How to Use Git Integration in VS Code

· Category: VS Code & Developer Tools

Short answer

VS Code provides a built-in Source Control view that lets you stage changes, commit, branch, and resolve merge conflicts visually without command-line Git.

Steps

  1. Open the Source Control view by clicking the branch icon in the left sidebar.
  2. Hover over changed files and click the plus icon to stage them.
  3. Enter a commit message and press Ctrl+Enter to commit.
  4. Use the branch selector at the bottom to create or switch branches.
  5. Resolve merge conflicts using the built-in conflict resolution UI.

Tips

  • Install the GitLens extension for advanced blame and history features.
  • Use the Timeline view to see the edit history of a single file.
  • Enable "Git: Confirm Sync" to prevent accidental pushes.

Common issues

  • Large files may cause the diff viewer to lag.
  • If Git is not found, ensure it is installed and available in your system PATH.