Top VS Code Extensions You must Know in 2023

What is a VS Code extension? 🤔

VS Code extensions are add-ons that can be used to enhance the functionality of the Visual Studio Code editor. They can provide additional features, add support for new languages or file formats, and allow you to customize the editor to better suit your needs. Some examples of popular extensions include:

1. IntelliSense: provides intelligent code completion and snippets
2. Prettier: automatically formats code to follow a specific style guide
3. ESLint: detects and fixes coding errors and style issues
4. GitLens: adds Git integration, including code blame and history
5. Live Server: allows you to run a local development server with live reloading

You can browse and install extensions from the VS Code Marketplace or directly from within the editor by clicking the extensions icon in the left sidebar.

Furthermore, VS code extensions can make your life a lot easier when it comes to developing.

1. TabNine

TabNine is a code completion extension for Visual Studio Code that uses machine learning to provide intelligent suggestions for code completion. It uses a neural network trained on a large dataset of code to make predictions about what you are likely to type next, and provides suggestions as you type. TabNine can be used with a variety of programming languages and is intended to save you time by reducing the long code snippets you need to type out or search for documentation. To use TabNine in VS Code, you can install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace or directly within the editor. Once installed, you can activate TabNine by starting to type in your code and pressing the Tab key to accept a suggestion.

2. Turbo Console Log

Turbo Console Log is a Visual Studio Code extension that aims to improve the experience of logging into the console while debugging. It adds several features to the console, including the ability to collapse and expand log groups, filter log messages, and jump to the source code that generated the log message.

To use Turbo Console Log in VS Code, you will need to install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace or directly from within the editor. Once installed, you can access the extension’s features by opening the console in the debugger. You can then use the extension’s toolbar buttons or keyboard shortcuts to collapse and expand log groups, filter log messages, and jump to the source code.

3. Git Graph

GitGraph is a Visual Studio Code extension that provides a graphical representation of your Git repository history. It allows you to view and interact with your Git commits and branches in a visually appealing and intuitive way.

To use GitGraph in VS Code, you will need to install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace or directly from within the editor. Once installed, you can access the extension by clicking on the Git icon in the left sidebar and selecting “GitGraph” from the dropdown menu. This will open the GitGraph view, which displays a graphical representation of your Git repository history. You can use the various controls and options in the view to navigate through your Git history and explore your repository.

4. Live Server

Live Server is a Visual Studio Code extension that allows you to run a local development server with live reloading. This can be useful when working on web projects, as it allows you to see changes to your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files in real-time, as you edit them.

To use Live Server in VS Code, you will need to install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace or directly from within the editor. Once installed, you can start the server by right-clicking on an HTML file in the editor and selecting “Open with Live Server” from the context menu. This will launch the server and open your default web browser to the URL of the server. As you make changes to your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, the server will automatically reload the page in the browser to reflect the changes.

5. Better Comments

Better Comments is a Visual Studio Code extension that allows you to customize and improve the appearance of comments in your code. It provides several options for formatting and styling comments, including the ability to add tags to your comments to highlight important information or mark them as to-do items.

To use Better Comments in VS Code, you will need to install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace or directly from within the editor. Once installed, you can configure the extension by editing the settings in your VS Code workspace. You can choose from a variety of formatting and styling options, including font size, color, and background color, to customize the appearance of your comments.

6. Auto Close Tag

Auto Close Tag is a Visual Studio Code extension that automatically adds closing tags to HTML and XML elements as you type them. This can save you time and reduce the risk of syntax errors by ensuring that your tags are always properly closed.

To use Auto Close Tag in VS Code, you will need to install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace or directly from within the editor. Once installed, the extension will automatically add closing tags as you type. You can also configure the extension to customize its behavior, such as setting the trigger character or disabling the extension for certain languages.

7. Auto Rename Tag

Auto Rename Tag is a Visual Studio Code extension that allows you to quickly and easily update the names of HTML and XML tags, as you edit them. When you rename an opening tag, the extension will automatically update the corresponding closing tag to match. This can save you time and reduce the risk of syntax errors by ensuring that your tags are always properly paired.

To use Auto Rename Tag in VS Code, you will need to install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace or directly from within the editor. Once installed, the extension will automatically update closing tags as you rename opening tags. You can also configure the extension to customize its behavior, such as setting the trigger character or disabling the extension for certain languages.

8. CSS Peak

CSS Peak is a Visual Studio Code extension that allows you to quickly preview and edit CSS styles in your HTML and CSS files. It provides a live preview of your styles as you edit them, and allows you to jump directly to the corresponding style rule in your CSS file by hovering over an element in the preview.

To use CSS Peak in VS Code, you will need to install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace or directly from within the editor. Once installed, you can open the CSS Peak preview by clicking on the CSS Peak icon in the left sidebar or by pressing the Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows) or Command+Shift+P (Mac) keyboard shortcut and selecting “CSS Peak: Open Preview” from the command palette. You can then use the various controls and options in the preview to edit your styles and see the changes in real-time.

9. ES7+ React/Redux/React-Native/JS snippets

ES7+ React/Redux/React-Native/JS snippets is a Visual Studio Code extension that provides code snippets for the React, Redux, React-Native, and JavaScript languages. Code snippets are pre-written blocks of code that can be inserted into your code with a single keystroke, saving you time and reducing the need to type out long code snippets or search for documentation.

To use the ES7+ React/Redux/React-Native/JS snippets extension in VS Code, you will need to install it from the VS Code Marketplace or directly from within the editor. Once installed, you can use the snippets by typing the trigger word for a snippet and pressing the Tab key to insert it into your code. The extension includes a wide range of snippets for common tasks and patterns in the React, Redux, React-Native, and JavaScript languages.

10. Prettier

Prettier is a Visual Studio Code extension that automatically formats your code to follow a specific style guide. It can save you time and improve the consistency of your code by formatting it according to predefined rules, such as indentation, spacing, and line breaks. Prettier supports a wide range of programming languages and can be configured to suit your specific needs and preferences.

To use Prettier in VS Code, you will need to install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace or directly from within the editor. Once installed, you can format your code by clicking on the Prettier icon in the left sidebar or by pressing the Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) or Command+Shift+I (Mac) keyboard shortcut. Prettier will automatically format your code and apply any changes you have made to the formatting options in the extension’s settings.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Visual Studio Code extensions are add-ons that can enhance the functionality of the editor and improve your coding experience. There are a wide variety of extensions available, covering a range of different languages and features. Some popular examples include IntelliSense, which provides intelligent code completion and snippets; Prettier, which automatically formats code to follow a specific style guide; and Live Server, which allows you to run a local development server with live reloading. Choosing the right extensions for your needs can help you save time, improve your productivity, and enhance your coding experience.