In today’s fast-paced development environment, staying ahead with the latest tools is non-negotiable. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) has once again pushed the envelope by releasing version 1.97, and if you’re a Windows developer, there’s plenty to get excited about.
Although Copilot now comes with a free plan, it’s worth noting that this plan is capped at 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month. While these limits might suffice for occasional coding sessions or smaller projects, professional developers with extensive coding demands may find themselves wanting more. The integration is being managed and tracked as part of VS Code’s main product updates, as confirmed by distinguished engineer Kai Maetzel, head of the VS Code engineering team.
Key Insight: This feature is designed to anticipate your needs, making it a potential game-changer in reducing repetitive coding tasks and minimizing manual corrections.
Pro Tip: For those in the habit of reviewing every change—rightfully so in high-stakes production environments—keeping auto-accept off ensures that every AI suggestion is subject to human review and oversight.
Technical Note: If WebGPU rendering isn’t supported on your setup, VS Code gracefully falls back to the standard DOM rendering, ensuring stability and accessibility remain uncompromised.
While features like predictive next edit suggestions and auto accept updates spotlight the increased reliance on smart coding tools, they also prompt a broader conversation about the reliance on automation in software development. Developers now have the choice between a high degree of AI intervention or traditional human oversight—the preference of which might vary widely depending on the project and the team.
Additionally, the move to integrate advanced AI capabilities into one of the most popular development environments (used by 74 percent of professional developers according to recent surveys) enhances the overall ecosystem. However, it comes with the dual challenge of ensuring that such technologies remain secure and reliable, especially as competing AI coding assistants keep their eyes on market share.
Whether you’re an enthusiast eager to try out Copilot’s cutting-edge features, or a professional developer balancing AI automation with meticulous code reviews, this release invites you to explore the future of coding. How will you adjust your workflow with these advancements? Join the conversation on WindowsForum.com and share your experiences with the evolving VS Code landscape.
Stay tuned for more updates and expert insights here on WindowsForum.com, where we bring you all the crucial news and analysis on Microsoft security patches, VS Code updates, and the latest in Windows 11 enhancements.
Source: devclass https://devclass.com/2025/02/07/vs-code-update-treats-copilot-as-out-of-the-box-feature/
Copilot as an Integrated Experience
The headline upgrade? GitHub Copilot, Microsoft's AI-powered coding assistant, is now treated as an “out-of-the-box” feature in VS Code. What does this mean for developers who rely on the platform? Essentially, Copilot is now more tightly woven into the fabric of VS Code, ensuring that its capabilities are seamlessly integrated with your usual coding workflows.Although Copilot now comes with a free plan, it’s worth noting that this plan is capped at 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month. While these limits might suffice for occasional coding sessions or smaller projects, professional developers with extensive coding demands may find themselves wanting more. The integration is being managed and tracked as part of VS Code’s main product updates, as confirmed by distinguished engineer Kai Maetzel, head of the VS Code engineering team.
What’s New in VS Code 1.97?
The update is more than just a facelift. Here’s a breakdown of some key enhancements that this release brings to the table:1. Predictive Next Edit Suggestions
Unlike traditional code completions that simply suggest new code at the cursor position, the predictive next edit feature pushes the envelope by foreseeing the next logical edit you might want to make—even if it’s away from the current cursor location. This innovative approach helps correct typos, fixes logic errors, and even assists with refactoring. By pressing the tab key, you can accept these suggestions, streamlining the coding process.Key Insight: This feature is designed to anticipate your needs, making it a potential game-changer in reducing repetitive coding tasks and minimizing manual corrections.
2. Auto Accept Updates
Developers desperate for efficiency might appreciate the new auto accept updates feature. This tool automatically accepts AI-proposed changes after a customizable timeout period, though it is off by default. If you prefer maintaining a human touch over your code edits, you can easily disable this feature.Pro Tip: For those in the habit of reviewing every change—rightfully so in high-stakes production environments—keeping auto-accept off ensures that every AI suggestion is subject to human review and oversight.
3. Copilot Agent Mode and Codebase Search
For developers ready to explore the boundaries of AI in their workflow, the experimental Copilot agent mode is definitely something to watch. This mode allows the AI to tackle tasks end-to-end, while still requiring human confirmation for terminal commands and critical operations—a thoughtful balance between automation and security. In addition, a new “codebase search” function helps locate files relevant to your task, further simplifying navigation in large projects.4. Experimental WebGPU Rendering
Performance aficionados will be thrilled with the introduction of experimental GPU rendering in the editor. Designed by Microsoft engineer Daniel Imms, this feature utilizes WebGPU to boost FPS, enhance scrolling performance, and reduce input latency. Though still in its preview stage, the feature promises to significantly improve how VS Code performs on older hardware. For those using older Windows machines, this could translate into a noticeably smoother coding experience.Technical Note: If WebGPU rendering isn’t supported on your setup, VS Code gracefully falls back to the standard DOM rendering, ensuring stability and accessibility remain uncompromised.
5. Ruby Developer Updates
Ruby developers will find encouragement in this update, too. VS Code has shifted to Shopify’s ruby-lsp for Ruby language support, replacing the previously unmaintained Ruby grammar. This change is expected to bring better, more reliable support for Ruby projects, a boon for developers working in this language.Broader Implications and Industry Impact
The integration of GitHub Copilot as a built-in feature within VS Code signals a strong commitment to making AI-driven coding assistance the industry norm. This moves beyond treating Copilot as just another plugin to establishing it as a core component of the development process.While features like predictive next edit suggestions and auto accept updates spotlight the increased reliance on smart coding tools, they also prompt a broader conversation about the reliance on automation in software development. Developers now have the choice between a high degree of AI intervention or traditional human oversight—the preference of which might vary widely depending on the project and the team.
Additionally, the move to integrate advanced AI capabilities into one of the most popular development environments (used by 74 percent of professional developers according to recent surveys) enhances the overall ecosystem. However, it comes with the dual challenge of ensuring that such technologies remain secure and reliable, especially as competing AI coding assistants keep their eyes on market share.
Final Thoughts
VS Code 1.97 is more than just another update—it’s a showcase of how deeply integrated AI features can enhance everyday coding. For Windows users, the update offers both new productivity tools and performance optimizations that promise to make development smoother and more efficient on your trusted platform.Whether you’re an enthusiast eager to try out Copilot’s cutting-edge features, or a professional developer balancing AI automation with meticulous code reviews, this release invites you to explore the future of coding. How will you adjust your workflow with these advancements? Join the conversation on WindowsForum.com and share your experiences with the evolving VS Code landscape.
Stay tuned for more updates and expert insights here on WindowsForum.com, where we bring you all the crucial news and analysis on Microsoft security patches, VS Code updates, and the latest in Windows 11 enhancements.
Source: devclass https://devclass.com/2025/02/07/vs-code-update-treats-copilot-as-out-of-the-box-feature/
