The January 2025 release of Visual Studio Code (VS Code) has arrived, bringing with it a slew of exciting features and improvements. Version 1.97, available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, introduces a preview of Copilot Next Edit Suggestions, an AI-powered feature that predicts the user's next edit.

This innovative feature uses machine learning to suggest future changes based on previous edits, allowing developers to press tab to navigate and accept suggestions. To enable Copilot Next Edit Suggestions, users can simply toggle the github.copilot.nextEditSuggestions.enabled setting in VS Code.

In addition to Copilot Next Edit Suggestions, VS Code 1.97 also makes the Copilot Edits feature generally available. This feature, which was previewed in VS Code 1.95, enables users to make code changes across multiple files in their workspace directly from chat. The model picker has also been updated to include OpenAI o3-mini and Gemini 2.0 Flash.

Another significant enhancement in VS Code 1.97 is the introduction of no-config debugging for Python scripts. This feature allows developers to debug a Python script or module directly from the terminal, without the need for setup. This streamlined debugging process is expected to greatly improve the development experience for Python developers.

Other notable features in VS Code 1.97 include the ability to move the Command Palette and other Quick Inputs to a new position, rather than being fixed at the top of the window. This increased flexibility is expected to improve the overall user experience. Additionally, a new dialog has been introduced to help assess the trustworthiness of extension publishers when installing an extension for the first time.

Further improvements in VS Code 1.97 include the ability to filter contents of the Output panel, which can greatly improve management and analysis of logs, particularly when dealing with large volumes of log data. The notebook editor now also supports showing inline values after cell execution, via the setting notebook.inlineValues.

In the JavaScript debugger, scripts can now be "pretty printed" by using the "Debug: Pretty print for debugging" command from the command palette or editor actions, even if they are not the source the debugger is currently paused in. Finally, the TypeScript 5.7.3 recovery release, a minor update that fixes a few import bugs and regressions, is included in VS Code 1.97.

The release of VS Code 1.97 follows the December release of VS Code 1.96, which featured an overtype mode, and four point release updates for fixes. With its array of innovative features and improvements, VS Code 1.97 is expected to have a significant impact on the development community, enhancing productivity and streamlining workflows.

As the development landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how VS Code 1.97 is adopted and utilized by developers. With its AI-powered Copilot feature, movable Command Palette, and no-config debugging for Python scripts, this release is poised to make a significant impact on the industry.