Coding Non-Visually in Visual Studio Code: Collaboration Towards Accessible Development Environment for Blind Programmers

Abstract

This paper delineates a fruitful collaboration between blind and sighted developers, aiming to augment the accessibility of Visual Studio Code (VSCode). Our shared journey is portrayed through examples drawn from our interaction with GitHub issues, pull requests, review processes, and insider’s releases, each contributing to an improved VSCode experience for blind developers. One key milestone of our co-design process is the establishment of an accessible terminal buffer, a significant enhancement for blind developers using VSCode. Other innovative outcomes include Git Diff audio cues, adaptable verbosity settings, intuitive help menus, and a targeted accessibility testing initiative. These tailored improvements not only uplift the accessibility standards of VSCode but also provide a valuable blueprint for open-source developers at large. Through our shared dedication to promoting inclusivity in software development, we aim for the strategies and successes shared in this paper to inspire and guide the open-source community towards crafting more accessible software environments.

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