2015 founded Standing
editors · code.visualstudio.com
Visual Studio Code
the moat is real
11 years 113 days and counting
Microsoft, 29 Apr 2015. Still the editor the industry installed.
Why it lasted
- Free, good enough, and the extension marketplace is a gravity well.
- Microsoft open-sourced the editor and kept the telemetry product. The editor won anyway.
- It became the default because schools, tutorials, and 'copy this launch.json' said so.
Times it almost ended
- Thebes of Atom. VS Code ate its sibling.
- Cursor, Windsurf, and the fork era. They still ship as VS Code with a different chat. That is a compliment and a wobble for the core.
What would finish it
- An AI-native editor that does not bother being VS Code compatible. The forks are trying. Most still are VS Code.
Questions
Is Visual Studio Code still up?
Yes, with a Standing verdict: the moat is real. Founded 2015.
How long has Visual Studio Code been around?
Visual Studio Code has been up since 2015-04-29.
Why did Visual Studio Code survive?
Free, good enough, and the extension marketplace is a gravity well.
Could Visual Studio Code still die?
An AI-native editor that does not bother being VS Code compatible. The forks are trying. Most still are VS Code.