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Developer Advocate
Last updated on Aug 20, 2024
Last updated on Aug 17, 2023
Hey there, code enthusiasts! Picture this: you're in the zone, fingers flying over the keyboard, deftly crafting a piece of art in the form of code. Suddenly, you hit a roadblock. You're spending more time navigating through files, debugging, or formatting your code than actually writing it. Frustrating, isn't it?
Well, that's where Visual Studio Code extensions come in. They are like the superpowers you never knew you needed, enhancing your coding experience and boosting your productivity. These extensions are the sidekicks to your superhero, ready to take on mundane tasks and let you focus on what you do best: writing stellar code.
In this post, we'll explore the must-have VS Code extensions that will turn your Visual Studio Code environment into a powerful, fully customized, and efficient development machine. So, buckle up and let's get started!
Alright, now that we've covered the basics, let's dive into the real meat of the matter - the must-have VS Code extensions. These are the extensions that, in my humble opinion, every developer should have in their toolkit. They're the unsung heroes that can transform your coding experience from good to great.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "How many extensions do I really need?" Well, the answer is - as many as it takes to make your life easier! Remember, the goal here is to improve your productivity and efficiency. So, without further ado, let's delve into the best VS Code extensions that every developer should consider.
WiseGPT– AI-Powered Coding Assistant
In the world of AI, WiseGPT is making waves. It's an AI for React developers that writes code in your style without context limit. It also provides API integration by accepting Postman collection and supports extending UI in the VSCode itself.
Imagine having a coding assistant that understands your coding style and helps you write code, offering suggestions, and even generating boilerplate code for you. It's like having a pair programming partner who's always there to help, but never gets tired or needs a coffee break.
With WiseGPT, you can supercharge your coding process, reduce errors, and ultimately, write better code. It's a must-have for any React developer who values productivity and efficiency.
Let's kick things off with Prettier, an opinionated code formatter that needs no introduction. If you've ever spent more time than you'd like to admit arguing about code formatting or scrolling through lines of poorly formatted code, Prettier is your knight in shining armor.
Prettier supports a multitude of languages and integrates seamlessly with most text editors. It enforces a consistent style by parsing your code and reprinting it with its own rules. This takes care of line lengths, wrapping code lines, and maintaining a consistent code structure.
Here's a quick example of how Prettier can beautify your JavaScript code:
1// Before Prettier 2const greeting = function() { return "Hello, world!" } 3 4// After Prettier 5const greeting = function () { 6 return "Hello, world!"; 7};
With Prettier, you can say goodbye to endless debates about code formatting and focus on what truly matters - writing great code.
Next up, we have the Auto Rename Tag extension. If you've ever found yourself in a situation where you've changed an opening tag in your HTML file but forgot to change the corresponding closing tag, you know how frustrating it can be. This is where Auto Rename Tag comes to the rescue. Close corresponding brackets.
This extension automatically renames paired HTML/XML tags. It works out of the box for HTML, XML, PHP, and JavaScript React (JSX) files. So, when you rename one tag, the paired tag is automatically renamed too.
With Auto Rename Tag, you can ensure your tags are always correctly paired, saving you from potential headaches down the line. Kind of a syntax autocomplete.
Let's talk about CSS Peek, a VS Code extension that's a godsend for frontend developers. Ever found yourself scrolling through hundreds of lines of CSS code just to find the styles associated with a specific class or id? CSS Peek puts an end to that.
This extension allows you to peek into your CSS file directly from your HTML file. Just hover over the class or id, and a preview of the CSS code will pop up. You can even jump directly to the CSS file by holding Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and clicking on the class or id.
With CSS Peek, navigating through your CSS code becomes a breeze, making it a must-have extension for any web developer.
If you're a developer, chances are you're using Git. It's an integral part of our lives, helping us manage our source code, track changes, and collaborate with others. But let's face it, Git can be a bit overwhelming at times. That's where GitLens comes in.
GitLens supercharges the Git capabilities built into Visual Studio Code. It helps you visualize code authorship at a glance through Git blame annotations and code lens, seamlessly navigate and explore Git repositories, gain valuable insights via powerful comparison commands, and so much more.
One of my favorite features is the current line blame annotation, which shows the author, date, and commit message of the last commit that modified the current line. It's subtly displayed at the end of the line, so it doesn't disrupt your workflow.
Whether you're a Git novice or a seasoned pro, GitLens is a powerful tool that can help you understand your code better.
Ever found yourself lost in a maze of brackets, braces, and parentheses? Welcome to the club! As developers, we often work with deeply nested code, and it can be a real challenge to match each opening bracket with its corresponding closing one. That's where the Bracket Pair Colorizer extension comes in.
This handy VS Code extension matches brackets, braces, and parentheses with colors, making it easy to identify matching pairs. You can customize the colors and characters to match in the settings. It's a simple tool, but it can make a world of difference in your coding experience.
With Bracket Pair Colorizer, you can easily navigate your code and ensure that every opening tag has a closing partner. It's a must-have for any developer. But now this is also available in vscode itself. Read the engineering blog on how VSCode made Bracket pair colorization 10,000x faster.
Debugging is an inevitable part of the development process. And if you're like me, you probably use console.log statements quite a bit during this process. But typing out these statements can be tedious and time-consuming. Enter Turbo Console Log.
This VS Code extension automates the process of creating meaningful console.log statements. With a simple keyboard shortcut, you can create a console.log for any variable or expression. It even includes the file name and line number in the log message, making it easy to trace back the log statement to its source.
With Turbo Console Log, you can speed up your debugging process and spend more time writing code and less time typing out log statements.
Next on our list is Live Server. This extension is a lifesaver for developers working on static and dynamic pages. It spins up a local development server with live reload feature for static and dynamic pages. This means you can see your code changes in real-time in the browser - no more manual refreshing!
Setting it up is a breeze. Once you've installed the extension, open the HTML file you want to serve, right-click anywhere in the editor, and select "Open with Live Server". Your default browser will open a new tab and serve your file.
With Live Server, you can streamline your development process, instantly view changes, and focus on writing the right CSS code and JavaScript code. It's a must-have for any web developer.
If you're like me, you probably have multiple projects going on at the same time. Switching between these projects can be a hassle. That's where the Project Manager extension comes in.
Project Manager makes it easy to switch between projects. You can easily save your projects (i.e., workspace folders) and quickly switch between them, no matter where they're located on your local machine.
To save a project, simply open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac), type "Project Manager: Save Project", and hit Enter. You can then switch between saved projects by typing "Project Manager: List Projects" in the Command Palette.
With Project Manager, juggling multiple projects becomes a breeze. It's a must-have for any developer who values their time and sanity.
Navigating through files and directories is a common task for developers. But remembering the exact path to a file or directory can be a real headache, especially when you're dealing with a large project with a complex structure. Enter Path Intellisense.
Path Intellisense is a VS Code extension that autocompletes filenames for you. It's a real time-saver when you're importing packages or linking to files in your project. Just start typing the path, and Path Intellisense will provide you with a list of possible files and directories. You can then navigate through the list with the arrow keys and select the right file with Enter.
With Path Intellisense, you can forget about relative paths and focus on writing code. It's a must-have for any developer who values their time and sanity.
Comments are an integral part of writing code. They help you and others understand what the code does and why certain decisions were made. But let's face it, not all comments are created equal. Some are helpful, while others... not so much. That's where Better Comments comes in.
Better Comments is a VS Code extension that helps you create more human-friendly comments in your code. With this extension, you can categorize your annotations into alerts, queries, TODOs, and highlights. Each category has its own customizable color, making it easy to distinguish between different types of comments.
With Better Comments, your comments become more than just notes in the margin. They become a meaningful part of your code that can guide you and your team towards better understanding and collaboration.
Let's face it, typos happen to the best of us. And in coding, a single typo can cause a world of frustration. While VS Code has built-in spell checking for natural language, it doesn't check the spelling in your code. That's where Code Spell Checker comes in.
Code Spell Checker is a basic spell checker that considers camelCase, snake_case, and other programming idiosyncrasies. It catches common spelling errors while keeping the number of false positives low. The extension supports multiple languages and even has a setting to add your own custom dictionary.
With Code Spell Checker, you can catch those pesky typos before they become a problem. It's a must-have for any developer who values clean, error-free code.
Visual Studio Code comes with a set of default icons to represent different file types. But let's be honest, they're not the most descriptive or visually appealing. That's where VS Code Icons comes in.
VS Code Icons is an extension that replaces the default icons with a comprehensive set of icons that are both visually pleasing and descriptive. It supports a wide range of file types and even adjusts the icons based on your selected theme.
With VS Code Icons, you can create a more visually appealing and intuitive workspace. It's a must-have for any developer who values aesthetics and productivity.
Sharing code snippets is a common practice among developers. Whether it's for a blog post, a presentation, or a tweet, a well-presented code snippet can make a big difference. That's where Polacode comes in.
Polacode is a VS Code extension that lets you create beautiful screenshots of your code. It preserves the exact colors, fonts, and even the vertical scroll position of your code in VS Code. You can adjust the padding, add a shadow, and even include a custom background.
With Polacode, you can share your code snippets in style. It's a must-have for any developer who values aesthetics and communication.
Debugging is a crucial part of the development process. And if you're a frontend developer, chances are you're using Chrome's DevTools for debugging. But what if you could debug your JavaScript code directly in your editor? Enter Debugger for Chrome.
Debugger for Chrome is a VS Code extension that allows you to debug your JavaScript code running in Google Chrome directly from VS Code. You can set breakpoints, step through your code, inspect variables, view the call stack, and execute commands in the console.
With Debugger for Chrome, you can streamline your debugging process and spend more time writing code and less time switching between your editor and browser. It's a must-have for any web developer.
Testing APIs is a common task for developers. While tools like Postman are great, wouldn't it be nice to test APIs directly in your editor? That's where REST Client comes in.
REST Client is a VS Code extension that allows you to send HTTP requests and view the response directly within VS Code. You can save your requests in a .http file, making it easy to share and collaborate with your team.
With REST Client, you can streamline your API testing process and spend more time writing code and less time switching between your editor and API testing tool. It's a must-have for any developer who works with APIs.
If you're a Python developer, the Python extension for VS Code is a no-brainer. Developed by Microsoft, this extension provides a rich and interactive Python experience in VS Code.
The Python extension offers a wide range of features, including linting, IntelliSense (code completions), code formatting, refactoring, debugging, unit tests, jupyter support, and more. It also supports a variety of Python interpreters, allowing you to work with different Python versions and environments.
With the Python extension, you can supercharge your Python development process and make the most out of your VS Code experience. It's a must-have for any Python developer.
If you're a C or C++ developer, the C/C++ extension for VS Code is an absolute must. Developed by Microsoft, this extension provides a rich and interactive C/C++ development experience in VS Code.
The C/C++ extension offers a wide range of features, including IntelliSense (code completions), code navigation, and debugging support. It also supports a variety of compilers, allowing you to compile and run your C/C++ programs directly within VS Code.
With the C/C++ extension, you can supercharge your C/C++ development process and make the most out of your VS Code experience. It's a must-have for any C/C++ developer.
If you're a C# developer, the C# extension for VS Code is an absolute must. Developed by Microsoft, this extension provides a rich and interactive C# development experience in VS Code.
The C# extension offers a wide range of features, including IntelliSense (code completions), code navigation, and debugging support. It also supports .NET Core, allowing you to build modern, cloud-based applications.
With the C# extension, you can supercharge your C# development process and make the most out of your VS Code experience. It's a must-have for any C# developer.
JavaScript is a powerful and flexible language, but this flexibility can sometimes lead to messy and inconsistent code. That's where ESLint comes in.
ESLint is a pluggable linting utility for JavaScript. It helps you catch errors and enforce consistent coding styles in your JavaScript code. With ESLint, you can set your own linting rules or use popular style guides such as Airbnb, Google, or Standard.
With ESLint, you can ensure your JavaScript code is clean, consistent, and error-free. It's a must-have for any JavaScript developer.
In modern web development, it's common to use a variety of libraries and packages. But every package you import adds to your bundle size, which can affect your application's performance. That's where Import Cost comes in. Remember, all import statements have cost.
Import Cost is a VSCode extension that displays the size of the imported package inline in the editor. It supports both JavaScript and TypeScript, and works with various bundlers, including webpack and rollup.
With Import Cost, you can keep your bundle size in check and ensure your application stays lean and fast. It's a must-have for any web developer.
If you're working with Docker, managing your containers and images can be a bit of a hassle. Switching between your code editor and the command line can disrupt your workflow. That's where the Docker extension for VS Code comes in.
The Docker extension makes it easy to build, manage, and deploy containerized applications directly from VS Code. You can view and manage your running containers, start and stop images, read logs, and much more.
With the Docker extension, you can streamline your Docker workflow and spend more time writing code and less time managing your containers. It's a must-have for any developer working with Docker.
If you're a developer, chances are you're working with Markdown files. Whether it's for documentation, README files, or note-taking, Markdown is a simple and effective way to write formatted text. But writing Markdown can be a bit tedious. That's where Markdown All in One comes in.
Markdown All in One is a VSCode extension that supercharges your Markdown experience. It offers a wide range of features, including keyboard shortcuts for formatting, automatic preview, table of contents, math rendering, and much more.
With Markdown All in One, you can master your Markdown files and make the most out of your writing experience. It's a must-have for any developer who works with Markdown.
If you're like me and work on multiple machines, keeping your VS Code settings in sync can be a real headache. That's where Settings Sync comes in. Share your particular setting.
Settings Sync is a VSCode extension that synchronizes your settings, snippets, themes, file icons, launch, keybindings, workspaces and extensions across multiple machines using GitHub Gist. This means you can have the same VS Code experience on all your machines.
With Settings Sync, you can have your VS Code setup just the way you like it, no matter where you are. It's a must-have for any developer who values consistency and productivity.
Frontend development is a complex dance of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It's all about creating dynamic pages, crafting the perfect user interface, and ensuring everything works seamlessly across different browsers and devices. And let's not forget about the constant need to stay updated with the latest frameworks and libraries.
Now, imagine having a toolset that can help you handle all these tasks efficiently. That's exactly what VS Code extensions offer. They provide a range of functionalities, from syntax highlighting and code suggestions to live server previews and advanced debugging features.
For instance, ever found yourself lost in a sea of brackets and tags? There's an extension for that. Struggling with keeping your CSS code clean and organized? There's an extension for that too. Need to test your JavaScript code snippets quickly? You guessed it - there's an extension for that as well.
In essence, VS Code extensions are like the Swiss Army knife for web developers, offering a multitude of tools to streamline your development process, reduce errors, and ultimately, write better code.
Trust me, it's as simple as pie.
First, open your Visual Studio Code. On the left-hand side, you'll notice a set of icons. Click on the one that looks like a square within a square. This is the Extensions view icon.
Once you're in the Extensions view, you'll see a search bar at the top. Here, you can type in the name of the extension you're looking for. As you type, VS Code will present you with a list of extensions that match your query.
Once you've found the extension you want, simply click on the green 'Install' button. Voila! Your chosen extension is now part of your favorite code editor.
Remember, the power of Visual Studio Code lies in its extensibility. So, don't hesitate to explore and experiment with various extensions. They might just become your next best coding companion.
Ah, the million-dollar question. Or should I say, the free question? The good news is, yes, the vast majority of VS Code extensions are absolutely free. This is one of the reasons why Visual Studio Code is such a popular choice among software developers.
The open-source nature of VS Code has fostered a vibrant community of developers who contribute their own extensions to the marketplace. These range from simple themes to sophisticated tools that can significantly enhance your coding experience.
However, it's worth noting that while most extensions are free, some may offer premium versions or additional features at a cost. These are usually optional and the core functionality of the extension remains free.
So, whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, there's a high chance that the VS Code extension you need won't cost you a dime. Isn't that a relief?
Safety first, right? When it comes to VS Code extensions, the answer is generally yes. Visual Studio Code has a review process in place for extensions that are published in the official marketplace. This means that extensions are checked for any obvious security issues before they're made available to users.
However, like with any software, it's always a good idea to exercise caution. Here are a few tips to ensure you're using VS Code extensions safely:
Remember, while VS Code extensions can supercharge your development process, it's crucial to use them responsibly to maintain a secure development environment.
And there you have it, a comprehensive list of must-have VS Code extensions that can supercharge your development process. From code formatting and debugging to managing Docker containers and syncing settings, these extensions cover a wide range of functionalities that can make your life as a developer easier and more productive.
But remember, the best VS Code extensions are the ones that suit your specific needs and workflow. So, don't be afraid to explore the VS Code marketplace, try out different extensions, and find the ones that work best for you.
Happy coding!
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