Visual Studio Code 1.98, the February 2025 release of Microsoft’s widely-used code editor, has introduced significant improvements and features that primarily focus on enhancing the capabilities of GitHub Copilot, the AI-powered coding assistant. The latest iteration promises a more intuitive and seamless experience for developers, particularly with the previews of Copilot Next Edit Suggestions, enhancements in Copilot agent mode, and the addition of Copilot Edits support for notebook files. These updates represent a crucial step in the ongoing evolution of AI-assisted coding, offering tools that streamline workflows and boost productivity.
Enhanced GitHub Copilot Features
One of the significant advancements in VS Code 1.98 is the integration of Copilot Edits with both code and notebook editors. This development ensures developers have a cohesive and fluid experience when editing notebook files, though it’s currently available only as a preview in VS Code Insiders with the pre-release version of GitHub Copilot Chat. Microsoft’s efforts to refine the user experience include maintaining a fixed viewport during changes, enabling developers to focus properly on their edits without distraction. Moreover, the renaming of edit review actions from “Accept” to “Keep” and “Discard” to “Undo” ensures the terminologies used align more closely with user actions, enhancing clarity.
The Copilot Next Edit Suggestions (NES) feature has also seen improvements, including the introduction of a collapsed mode. This mode allows Copilot to predict subsequent edits with a more streamlined interface, reducing clutter and simplifying the process of incorporating AI-generated suggestions. Another noteworthy advancement is the addition of more sophisticated code base search functions. Developers can now utilize the #codebase keyword in Copilot Chat to search their workspace for relevant code snippets, enhancing the overall efficiency of their coding process. The inclusion of text and file searches within Copilot provides a richer context for chat prompts, further aiding in the smooth implementation of suggestions.
Advanced Copilot Integrations
The developer experience in VS Code 1.98 is poised to become significantly enhanced due to the experimental agent mode for Copilot Edits in VS Code Insiders. This mode allows Copilot to autonomously navigate the developer’s workspace to find context, edit files, pinpoint errors, and execute terminal commands without requiring constant human intervention. The user experience is further improved with the inline display of terminal commands, allowing developers to keep track of all executed commands easily. The option for users to edit suggested terminal commands before they’re executed adds another layer of precision and control to the tool.
Further enhancing the visual and interactive dimensions of coding, Copilot Chat has introduced a vision capability in its preview mode. This new feature allows developers to attach images to chat conversations and interact with them, providing a visual context that is particularly beneficial for debugging visual issues. It’s a step forward in making AI-assisted coding more interactive and versatile, addressing not just the textual, but also the visual aspects of coding challenges. These integrations reflect Microsoft’s commitment to improving developer tools, making them more adaptable and highly responsive to varied coding needs.
Additional Enhancements and Features
Visual Studio Code 1.98, the February 2025 release of Microsoft’s popular code editor, has rolled out notable enhancements aimed at improving the capabilities of GitHub Copilot, the AI-driven coding assistant. This latest version aims to deliver a more user-friendly and efficient experience for developers. Key highlights include previews of Copilot Next Edit Suggestions, upgrades in Copilot agent mode, and the introduction of Copilot Edits support for notebook files. These updates mark a significant milestone in the ongoing development of AI-assisted coding, equipping developers with tools that simplify their workflows and enhance productivity. Microsoft’s continuous advancements in Visual Studio Code demonstrate their commitment to empowering developers with innovative solutions that keep pace with the evolving technology landscape. With these enhancements, developers can expect to achieve higher coding efficiency and a smoother development process, making Visual Studio Code a must-have tool in any developer’s toolkit.
