A new book, just out, is a huge boon to Python developers looking to use the free Visual Studio Code (VSC) editor, aptly named: Visual Studio Code for Python Programmers, by April Speight.
Visual Studio Code for Python Programmers helps Python developers become not just familiar, but productive in Visual Studio Code. To start, you’ll find the steps for installing Visual Studio Code on Windows, Mac and Linux platforms, along with an introduction to the editing features of the workspace. Coverage of more advanced functionality includes managing source code, debugging, unit testing, and Jupyter Notebook support. The book finishes with a walk-through of real-world projects which utilize Visual Studio Code features introduced in the book.
For developers, the choice of an editor is a very personal one. You have idiosyncratic needs and wants that are unique to you as a developer. This book will help you learn how to customize Visual Studio Code to meet your needs and Python development workflow.
- Introduces you to the features of the Visual Studio Code workspace and how those features can be customized
- Demonstrates how Visual Studio Code allows you to choose your structure according to your needs
- Covers editing code in Python, including syntax highlighting, code completion, object definition, refactoring, and code navigation
- Describes Git integration and how to perform common Git functions (commits, checkouts, branches, and merges) from within Visual Studio Code
- Highlights debugging features for Python developers
A final section on Real World Applications will step you through several examples (and features integration with Django, Flask, Jupyter Notebook, Docker, and Azure), so you can hit the ground running with Visual Studio Code.
Mini-review:
I bought the book the other day. At 256 pages, it’s a great length and packed full of goodness. As someone who uses Python and has used VSC just a bit, this is perfect to merge my interests. Particular chapters I found helpful:
- The how-to chapters (setting things up right, which is challenging)
- Managing Projects and Collaboration (as I work with others)
- Using Jupyter Notebooks (a tool many in our community use)
- Using Git and GitHub with VSC (as that’s how we share)
The book demonstrates Azure use for IoT. There are more popular services, but VSC and Azure are both from Microsoft, so they build bridges between the two.
Overall a very nice book, which is a valuable resource for newcomers and veterans.
The book is by Wiley and should be available from standard retailers worldwide. I hope libraries also select this for reference.
The book is available on Amazon including paperback and Kindle.