Teamwork: Live Share, settings sync
Pair programming, remotely
Pair programming and joint debugging don't require sitting next to each other. Live Share lets a guest edit your code, read the terminal and debug together — without cloning the repository. Perfect for onboarding, live code review and diagnosing a tough bug.
Live Share — how it works
- Install the Live Share extension (available in VS Code and Visual Studio).
- Click Live Share on the status bar → a session link is created.
- Send the link to a collaborator (e.g. on the team's Slack).
- The guest joins in their own editor and sees your project.
What you can share in a session:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Editor | Joint editing, participants' cursors visible |
| Terminal | Shared (read-only or read-write) |
| Local server | Port forwarding, e.g. localhost:3000 for Next.js |
| Debugger | Shared debugging session, breakpoints visible to both |
Tip: By default, share the terminal as read-only. Grant write access only when you deliberately want the other person to run commands on your machine.
Follow mode
When a guest "follows" you, their view scrolls to wherever you are. Great for presenting — you navigate, everyone looks at the same thing. You can also work independently: each person in a different file of the same session.
Live Share security
- A session works only while it's active — once closed, the guest loses access.
- Don't share a session with secrets in
.envopen on screen. - Treat the session link like a password — whoever has it gets in.
Settings Sync — your environment everywhere
Working on a laptop and a desktop? Settings Sync keeps your settings, shortcuts, snippets and extension list in the cloud (a GitHub or Microsoft account).
In VS Code: command palette → Settings Sync: Turn On. You choose what to sync:
[x] Settings
[x] Keyboard Shortcuts
[x] User Snippets
[x] Extensions
[x] UI State
After signing in on a new machine, the environment restores itself — without manually clicking through configuration. Visual Studio has an equivalent in the form of roaming settings tied to your account.
What belongs in the repository, and what in Settings Sync
The distinction matters:
- Repository (
.editorconfig,.vscode/settings.json) — project rules that apply to everyone, e.g. format on save in ZEUS. - Settings Sync — your personal preferences (theme, font, shortcuts), which you carry between your own machines.
Summary
Live Share turns coding into a team sport — joint editing, terminal and debugger through a single link. Settings Sync makes your environment follow you to every machine. Together they enable smooth work for ProfessNet's distributed team.