In this Article we will learn about 15 Best VS Code Extensions which is very important for development. Let us see which extensions are there.
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free and open-source source-code editor developed by Microsoft. It is a highly popular and widely used code editor among developers for various programming languages. VS Code is known for its versatility, speed, and extensive set of features, making it a preferred choice for many developers and teams.
Here are some key features and characteristics of Visual Studio Code:
Cross-Platform Support: VS Code is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a cross-platform code editor. Users can have a consistent development experience across different operating systems.
Lightweight and Fast: Despite being feature-rich, VS Code is lightweight and fast. It launches quickly and has a minimalistic design, providing a smooth coding experience without consuming excessive system resources.
Language Support: Visual Studio Code supports a wide range of programming languages out of the box. Additionally, users can install extensions for specific languages, enabling syntax highlighting, autocompletion, and other language-specific features.
Extensions and Marketplace: VS Code has a rich ecosystem of extensions available through its marketplace. These extensions enhance the functionality of the editor, allowing users to customize and tailor it to their specific needs.
Integrated Terminal: The editor includes an integrated terminal, enabling developers to run shell commands directly within the editor. This is particularly useful for tasks such as running scripts, version control operations, and more.
Git Integration: VS Code comes with built-in Git integration, providing version control capabilities within the editor. Developers can manage repositories, commit changes, and perform other Git operations seamlessly.
Best VS Code Extensions in 2024
Visual Studio Code is highly extensible. Users can customize the editor’s functionality by installing extensions for themes, keymap configurations, language support, and other features.
1 – Live Server
Live Server extension is used to view changes in static or dynamic code in real time.
Features
- A Quick Development Live Server with live browser reload.
- Start or Stop server by a single click from status bar.
- Support for excluding files for change detection.
- Hot Key control.
- Customizable Port Number, Server Root, default browser.
2 – Remote SSH
The Remote – SSH extension, a valuable tool, allows developers to seamlessly employ any remote machine equipped with an SSH server as their dedicated development environment. This versatile capability not only simplifies the development workflow but also enhances troubleshooting processes across a wide array of situations, providing a comprehensive solution for remote development scenarios.
3 – Prettier – Code formatter
Prettier, an opinionated code formatter, ensures a uniform code style by parsing and reformatting code according to its predefined rules. It considers maximum line length and intelligently wraps code when needed.
Usage
Using Command Palette (CMD/CTRL + Shift + P)
1. CMD + Shift + P -> Format Document
OR
1. Select the text you want to Prettify
2. CMD + Shift + P -> Format Selection
4 – CSS Peek
This extension facilitates the ability to peek at and navigate to CSS ID and class definitions directly from HTML files. It enhances HTML and ejs code editing by enabling Go To Definition and Go To Symbol in Workspace support for CSS/SCSS/LESS, specifically within string references found in the source code.
5 – Relative Path
This VS Code extension simplifies the process of obtaining relative URL paths from files within the current workspace. By leveraging this extension, users can efficiently navigate and extract relative paths, enhancing the management of file references and connections within their projects.
6 – vscode-icons
The “vscode-icons” extension for Visual Studio Code is a popular and visually enriching extension designed to enhance the file and folder icons within the editor’s user interface. Developed to provide a more visually intuitive and organized coding experience, this extension introduces a set of distinct icons that represent various file types and folder structures.
Example
7 – Auto Rename Tag
The “Auto Rename Tag” extension for Visual Studio Code simplifies HTML and XML tag editing by automatically updating the matching closing tag when the opening tag is renamed. This feature ensures consistency and accuracy in code modification, reducing the likelihood of errors during tag renaming. As developers edit the opening tag of an HTML or XML element, the extension dynamically updates the corresponding closing tag, maintaining synchronization. This real-time functionality enhances code readability and streamlines the development process, eliminating the need for manual adjustments to ensure tag coherence. The “Auto Rename Tag” extension contributes to a more efficient coding experience in Visual Studio Code, minimizing potential mistakes and fostering a smoother workflow for web development projects.
8 – Auto Close Tag
The Auto Close Tag extension for Visual Studio Code is a productivity tool designed to enhance the efficiency of web developers by automatically closing HTML and XML tags as they type. As users input the opening tag of an element, this extension intelligently generates the corresponding closing tag in real-time, reducing the need for manual tag completion. This functionality streamlines the coding process, saving time and minimizing errors associated with tag mismatches. By providing a seamless and intuitive experience, “Auto Close Tag” ensures that developers can focus on writing code without the distraction of repeatedly closing tags manually. This extension is an indispensable asset for maintaining clean and well-formed markup in web development projects within the Visual Studio Code environment.
9 – Better Comments
The “Better Comments” extension for Visual Studio Code is a powerful tool that elevates the commenting experience for developers. This extension introduces a versatile system for annotating code with comments, allowing users to categorize, highlight, and emphasize comments based on customizable tags. With support for various programming languages, “Better Comments” enhances code readability and organization by introducing color-coded comment sections. Developers can easily differentiate between informational, critical, and TODO comments, providing visual cues to prioritize and address specific aspects of the codebase. This extension goes beyond conventional commenting, offering a nuanced and visually enriched approach to annotating code. “Better Comments” significantly improves collaboration and code comprehension, making it an invaluable asset for developers aiming to create more informative, structured, and visually intuitive code in Visual Studio Code.
10 – MarkDown all in one
Markdown All in One is a comprehensive extension for Visual Studio Code that transforms the markdown editing experience. This powerful tool streamlines the creation of markdown documents by providing a wide array of features. Users benefit from keyboard shortcuts for common markdown elements, such as headers, lists, and bold/italic text, enhancing efficiency. The extension offers live preview functionality, allowing developers to visualize changes in real-time as they edit markdown files. Additionally, it supports table formatting, emoji insertion, and automatic table of contents generation. With “Markdown All in One,” users can effortlessly navigate through headers, fold sections, and even generate unique document structures. This extension caters to both beginners and advanced users, making markdown editing in Visual Studio Code more intuitive, productive, and enjoyable.
11 – Code Spell Checker
The Code Spell Checker extension for Visual Studio Code is an essential tool for developers, offering seamless and efficient spell-checking capabilities within the coding environment. This extension detects and highlights spelling errors in code comments, strings, and documentation, helping maintain code quality and professionalism. With support for multiple programming languages, “Code Spell Checker” ensures that developers catch and correct typos in real-time, reducing the likelihood of syntax errors and enhancing overall code clarity. The extension also supports the addition of custom dictionaries, allowing users to tailor the spell-checking process to project-specific terminology. By promoting accurate and error-free documentation, “Code Spell Checker” contributes to a polished and professional coding experience, making it an indispensable asset for developers striving for clean and precise code in Visual Studio Code.
12 – GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is a revolutionary extension for Visual Studio Code, developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. Powered by advanced machine learning models, it transforms the coding experience by providing real-time code suggestions as developers type. This extension intelligently predicts and generates entire lines or blocks of code, helping users write code faster and more efficiently. GitHub Copilot supports multiple programming languages and understands context, enabling it to suggest contextually relevant code snippets. The extension not only accelerates coding tasks but also serves as a valuable learning tool, providing insights and inspiration for developers. GitHub Copilot represents a groundbreaking advancement in AI-driven coding assistance, fostering increased productivity and creativity in the software development process within the Visual Studio Code environment.
13 – GitLens — Git supercharged
GitLens is a feature-rich extension for Visual Studio Code that supercharges the Git integration within the editor. With a robust set of tools, GitLens empowers developers to effortlessly explore, understand, and interact with Git repositories directly from their code editor. The extension enhances the Git history visualization, offering an interactive and informative lens into code changes, commits, and branches. “GitLens” provides detailed insights, annotations, and blame information at the line level, facilitating a deeper understanding of code evolution. Developers can easily navigate through commit histories, compare file revisions, and gain valuable context for efficient collaboration. “GitLens” elevates the Git experience in Visual Studio Code, providing an intuitive interface that significantly improves version control workflows, code collaboration, and overall project management.
14 – Tabnine: AI Autocomplete & Chat for Javascript, Python, Typescript, PHP, Go, Java & more
Tabnine is a cutting-edge extension for Visual Studio Code that revolutionizes code completion using artificial intelligence. Powered by advanced machine learning models, Tabnine offers intelligent and context-aware code suggestions as developers type, significantly boosting productivity. This extension goes beyond traditional autocompletion by predicting entire lines or blocks of code based on the current context. Tabnine supports JavaScript, Python, Java, Typescript c/c++ and more and adapts to individual coding styles, making it a versatile and personalized tool for developers. With its ability to understand complex code structures and offer relevant suggestions, Tabnine transforms the coding experience, enabling faster and more accurate code writing within the Visual Studio Code environment.
15 – Peacock
Peacock stands out as a top-tier Visual Studio Code extension, offering users the capability to customize the color scheme of their VS Code environment or workspace. This becomes particularly beneficial in scenarios where multiple instances of VS Code are in use, providing a visually distinctive identifier for the current working instance. By allowing users to assign unique colors to different instances, Peacock facilitates efficient navigation and recognition, minimizing the risk of confusion during simultaneous work on various projects. This extension contributes not only to a more personalized coding environment but also streamlines the workflow, ensuring a seamless and organized experience for developers managing multiple VS Code instances concurrently. Peacock emerges as an indispensable tool for those seeking enhanced visual cues and a tailored coding experience within the Visual Studio Code environment.
Usage
- Create/Open a VSCode Workspace (Peacock only works in a Workspace)
- Press F1 to open the command palette
- Type Peacock
- Choose Peacock: Change to a favorite color
- Choose one of the pre-defined colors and see how it changes your editor
Conclusion
In conclusion, these 15 Visual Studio Code extensions represent an essential toolkit for developers aiming to elevate their coding experience in 2024. Each extension serves a specific purpose, collectively contributing to enhanced productivity, code quality, and overall development efficiency. From advanced AI-driven autocomplete tools like “Tabnine” to revolutionary Git integrations with “GitLens” and personalized color management with “Peacock,” these extensions cater to diverse needs and preferences. The ability to harness the power of AI for code suggestions, streamline version control workflows, and customize the coding environment demonstrates the continued evolution of Visual Studio Code’s ecosystem. As we navigate the dynamic landscape of software development, integrating these extensions into your workflow promises to be a strategic investment, providing the tools needed to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of coding. Embrace these extensions to unlock new possibilities and propel your development journey in 2024 and beyond.