macOS - Software - Install Microsoft VSCode

What the VS Code Installer does

This Automox Worklet™ automates the download and installation of Visual Studio Code on macOS endpoints. The Worklet downloads the universal binary ZIP file directly from code.visualstudio.com, extracts it to a temporary location, and moves the application bundle to /Applications.

VS Code is a free, open-source code editor from Microsoft that supports virtually every programming language through extensions. The universal binary provides native performance on both Intel and Apple Silicon processors without Rosetta translation.

Why deploy VS Code through Automox

Visual Studio Code has become the most popular code editor for developers across many languages and platforms. Deploying through Automox provides a standardized development environment across your engineering team without requiring each developer to download and install manually.

VS Code supports remote development scenarios, integrated terminals, debugging across languages, and Git integration out of the box. The extension marketplace provides additional capabilities for specific frameworks, linters, formatters, and team collaboration tools.

Pulling directly from Microsoft's servers provides the latest stable version. The Worklet cleans up temporary files after installation and logs the installed version for inventory tracking.

How VS Code installation works

1. Evaluation phase: The Worklet checks if /Applications/Visual Studio Code.app exists on the endpoint. If VS Code is present, the endpoint is compliant. If VS Code is missing, the evaluation triggers remediation.

2. Remediation phase: The script downloads the darwin-universal ZIP from code.visualstudio.com to /tmp, extracts it using unzip with quiet mode, moves the Visual Studio Code.app bundle from /tmp to /Applications, removes temporary files, and verifies installation by checking for the app and reading the CFBundleShortVersionString.

VS Code installation requirements

• macOS 10.11 (El Capitan) or later

• Intel or Apple Silicon processor (universal binary)

• Network access to code.visualstudio.com

• Sufficient disk space for installation (approximately 500 MB)

Expected state after VS Code installation

After successful remediation, Visual Studio Code appears at /Applications/Visual Studio Code.app. You can verify successful installation by checking the Applications folder or by searching for the application in Spotlight. Users can launch the editor immediately and begin installing extensions for their preferred languages and frameworks. Settings sync is available for users who sign in with a Microsoft or GitHub account.

The Worklet logs display the installed version number for verification. You can track VS Code deployments across your fleet through Automox reporting to inventory which endpoints have the editor available.

How to validate install microsoft vscode changes

1. Run this Worklet on a pilot macOS endpoint and review evaluation output for install microsoft vscode.

2. Confirm Automox activity logs show successful completion and exit code 0.

3. Verify endpoint state using checks aligned to evaluation script logic, such as exit, else.

4. Validate remediation effects from script operations such as function, curl, unzip, then rerun evaluation for compliance.

For technical validation, compare endpoint state to the Worklet evaluation logic and remediation flow for install microsoft vscode. This supports repeatable software lifecycle workflows, faster change control review, and auditable compliance evidence.

Useful script references for this Worklet include evaluation operations such as exit, else and remediation operations such as function, curl, unzip. Use these indicators to verify that endpoint changes match intended policy outcomes.