Code Editor

Godojo Master 4 min read Updated: 2025-12-15

Where to Write Code

A programme is text. Technically, you can write it anywhere — even in Notepad. But that’s awkward: Notepad doesn’t understand code; to it, it’s just letters.

A code editor is a programme designed for writing code. It:

Highlights different parts of the code in different colours — easier to read
Suggests function names as you type
Shows errors before you run the programme
Automatically fixes indentation

An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is a code editor on steroids. Besides editing, it includes a debugger, tools for running and testing, database management — all in one window. Examples: GoLand for Go, PyCharm for Python, IntelliJ for Java.

The line is blurry. Modern editors with extensions can do nearly everything an IDE can. For starters, an editor will do.

Why VS Code

We’ll use Visual Studio Code (VS Code):

Free
Simple — not cluttered with extras
Extensions add support for any language
Works on Windows, macOS, Linux
Popular — easy to Google solutions to problems

Alternatives exist: GoLand (paid, more powerful), Vim (for those who like a challenge), Sublime Text. But VS Code is the best starting point.

Installing VS Code

Download the installer from the official site:

👉 code.visualstudio.com

Choose the version for your system, download, install. Nothing special — a standard installation like any other programme.

Once installed, launch VS Code.

Installing the Go Extension

VS Code doesn’t know about Go on its own. You need to install an extension.

Open VS Code
On the left, find the icon with little squares (Extensions) or press Ctrl+Shift+X (on Mac — Cmd+Shift+X)
In the search box, type Go
Find the extension by Go Team at Google (it’ll have a verification tick)
Click Install

After installation, VS Code will offer to install additional Go tools. Agree — click Install All. These are needed for suggestions, formatting, and error checking.

Checking Everything Works

Create a folder for your project. For example, go-learning on your desktop.

In VS Code:

File → Open Folder (or Ctrl+K Ctrl+O)
Select the folder you created

Now create a file:

File → New File (or Ctrl+N)
Save as main.go (Ctrl+S)

Write:

package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
  fmt.Println("VS Code is working!")
}

If everything is set up correctly, you’ll see:

Syntax highlighting — different parts of the code in different colours
On save, the code is automatically formatted
If you make a mistake, the editor underlines it in red

Running Code from the Editor

Open the terminal in VS Code:

View → Terminal or Ctrl+` (the key below Esc)

In the terminal, type:

go run main.go

You should see:

VS Code is working!

Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

Action	Windows/Linux	Mac
Save file	`Ctrl+S`	`Cmd+S`
Open terminal	Ctrl+`	Cmd+`
Search in file	`Ctrl+F`	`Cmd+F`
Search in all files	`Ctrl+Shift+F`	`Cmd+Shift+F`
Go to file	`Ctrl+P`	`Cmd+P`
Extensions panel	`Ctrl+Shift+X`	`Cmd+Shift+X`

No need to memorise them all at once. Start with Ctrl+S to save and Ctrl+` for the terminal — that’ll do.

Possible Problems

”go” not found

If you see an error like 'go' is not recognized or command not found when running go run main.go:

Go isn’t installed or isn’t added to PATH
Go back to the lesson on installing Go
After installation, restart VS Code

Extension doesn’t see Go

If VS Code doesn’t highlight code or show suggestions:

Check Go is installed: open the terminal, type go version
Reinstall the Go extension
Restart VS Code

Errors installing tools

If something went wrong when installing additional tools:

Open the command palette: Ctrl+Shift+P (Mac: Cmd+Shift+P)
Type Go: Install/Update Tools
Select all tools, click OK

Summary

VS Code is an editor for writing code
The Go extension adds language support: highlighting, suggestions, formatting
The built-in terminal is for running programmes
Save: Ctrl+S; terminal: Ctrl+`

The editor is ready. In the next lesson, we’ll install Go itself.