Visual Studio Code’s own Burke Holland and Pierce Boggan recap 2025’s advancements including Copilot Universe, Agent Modes, extensibility models, and AI-powered workflows for developers.

VS Code 2025: Year in Review with Burke Holland & Pierce Boggan

Introduction

Burke Holland and Pierce Boggan host a detailed walkthrough of Visual Studio Code’s 2025 milestones, spotlighting key features and the integration of AI-powered tools for developers.

Major Themes

Copilot Universe and Agent Mode:
- Launch of Copilot Free & Universe, marking a pivotal point for AI-assisted development.
- Introduction of Agent Mode, enabling autonomous code tools and workflow loops.
Extensibility and Model Choice (MCP + BYOK):
- March releases focused on model flexibility and extensibility.
Prompt Engineering Tools:
- April brought prompt files and multi-window chat, empowering interactive command workflows.
Cloud Agent & PR Automation:
- May’s features included parallel work via Cloud Agent and automating PR workflows for productivity gains.
Open Source Copilot Chat & Security:
- Release of open source Copilot Chat and improvements in terminal safety/sandboxing environments.
Workflow Advancements:
- Introduction of worktrees, checkpoints, Auto Mode for smarter routing, and background agents.
Community and Open Source:
- Growth in the MCP Gallery, Codex integration, and increased community engagement.

Developer Impact

Faster code generation with AI-powered Copilot and VS Code integrations
Enhanced extensibility and configurability for personalized workflows
Improved safety in terminal and agent operations
Greater support for parallelization and smart automation
Community-driven improvements and open personalization

Additional Resources

Closing and Takeaways

Burke and Pierce conclude with thanks to the developer community, underlining how AI and open source have transformed coding in VS Code.