How to use compiler version 0.4.17?

Question

I am using solidity extension by Juan Blanco.

pragma solidity ^0.4.17;
    
contract Inbox
{
    string public message;
        
    constructor(string initialMessage) public {
        message = initialMessage;
    }
        
    function setMessage(string newMessage) public {
        message = newMessage;
    }
}

I get the error message "Source file requires different compiler version (current compiler is 0.7.4+commit.3f05b770.Emscripten.clang) - note that nightly builds are considered to be strictly less than the released version"

I am getting too many error messages / warnings if I do pragma solidity >=0.4.17; so I prefer 0.4.17.

Answer 1

You need to set the compiler version within VSCode through the command palette:

Menu->View->Command Palette->Solidity: Change workspace compiler version (Remote)

or

Menu->View->Command Palette->Solidity: Change global compiler version (Remote)

and then, select the compiler version. Sometimes you need to close/open VSCode so that changes are applied.