Tips and Tricks of VS Code that every developer should know.

Abhishek Agarwal
3 min readJul 8, 2023

--

Here are some tips and tricks for Visual Studio Code (VS Code) that every developer should know:

  1. Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts: VS Code allows you to customize keyboard shortcuts according to your preference. Go to “File” -> “Preferences” -> “Keyboard Shortcuts” or use the shortcut Ctrl + K followed by Ctrl + S to open the Keyboard Shortcuts editor. You can modify existing shortcuts or create your own.
  2. Multi-Cursor Editing: To edit multiple occurrences of a word or selection simultaneously, use Ctrl + D to select the next occurrence and Ctrl + U to remove the last selection. Additionally, you can use Alt + Click to create multiple cursors at different locations.
  3. IntelliSense and Auto-Completion: VS Code provides IntelliSense, a powerful code completion feature. Press Ctrl + Space to trigger IntelliSense, which suggests code completions based on the context. You can also customize IntelliSense settings to enhance its functionality.
  4. Code Navigation: To quickly navigate through your codebase, use the following shortcuts:
  • Ctrl + P: Quick Open to jump to files by name.
  • Ctrl + Shift + O: Go to Symbol to navigate to symbols within the current file.
  • Ctrl + Shift + F: Search in Files to find text across the entire project.

5. Split Editor and Multi-Window: VS Code allows you to split the editor vertically or horizontally, enabling you to view and edit multiple files simultaneously. Use Ctrl + \ to split the editor. You can also drag-and-drop tabs to create a separate window.

6. Integrated Terminal: VS Code includes an integrated terminal, eliminating the need to switch between different applications. Use Ctrl + (backtick) to open the terminal. You can also split the terminal by clicking the plus icon or by using Ctrl + \ in the terminal itself.

7. Version Control Integration: VS Code has built-in Git integration, enabling you to manage version control without leaving the editor. You can stage, commit, and push changes directly from the Source Control view (Ctrl + Shift + G).

8. Extensions: VS Code has a vast ecosystem of extensions that enhance its functionality. Explore the Extensions view (Ctrl + Shift + X) to browse and install extensions for different programming languages, frameworks, and tools. Some popular extensions include Live Server, ESLint, and GitLens.

9. Snippets: Utilize code snippets to boost productivity. VS Code provides built-in and user-defined snippets for common programming patterns. Press Ctrl + Space after typing the snippet prefix to insert the corresponding code block.

10. Task Runner and Debugging: VS Code offers a Task Runner and debugging support for various languages. Create and customize tasks using the .vscode/tasks.json file. Use the Debug view (Ctrl + Shift + D) to configure and launch debugging sessions.

Remember, these tips and tricks are just a starting point, and there are many more features and capabilities in VS Code waiting to be explored. Enjoy coding!

--

--