How to Update VS Code on Manjaro Linux

Keep Your Code Cutting-Edge: How to Update VS Code on Manjaro Linux

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a favorite among developers for its speed, flexibility, and extensive features. Keeping it updated ensures you have access to the latest improvements, performance enhancements, and security patches. This guide provides a straightforward approach to updating VS Code on Manjaro Linux using the official .tar.gz archive.

Steps:

1. Download the Latest VS Code Archive:

   • Head over to the official VS Code website (https://code.visualstudio.com/Download) and download the .tar.gz archive for Linux 64-bit.
   • Explanation: This downloads the compressed source code for VS Code.

2. Extract the Archive:

   tar -xvzf code-stable-x64-<newest version>.tar.gz

3. Delete current files and move new VS Code to the /opt Directory:

   sudo rm -rf /opt/vscode/*

4. sudo mv VSCode-linux-x64/* /opt/vscode

   - *Explanation:* We move the extracted VS Code files to the `/opt` directory, a common location for manually installed software on Linux systems. This keeps our installation organized.
   

Usually, that’s all. Now VScode is updated. Next step below is for rare cases.

3. Create a Symbolic Link for Easy Access(BUT USUALLY NOT NEEDED):

   sudo ln -s /opt/vscode/code /usr/local/bin/vscode 

   • Explanation: This creates a symbolic link (shortcut) named vscode in /usr/local/bin, which is in your system’s PATH. This allows you to launch VS Code simply by typing vscode in your terminal, regardless of your current directory.

Done! You have successfully updated VS Code on your Manjaro system. You can now launch it from your terminal or application launcher and enjoy the latest features.

Optional: Consider adding a desktop entry for VS Code for easier access through your application menu. You can find instructions on how to do this online.

Note: This method installs VS Code system-wide. If you prefer a user-specific installation, you can adjust the installation directory and symbolic link path accordingly.

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Reference:

• Instruction from Me, but post written by Gemini 1.5 Pro

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