VS Code

VS Code's UI stays on Windows. The WSL extension runs a small server inside Ubuntu so the integrated terminal, language tools and file watchers use your Linux Git, Node and pnpm.

Install VS Code

From PowerShell (administrator not required):

winget install --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode -e

Or download the stable installer. Use Stable, not Insiders, unless you already know you want the daily build (code-insiders).

WSL extension

In VS Code, install WSL (ms-vscode-remote.remote-wsl). It used to be named Remote - WSL; the marketplace ID did not change.

Then, from a WSL terminal in your project:

cd ~/code/my-project
code .

The first launch downloads the VS Code Server into the distribution. The status bar (bottom left) should read WSL: Ubuntu. After that, code is on your Linux PATH.

You can also open a folder from VS Code with WSL: Connect to WSL in the Command Palette (F1).

Default terminal profile

Set zsh as the integrated terminal only after you are connected to WSL. A Windows-local window has no zsh profile.

New terminals in this remote window now start zsh with your Oh My Zsh / fnm / pnpm setup.

ESLint, not Prettier

Vinicunca projects lint and format with @vinicunca/eslint-config. Do not install the Prettier extension; it fights ESLint Stylistic on save.

Install ESLint in the WSL window, then put this in the workspace .vscode/settings.json (or your WSL user settings.json):

{
  "prettier.enable": false,
  "editor.formatOnSave": false,
  "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
    "source.fixAll.eslint": "explicit",
    "source.organizeImports": "never"
  }
}

The full eslint.rules.customizations and eslint.validate lists live on the ESLint getting started page — copy them so stylistic rules still auto-fix without noisy squiggles.

Recommended extensions

Install these in WSL (Extensions view → search → Install in WSL: Ubuntu, or code --install-extension <id> from an Ubuntu terminal while a WSL window is open):

code --install-extension dbaeumer.vscode-eslint
code --install-extension Vue.volar
code --install-extension antfu.unocss
code --install-extension usernamehw.errorlens
code --install-extension eamodio.gitlens
code --install-extension EditorConfig.EditorConfig

Skip Prettier, Live Server, Git History and leftover "extension packs". Vite / Nuxt already provide the dev server; GitLens covers history; ESLint covers formatting.