Microsoft has released Visual Studio Code 1.58, marking the June 2021 update with several key improvements to usability, customization, and debugging, as well as enhanced support for Jupyter Notebooks. This release not only introduces new features but also offers insights into the company’s roadmap for Java support for the remainder of the year. One of the most notable changes is the ability for VS Code to remember the debugger selected for each file, eliminating the need for users to manually choose a debugger each time they start a new session. This improvement streamlines the debugging process, particularly for users working with multiple languages that require different debug extensions.
In addition to the debugger enhancements, Visual Studio Code 1.58 introduces several refinements to the Debug Console. Previously, hitting Enter could unintentionally accept suggestions, even when the user only intended to evaluate their existing input. Now, suggestions can only be accepted by pressing Shift-Enter or Tab, reducing the likelihood of accidental selections. To make this behavior more intuitive, VS Code has added a hint status bar that displays the message “Insert (Tab)” when accepting suggestions, making it easier for users to discover and use this functionality.
This update also brings experimental support for debugging Jupyter notebooks, a highly anticipated feature for data scientists and developers working with Python. Users can now set breakpoints in notebook cells, step through code, and access the full suite of VS Code’s debugging tools within Jupyter Notebooks. Additionally, the Jupyter extension now provides an option to open the built-in editor instead of the webview implementation when running code from Python files, further enhancing the experience for developers using the platform.
Among the other enhancements in VS Code 1.58 are the ability to create and move terminals into the editor area, offering a multi-dimensional grid layout that persists even when the panel state changes. The update also improves customization options, such as new settings for editor scroll bars and the ability to render math equations in Markdown previews using the KaTeX library. Another important feature is the transient workspace capability, which ensures that restarting or reloading VS Code doesn’t reopen previously used workspaces. This version also adds a Troubleshoot view for Settings Sync, displaying logs and the last sync states for easier troubleshooting. With these new tools and features, Visual Studio Code continues to evolve into a more powerful and user-friendly development environment.