Top 10 Must-Have Visual Studio Code Extensions for Enhanced Development Experience

Top 10 Must-Have Visual Studio Code Extensions for Enhanced Development Experience

Table of contents

No heading

No headings in the article.

Visual Studio Code is a cross-platform and open-source code editor. It provides support for C#, JavaScript, TypeScript, and many other programming languages. In this article, we'll be taking a close look at some of Visual Studio Code's extensions which can make development easier, much faster and more efficient. There are lots of extensions available for Visual Studio Code. I have selected 10 extensions that I consider a must-have for development in the current professional environment.

  1. Visual Studio IntelliCode

    Visual Studio IntelliCode is an extension that provides intelligent suggestions based on your code context. This extension uses machine learning algorithms to analyze your code and offer suggestions based on your coding patterns and best practices from the wider development community. With IntelliCode, you'll get personalized suggestions that can help you save time and improve your coding quality. It supports multiple programming languages including JavaScript, Python, Java, TypeScript, C#, and more.

  2. ESLint

    ESLint is a linter for JavaScript that can help you find and fix problems in your code. It provides warnings for potential issues and can also automatically fix certain problems. This extension is an essential tool for JavaScript developers as it helps you maintain code quality and avoid bugs. ESLint checks your code for issues like missing semicolons, unused variables, and more. You can configure ESLint to fit your coding style and enable or disable specific rules.

  3. Prettier

    Prettier is an opinionated code formatter that can automatically format your code to follow a consistent style. This helps keep your code readable and maintainable. With Prettier, you no longer need to worry about manual formatting, which can be a tedious and time-consuming task. You can set up Prettier to format your code automatically whenever you save a file or format it manually with a keyboard shortcut. Prettier supports multiple programming languages and can be configured to fit your coding style.

  4. GitLens

    GitLens is a powerful extension that integrates Git information into Visual Studio Code. You can quickly see who made changes to a line of code and other Git information right in the code editor. This makes it easy to understand why code was changed and helps you collaborate with other developers more efficiently. With GitLens, you can view Git blame annotations, history, and more, all from within Visual Studio Code.

  5. Docker

    The Docker extension for Visual Studio Code provides an easy way to work with Dockerfiles and docker-compose files, including syntax highlighting linting, and more. This extension makes it easier to develop and deploy Docker containers and provides a seamless development experience. You can use the Docker extension to manage containers and images, run commands, and more, all from within Visual Studio Code.

  6. Auto Rename Tag

    Auto Rename Tag is a popular Visual Studio Code extension that provides a convenient way of editing HTML and XML files. It automatically updates the closing tag whenever the corresponding opening tag is changed, saving you time and reducing the risk of syntax errors. The extension works in real-time, so you can immediately see the results of your changes, and it supports all HTML and XML tag types, including custom tags. The extension makes it easier to work with HTML and XML files, especially when editing larger or more complex files, and it can be a valuable tool for web developers and designers.

  7. vscode-icons

    vscode-icons is an extension that adds file icons to Visual Studio Code for improved visual recognition. With this extension, you can quickly recognize different file types and quickly locate the files you need. vscode-icons supports multiple file types and you can customize the icons used to fit your coding style.

  8. Code Runner

    Code Runner is an extension that allows you to run code snippets directly from Visual Studio Code, without switching to a different environment or terminal. This extension is especially useful for developers who need to test code snippets quickly. You can run code in multiple programming languages and the results are displayed in the Output panel in Visual Studio Code. This extension supports over 20 programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, C++, and more. Code Runner makes it easy to test code snippets, try out new ideas, and quickly see the results of your work.

  9. Auto Close Tag

    Auto Close Tag is an extension that automatically closes HTML tags as you type. This can save you time and prevent errors that can occur when tags are not closed properly. With Auto Close Tag, you no longer need to manually close tags, which can be a tedious and time-consuming task. The extension also supports JavaScript and TypeScript, so you can enjoy the benefits of automatic tag closing in your front-end code as well.

  10. Visual Studio Keymap

    Visual Studio Keymap is an extension that provides Visual Studio-style keybindings for Visual Studio Code. This extension is especially useful for developers who are familiar with Visual Studio and want to maintain a consistent development environment. With Visual Studio Keymap, you can use familiar keybindings, like Ctrl + Shift + B for the build, Ctrl + Shift + A for select all, and more. This extension helps you be more productive and efficient in Visual Studio Code.

In conclusion, these 10 extensions for Visual Studio Code are a great place to start for enhancing your development experience. They provide intelligent suggestions and help you maintain.

Thanks for reading.