Top Visual Studio Code Extensions

Top Visual Studio Code Extensions

Visual Studio Code is gaining much popularity as a code editor, becoming a favourite of developers. People are always looking for ways of making their daily workflow more efficient and easy, and Visual Studio Code Extensions are extremely helpful in achieving that. Listed below are the top Visual Studio Code Extensions that you must have as a developer to make your programming efficient and productive. 

1. Bracket Pair Colorizer 2

This extension may seem simple, but it is very helpful, especially for learning JavaScript. The extension works by assigning colours to the pairs of brackets so that it is easy to match the opened and the closed bracket with each other. When a nested bracket is opened, it is assigned a new colour. This will save you a lot of time because you do not have to assess which bracket belongs wherein the entire program. 

2. EsLint

This extension has gained popularity quickly among the developers. This extension is helpful in finding and fixing problems that may exist in your program written in JavaScript. This extension is a must-have if you code a lot with JavaScript or a framework of this programming language. 

3. Language Snippets

This can be thought of as a category of VS Code Extensions, meaning you can download the one that is applicable to you based on the programming languages you use. This extension will be able to help have integrated support with the programming language, it will auto-close your tags, highlight your syntax and make suggestions, and assist in many other ways based on the specific extension you use. This extension becomes especially helpful if you work with a templating language that does not have the auto-closing tags feature built into the editor. 

4. Prettier +

This extension will be helpful in automatically formatting the code you write and saving it. It is not compatible with all the programming languages but it can be used with the most commonly used programming languages today. If you are still learning the language, and are not comfortable with it, it is better to first learn and get your basics good before you use this extension. If you use this extension without learning the language first, you may become lazy to add small details like semicolons, as this extension will remove those small indentations automatically. 

5. Git Lens

This extension is extremely helpful for developers working in teams. The extension will give you information about the program as to who has written it, and when the changes have been made in the editor. Without this extension, you would have to look for this information on GitHub. This will make the discussion with the team about the code easy and help you identify the problems as the details of the changes made are directly available. 

6. Live Server

Developers often rely heavily on this extension. It will start a server so the developer is able to see what the result of the code will appear like in the browser. This is especially a must-have when learning HTML and document object model manipulation. All it takes is a click and the changes are updated every time the browser window is refreshed. 

7. ‍Footsteps

This extension is helpful for keeping track of the point where you were working in your file. When dealing with lines and lines of code, scrolling up and down between numerous sections, it is helpful to be able to find your place quickly, saving time and making work less tedious. This extension helps by highlighting the area or the line of the program where you were working, the highlight fading as more changes are made. 

8. Peacock

This extension is a saviour for those who like to work with multiple instances open on Visual Studio Code. This can be the cause of confusion about the windows after some time has passed. This extension will assign a border colour to each of the instances you use, so they become easily distinguishable and easier to work with. 

9. Icon Packs

At first, this extension was thought to be just for aesthetics. That’s not all, as it has demonstrated itself to be much more helpful. It provides numerous unique icons for types of files based on their extension, so you can easily find the files based on their language. It will be convenient for you to spot the files you need. 

10. Themes

As is popular with most applications, a developer can also gain a customized theme. Visual Studio Code takes customization one step further, with the addition of incredible capabilities. Numerous pre-made themes are available for downloading on VS Code, many for making the reading of the code easier. The feature of adding a theme instead of using the default is how the colour to your code is added, what textual changes are made to the various parts of the code, and how it enhances your understanding of the code. 

There are numerous useful extensions that are available on the Visual Studio Code, available also for download through the Visual Studio Code Marketplace. You can also look for gaining a particular feature if you have any in mind, and you will probably find it. They are helpful in making your coding experience in your prefered language smooth. If you are new to the use of extensions, hopefully, these will help you get started and make coding easier.

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