Writing C with VS Code It is recommended to install the following plug-ins: 1. C/C official plug-ins: Provide core functions such as intelligent completion and jump definition, and require configuration of the compiler and include path; 2. Code Runner: Run code snippets in one click, supports custom compilation options, suitable for quick testing; 3. CMake Tools: simplifies CMake project management, automatically builds and configures the Debug/Release mode. Other optional plug-ins include GitLens, Bracket Pair Colorizer 2, Clang-Format and Error Lens, which can improve collaboration, code structure, formatting and error recognition efficiency.

Using VS Code to write C, installing a few suitable plugins can really save a lot of trouble. It will be more difficult to write code by relying on the default function alone, especially in terms of completion, debugging and code style, which can easily affect efficiency. I generally recommend installing these practical extensions, and the following are divided into pieces according to common pain points in actual development.

C/C official plug-in: essential basic functions

This is an official plug-in released by Microsoft, and basically all C developers can install it. It is responsible for handling core functions such as IntelliSense, jump definition, and symbol search. If you don't install it, VS Code won't understand your code structure well.

To make it work well, there are several details to pay attention to:

• Make sure that the C compiler, such as GCC or Clang, is installed and the environment variables are configured.
• The plug-in will automatically generate the c_cpp_properties.json file, which can set the include path, compiler parameters, etc.
• If the project is larger, it is recommended to use it with compile_commands.json , so that the completion and syntax check will be more accurate.

Anyway, this plugin is like the foundation you write C, and many other features rely on it.

Code Runner: Quickly run small pieces of code

Sometimes I want to test a function or algorithm fragment, but I don’t want to manually configure task and launch every time. At this time, you can use Code Runner to run the current file with one click.

It supports multiple languages, and by default, C runs by calling g to compile and execute. You can set it to automatically save, clear the screen, or even enter parameters.

Some common setup suggestions:

• "code-runner.runInTerminal": true : Runs in the terminal, facilitates input and output interaction.
• "code-runner.saveFileBeforeRun": true : automatically save before running to avoid errors caused by forgetting to save.
• Supports custom commands, such as adding -std=c 17 compilation option.

It is suitable for writing small examples, writing questions or verifying logic, and the efficiency is significantly improved.

CMake Tools: Simplify CMake project management

If your project uses CMake build system, then the CMake Tools plugin is worth installing. It can automatically detect CMakeLists.txt , help you generate build directory, configure build type (Debug/Release), and build with one click.

The advantage of it is to graphize the bunch of commands that were originally to be struck on the command line. For example, click configure/build in the status bar to complete the corresponding operation.

A few points to note when using:

• You need to install CMake in advance and add environment variables.
• You can set cache variables through cmake.configureSettings , such as specifying compiler or third-party library paths.
• If the project structure is complex, you may need to manually adjust CMakeLists.txt or set sourceDirectory .

For small and medium-sized projects, this plugin can make the build process more intuitive.

Other useful extensions (Optional)

Although some plugins are not necessary, they are quite useful in specific scenarios:

• GitLens : If you use Git, this plugin allows you to see who changed each line when it is changed, which is very helpful for multi-person collaboration.
• Bracket Pair Colorizer 2 : Let the bracket colors be paired to display, making it easier to see the structure clearly when nested deep.
• Clang-Format : Used to format code, use it with shortcut keys, and maintain the unified code style.
• Error Lens : Highlight the error message to reduce visual interference and see at a glance what is wrong.

These plug-ins can be selected according to your own habits and are not mandatory, but they can indeed bring convenience when needed.

Basically all of these are plug-ins I often use when writing C projects on a daily basis. After setting up, VS Code can basically meet the needs of editing to debugging and then building, and is lightweight and cross-platform, which is quite suitable for C development.

The above is the detailed content of VS Code extensions for C. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!