# IDE 

**integrated development environment (IDE)** 
* An [IDE](https://www.codecademy.com/article/what-is-an-ide) is a software application that helps in writing and working on software. 
* It allows you to create files such as .md (Markdown), .py Python, .r (R), etc. 
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*Brief introduction* 
* What is an IDE? [The term "IDE" suggests a handful of essential features. Find out what to look for in an IDE.](https://opensource.com/resources/what-ide)
* [Video: What is an IDE? — Coding for Beginners](https://youtu.be/Whps_IeaetM?si=kyLokiAAItjmY7dP)

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-  Visual Studio Code ("VS Code") is a free IDE that includes basic support for most common programming languages. 
- [Getting started with Visual Studio Code Tutorial](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/introvideos/basics)
 - [Download and install](https://code.visualstudio.com/)
 - [Setup Directions](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/setup/setup-overview)