PowerShell/vscode-powershell

PowerShell for Visual Studio Code is a Language Server Protocol client extension that provides PowerShell language and debugging support within Visual Studio Code.

The extension solves the problem of writing and debugging PowerShell scripts without leaving VS Code by implementing a client that communicates with PowerShellEditorServices, a separate language server also used by other editors. This architecture allows the extension to deliver IDE-like capabilities including syntax highlighting, IntelliSense for cmdlets, integration with PowerShell Script Analyzer for code problems, symbol navigation across documents and workspaces, and full debugger support with an Extension Terminal that can interact with breakpoints.

The tool suits developers and system administrators who work with PowerShell scripts in VS Code and want capabilities comparable to the PowerShell ISE. It supports PowerShell 7 and later on all platforms where VS Code runs, with best-effort support for Windows PowerShell 5.1 on Windows. The extension works in VS Code Remote Development environments including GitHub Codespaces and VS Code Server, though web-based VS Code instances have limited functionality due to the inability to run the PowerShell engine in that context. The bundled PowerShell ISE theme can be activated through the theme picker for users familiar with that editor.

The project maintains active testing across Windows Server, macOS, and Ubuntu with every commit, covering both standard and Constrained Language Mode configurations on Windows. Development activity shows consistent engagement with the extension's core functionality and platform support.