo install -D -o root -g root -m 644 packages.microsoft.gpg /etc/apt/keyrings/packages.microsoft.gpg

These commands download the Microsoft GPG key, convert it to a format that APT can use, and then install it in the correct location.

4. Adding the VS Code Repository

Now that we have the GPG key, we need to add the Visual Studio Code repository to our system. This allows us to install and update VS Code using our system’s package manager. Execute the following command:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64,arm64,armhf signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/packages.microsoft.gpg] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/code stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list'

This command creates a new file in the /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ directory, which tells APT where to find the VS Code package.

5. Updating the System

After adding a new repository, it’s crucial to update your system’s package list. This ensures that your system is aware of the new packages available from the VS Code repository. Run the following command:

sudo apt update

This command refreshes your system’s package list, including the newly added VS Code repository.

6. Installing Visual Studio Code

Now that everything is set up, you can install Visual Studio Code with a single command:

sudo apt install code

This command will download and install VS Code on your Linux Mint 22 system. Once the installation is complete, you can launch VS Code by typing code in the terminal or by finding it in your application menu.

When you first launch VS Code, you may be prompted to install additional components or select your preferred settings. Take a moment to go through these initial setup steps to customize your VS Code environment.

Alternative Installation Methods

While the repository method described above is the recommended way to install VS Code on Linux Mint 22, there are alternative methods you might consider.

Using Snap Package

Snap is a universal package management system that works across many Linux distributions. To install VS Code using Snap, follow these steps:

1. Ensure Snap is installed on your system (it should be pre-installed on Linux Mint 22).

2. Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo snap install --classic code

The --classic flag is necessary because VS Code requires full system access.

Using Snap has the advantage of automatic updates and easy installation across different Linux distributions. However, Snap packages can sometimes be slower to start up compared to native packages.

Using Software Manager

Linux Mint comes with a user-friendly Software Manager that allows you to install applications through a graphical interface. Here’s how to use it to install VS Code:

1. Open the Software Manager from your application menu.

2. Search for “Visual Studio Code” in the search bar.

3. Click on the Visual Studio Code entry in the search results.

4. Click the “Install” button and enter your password when prompted.

This method is straightforward and doesn’t require using the terminal, making it accessible for users who prefer graphical interfaces.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While installing Visual Studio Code on Linux Mint 22 is generally straightforward, you might encounter some issues. Here are solutions to some common problems:

Common Installation Errors

Error: Unable to locate package code

If you encounter this error, it likely means that the VS Code repository wasn’t added correctly. Double-check that you’ve followed steps 3 and 4 in the installation guide correctly. After verifying, run sudo apt update again before attempting to install.

Error: GPG key not found

This error suggests that the Microsoft GPG key wasn’t properly imported. Repeat step 3 of the installation guide, ensuring that you copy and paste the commands exactly as shown.

Running VS Code from Terminal

If you’re having trouble launching VS Code from the terminal using the code command, try the following:

1. Ensure VS Code is in your system’s PATH by running:

which code

If this doesn’t return a path, you may need to add VS Code to your PATH manually.

2. If VS Code is in your PATH but still not launching, try running:

/usr/bin/code

If this works, you can create an alias in your .bashrc file:

echo "alias code='/usr/bin/code'" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Visual Studio Code. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Visual Studio Code on Linux Mint system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the Visual Studio Code website.