Setting Up VSCode for macOS

Step 1: Install Visual Studio Code (VSCode)

1. Open your web browser and visit the official VSCode website.

2. Download the macOS version of the installer.

3. Open the downloaded .dmg file, drag the VSCode icon to the Applications folder, and follow any on-screen instructions.

4. Once the installation is complete, you can launch VSCode from the Applications folder.

Step 2: Install C/C++ Extension

1. Open VSCode.

2. Go to the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window or using the keyboard shortcut Cmd+Shift+X.

3. In the Extensions view search box, type "C/C++".

4. Install the extension provided by Microsoft.

Step 3: Install Xcode Command Line Tools

1. Open a terminal.

2. Run the following command to install Xcode Command Line Tools:

   xcode-select --install

   Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Step 4: Create a C File and Compile

1. Open VSCode.

2. Click on "File" > "New File" to create a new file.

3. Save the file with a .c extension, for example, hello.c.

4. Write your C code in the editor.

5. Open the terminal in VSCode.

6. Compile the code using the following command:

   gcc hello.c -o hello

7. Run the compiled program:

   ./hello

Step 5: Explore Other IDEs (Optional)

While VSCode is a great choice, you can explore alternative IDEs for C programming on macOS:

• Xcode: Available on the Mac App Store. It provides a comprehensive development environment for C and other languages.

Choose an IDE that best suits your preferences.

Conclusion

This guide has walked you through setting up Visual Studio Code for C programming on macOS. Whether you continue with VSCode or explore other IDEs, make sure to choose the one that enhances your coding experience. Happy coding!