Question 1

How do I enable the Deno extension in VS Code?

Accepted Answer

After installing the extension and Deno CLI, use the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) to run 'Deno: Enable' or set 'deno.enable' to true in settings. You may also need to configure the Deno path if it's not in your environment.

Question 2

Deno VS Code extension vs built-in TypeScript support: which is better?

Accepted Answer

The Deno extension is better for Deno projects because it aligns with the CLI for module resolution and tooling, while VS Code's built-in support is optimized for Node.js or generic TypeScript. For mixed projects, you might need to toggle settings carefully.

Question 3

Why isn't my Deno extension working in VS Code?

Accepted Answer

Common issues include not having Deno CLI installed, version incompatibilities per the compatibility table, or misconfigured paths in the 'deno.path' setting. Check the language server status via the 'Deno: Language Server Status' command for diagnostics.

Question 4

How to configure Deno formatter in VS Code?

Accepted Answer

Set 'editor.defaultFormatter' to 'denoland.vscode-deno' in your settings.json, and ensure 'deno.enable' is true. The formatter respects your deno.json config, but note it doesn't support format-on-paste or format-on-type.

Question 5

Can I use the Deno extension with Node.js projects?

Accepted Answer

It's not recommended, as enabling it disables VS Code's built-in services and uses Deno's module resolution, which can break Node.js-specific imports and tooling. Use it only for Deno-based workspaces or configure per-folder settings.

Question 6

Does the Deno extension support import maps?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can specify import maps via the 'deno.importMap' setting or in deno.json files, allowing module relocation as per Deno's standards, similar to using --import-map on the CLI.

vscode-deno

What is vscode-deno?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions