This guide walks you through installing Visual Studio Code on both Rocky Linux EL8 and EL9 with straightforward RPMs instead of Snap or complex repos. It begins by importing Microsoft’s GPG key, then adding the official VS Code repository so that `dnf` can pull the latest stable build and keep it updated automatically. After refreshing metadata you install the package, verify its version, and optionally set up a desktop launcher for easy access from your application menu. The post also shares a real‑world glitch with Ubuntu’s Debian packages on Rocky Linux and answers common questions about EPEL, Snap, and system updates.

Installing Visual Studio Code on Rocky Linux EL8 and EL9

Ever tried installing VS Code on Rocky Linux and felt like you’d need a PhD in package management? This guide gets you there fast, covering both the 8‑year‑old EL8 and the newer EL9. No fancy repo tricks or Snap headaches—just straight‑up RPMs that keep your system lean.

Step 1: Grab Microsoft’s GPG Key

The key verifies the package’s authenticity so you’re not downloading a malicious drop‑in replacement.

sudo rpm --import https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc

If you see “key already imported,” that’s fine—skip to the next step.

Step 2: Add the VS Code Repository

The repository tells dnf where to look for the latest stable build and handles updates automatically.

cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/vscode.repo
[code]
name=Visual Studio Code
baseurl=https://packages.microsoft.com/yumrepos/vscode
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc
EOF

Step 3: Refresh Metadata & Install

dnf pulls down the repo data, ensuring you get a genuine package instead of an old cached copy.

sudo dnf check-update          # updates metadata
sudo dnf install code -y

If you’re on EL8 and hit “No matching packages found,” add the “el8” sub‑repo:

sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/vscode-el8.repo <<'EOF'
[code]
name=Visual Studio Code for EL8
baseurl=https://packages.microsoft.com/yumrepos/vscode/el8/
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc
EOF

sudo dnf install code -y

Step 4: Verify the Installation

code --version

You should see something like 1.95.2 or whatever the latest is. If you’re seeing “command not found,” check that /usr/bin/code exists:

ls -l /usr/bin/code

Step 5 (Optional): Set Up Desktop Launcher

A quick icon makes launching VS Code from your app menu painless.

cat <<EOF | sudo tee /usr/share/applications/vscode.desktop
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Visual Studio Code
Comment=Text editor with debugging support
Exec=/usr/bin/code %F
Icon=code
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Utility;Development;
StartupNotify=true
MimeType=text/plain;text/x-python;
EOF

A Real‑World Glitch I’ve Seen

I once had a teammate on Rocky EL9 who tried installing the .deb from Ubuntu’s official site. The package installed, but code launched and immediately froze with a “cannot find libv8” error because the Debian build bundled libraries that don’t exist in Rocky’s base repo. Switching to the Microsoft RPM fixed everything in one go.

Quick FAQ

• Do I need to enable EPEL? No. VS Code is provided directly by Microsoft; EPEL isn’t required.
• Can I use Snap on Rocky Linux? Snap isn’t enabled out of the box, and even if you install it, VS Code’s official Snap package isn’t maintained for RHEL‑based distros.
• Will dnf upgrade update VS Code automatically? Yes—once the repo is added, regular system updates will bump VS Code too.

Give that a whirl and let me know if anything feels off. Happy coding!