---
schema_version: "1"
id: 47a5dc67dd29f13defb791bf092dade8c4d829e33c8e5834eb01a35b3cd81ead
title: Install the AMPscript Core Extension
collection: developer
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/developer/current/en-us/marketing-cloud/ampscript/guide/development/mc-ampscript-guide-development-core-extension-install.md
canonical_url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/marketing/marketing-cloud-ampscript/guide/mc-ampscript-guide-development-core-extension-install.html
source_site: developer.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 12ea88a45059d0915f77db414bbd7f881f582acb161f45f000b92aedfa44a749
products:
  - AMPscript for Marketing Cloud
  - Marketing Cloud
---
# Install the AMPscript Core Extension

The AMPscript Core extension is a helpful tool for creating and testing your AMPscript content. This page contains instructions for installing and using the extension.

## Prerequisites

Before you can install the AMPscript Core Extension, complete these steps:

- Install Visual Studio Code from https://code.visualstudio.com/.
- Install the .NET SDK from https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/7.0.
- Install git.
  - On Windows, you can download Git from https://git-scm.com/download/win.
  - On macOS, open the Terminal application, and then enter `git --version`. Follow the instructions for installing the Command Line Developer Tools. Alternatively, you can use a third-party package manager such as [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/) to install Git.
  - Git is installed by default in most popular Linux distributions. If it isn't already installed in your distribution, see the documentation for your distribution's package manager for installation instructions.

## Clone the Git Repository

The Git repository for the AMPscript Core extension contains example files that illustrate how the extension works.

1. In a terminal window, enter `git clone https://github.com/SalesforceLabs/ampscript-core.git`, and then press Enter.

<!-- Commenting this out because the plugin isn't in the Marketplace yet. -->
<!--## Install the Extension from the Visual Studio Code Marketplace

The AMPscript Core extension is available in the Visual Studio Code Marketplace.

1. In Visual Studio Code, click the Marketplace icon.
2. In the search bar, enter "AMPscript Core".
3. Locate the AMPscript Core extension from Salesforce Labs. Click **Install**.
 -->

## Install the VSIX File

The extension isn't available on the Visual Studio Code Marketplace. You can install the extension manually by downloading a Visual Studio extension file (VSIX) from the project's Github page.

1. Download the latest version of the VSIX file from the [AMPscript Core releases page](https://github.com/SalesforceLabs/ampscript-core/releases).
2. In Visual Studio Code, on the Extensions tab, click the menu icon (![The menu icon on the Extension tab in Visual Studio Code. The icon is an ellipis (three periods).](https://developer.salesforce.com/media/images/ampscript/mc-ampscript-guide-development-core-extension-install-vscode-menu.png)), and then click **Install from VSIX**.
3. Select the VSIX file, and then click **Install**.