High-level Takeaways
- Project = Workspace
- Use Project Manager as a fast “project switcher” and bookmarking. It’s just a launcher to open a workspace.
- Use profiles for: named “loadouts” of settings, extensions, keybindings, UI layout, snippets, tasks—scoped per profile and auto-associated to folders/workspaces. Great for context switching (e.g., Python vs. web). i.e. Create profiles like “Python-Data”, “Web-React”, “Writing/Markdown”, or “Live-Demo”
- Settings: Workspace settings override users, folder can override both. BUT use User as the GLOBAL settings
Workspaces
A workspace in VS Code is essentially a configuration for your project environment, which can encompass multiple folders, settings, and extensions. Workspaces enable you to manage project-specific settings, dependencies, and configurations. Here’s how it works:
Two types:
- Single Folder Workspace: When you open a single folder, you’re in a “single-folder workspace” by default. Settings and extensions can still be applied, but they are limited to that single folder.
- Multi-Folder Workspace: A multi-folder workspace allows you to include multiple folders in one VS Code instance. This is particularly helpful if your project spans several folders or repositories. Multi-folder workspaces are saved as .code-workspace files, where you can store settings, extensions, and folder paths in one file.
Workspace-Specific Settings: Workspaces allow you to configure settings that only apply to that workspace, including:
- Editor settings (e.g., tab spacing, line-ending preferences)
- Language-specific configurations
- Extensions that are enabled or disabled for that workspace only
Benefits of Workspaces:
- Customization per Project: Different settings, extensions, and debuggers for each project.
- Simplified Collaboration: Shared .code-workspace files make it easier for teams to maintain consistent settings across the project.
Profiles
Profiles in VS Code refer to customizable user environments and are meant for personalizing the editor setup independently of a specific project or workspace. Profiles allow you to switch between different sets of settings, themes, extensions, and keyboard shortcuts depending on your task or environment.
Settings and Customizations: Profiles allow for tailored editor settings, which can include:
- Theme and color settings
- Font preferences
- Extension configurations
- Keyboard shortcuts
User-Specific (Not Project-Specific): Unlike workspaces, profiles are not tied to any project or folder. They’re ideal for switching between setups based on user preference rather than project needs.
Use Cases for Profiles:
- Different Development Contexts: Use separate profiles for different programming languages or tasks (e.g., web development, data science).
- Personalization per Device: Useful for maintaining settings across different devices or setups (e.g., home vs. office configurations).
- Quick Context Switching: Profiles make it easy to switch contexts without altering project-level settings.
Differences
| Feature | Workspace | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Project-specific settings and configurations | User-specific preferences |
| Purpose | Managing multiple folders and shared settings | Customizing VS Code environments |
| Settings Applied | Editor, language, and project dependencies | Theme, font, extensions, shortcuts |
| Persistence | Saved in .code-workspace file | Saved to user settings |
| Usage Scenario | Ideal for multi-folder projects | Ideal for user preferences across tasks |
Choosing Between Workspace and Profile
- Use workspaces if you want to manage settings and configurations specific to a project or multiple folders.
- Use profiles to adapt your development environment to different workflows, tasks, or personal preferences across projects.
Each of these features can be particularly powerful in combination, enabling both project-specific and user-specific customization for an efficient development experience in Visual Studio Code.