PowerShell ISE to VS Code in 5 Minutes — Setup Guide

If you still use PowerShell ISE, switch to Visual Studio Code for PowerShell 7. Install VS Code, add the official PowerShell extension, and use the integrated debugger to save time.

Why I switched

I used PowerShell ISE for years because it’s simple and fast. However, PowerShell 7 and modern workflows require a more capable editor. Visual Studio Code gives you cross‑platform support, a huge extension ecosystem, and advanced debugging.

Quick setup

1. Install Visual Studio Code for your OS.

2. Install PowerShell 7 (latest stable).

3. Open VS Code → Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X) → search PowerShell → install the Microsoft extension.

4. Set the integrated terminal to PowerShell and enable Format on Save.

One practical tip
Use the debugger to step through a function and inspect variables: set a breakpoint, press F5, then use the Variables and Call Stack panes to diagnose issues faster than logging alone.

# Run this in the integrated terminal to check PowerShell version
pwsh -v

Want the full walkthrough?
Read the complete guide with screenshots, recommended extensions, and a short getting‑started videos:

PowerShell ISE Alternative: Setup Visual Studio Code

PowerShell ISE, has been my favorite tools when it comes to writing PowerShell scripts. However, it is time to move on to Visual Studio Code → PowerShell

techthatworks.net