Best VS Code Extensions for Productivity

Camila Pozas García
8 min readFeb 13, 2023

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As a developer, you probably spend a lot of time using Visual Studio Code (VS Code) to write, debug, and test your code. Fortunately, there are many extensions available that can help you streamline your workflow and be more productive. Here are 30 of the best VS Code extensions that can make your life as a developer easier.

1. Better Comments:

Better Comments is a valuable tool that enables you to include context in your code. You can add annotations, warnings, and other comments to your code, making it more organized and easier to read and understand.

2. CodeSnap:

CodeSnap is a robust extension that enables you to swiftly capture screenshots of your code. Its user-friendly interface allows you to effortlessly generate and distribute snapshots of your code, which is ideal for documenting or illustrating your programming concepts to others.

3. Docker:

Docker is a useful tool for managing and deploying containers. It offers a fast and straightforward way to manage and deploy Docker containers, which is perfect for developers who want to spin up applications quickly.

4. ENV:

ENV is an essential extension for managing environment variables. You can create, edit, and manage environment variables quickly, making it an excellent choice for developers who want to keep their variables organized and efficient.

Syntax highlighting

5. Error Lens:

Error Lens is a must-have tool for debugging code. It enables you to quickly identify and jump to errors in your code, making it a valuable addition to your debugging workflow.

6. ESLint:

ESLint is an excellent tool for identifying and fixing errors and potential problems in your code. It is a highly configurable linter that integrates well with VS Code, and it can help improve your coding workflow.

7. Excel Viewer:

Excel Viewer is an potent tool that enables you to view and edit Excel or CSV spreadsheets quickly. It provides a fast and straightforward way to view, analyze, and edit your data, making it an excellent choice for managing data efficiently.

CSV Usage

8. GitHub Repositories:

GitHub Repositories is a precious resource for managing your GitHub repositories. You can browse, search, and manage your repositories quickly, making it an excellent choice for developers who want to find, manage, and collaborate on their projects quickly.

9. GitLens:

GitLens is a good tool for developers who use Git. It provides a fast and straightforward way to view and navigate your repository, look at changes between commits, and view blame information.

10. Image preview:

Image Preview is an extension that enables you to preview images quickly in your project. You can view images without leaving your editor, making it a useful addition when you need to preview and analyze images quickly.

11. Import cost:

Import Cost helps you to understanding the size and cost of your code. It identifies and displays the size of your imports quickly, making it an excellent choice for improving the performance of your code.

12. Inline fold:

Inline Fold is an extension that enables you to fold and unfold blocks of code quickly. You can hide and show blocks of code quickly, making it an excellent choice for keeping your code organized and clutter-free.

13. JSON:

JSON is a powerful tool for formatting and validating JSON files, making it an excellent choice for managing and analyzing data.

14. JSON Crack:

JSON Crack enables you to identify and fix issues with your JSON files quickly. It identifies and fixes issues with your JSON quickly, making it a great choice for those looking to ensure their data is valid and up-to-date.

15. Jupyter:

Jupyter is an extension designed to facilitate working with Jupyter notebooks quickly. It offers a fast and efficient way of viewing, modifying, and running Jupyter notebooks, making it an excellent choice for people who want to explore and analyze data expeditiously.

16. Live Server:

Live Server is a valuable extension that enables users to spin up a local development server quickly. It allows for the swift testing and debugging of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, making it a great tool for individuals looking to develop and deploy applications in a timely manner.

17. Live Share:

Live Share is an extension that makes collaborating with others a breeze. It allow real-time sharing of code, enabling colleagues to collaborate on projects together seamlessly. This makes it an ideal choice for teams that wish to work together efficiently.

18. Markdown All in One:

Markdown All in One allows users to format and preview Markdown documents rapidly. It provides a speedy and simple way of formatting and previewing Markdown documents, making it an excellent option for individuals who want to create and publish their documents expeditiously.

19. Mintlify Doc Writer:

Mintlify Doc Writer provides a fast and easy way to create and manage documents. It enables users to create, modify, and preview documents quickly, making it an excellent choice for those who want to create and publish documents speedily.

20. Paste JSON as Code:

Paste JSON as Code allows for the quick conversion of JSON data into code. It offers an effortless and efficient way of converting JSON data into code, making it a great choice for individuals who want to convert data into code quickly and easily. This extension also comes with the types ready to use and the extension of quicktype.

21. Path Intellisense:

Path Intellisense enables users to navigate their project directory quickly. It provides a simple and speedy way of jumping to files and folders by typing out their path, making it a great tool for those who want to navigate their project quickly.

22. Prettier — Code formatter:

Prettier — Code formatter is an opinionated code formatter that helps to maintain code consistency and readability. It identifies and automatically fixes issues, making it a great choice for teams that want to maintain a consistent coding style.

23. Quokka.js:

Quokka.js is a must-have tool for quickly prototyping and testing JavaScript code. It allows users to evaluate code quickly and view results within the editor, without the need to leave the editor. This makes it an excellent choice for people who want to develop and test their code rapidly.

24. Rainbow CSV:

Rainbow CSV is an extension that enables the rapid analysis and manipulation of CSV files. It provides a fast and easy way of viewing, editing, and analyzing CSV files, making it an excellent choice for individuals who want to manage and analyze their data quickly.

25. Thunder Client:

Thunder Client allows for the quick access and management of remote resources. It offers an efficient and speedy way of accessing and managing remote resources such as databases, files, and more. This makes it an excellent tool for developers who need to access and manage remote resources quickly.

26. TODO Highlight:

TODO Highlight helps users find and organize tasks in their code rapidly. It quickly identifies keywords such as TODO, FIXME, and others, making it an excellent option for those who want to organize their code quickly and stay on top of their tasks.

27. Todo Tree:

Todo Tree helps you organize and locate tasks in your code with ease. It instantly highlights keywords such as TODO and FIXME and enables you to arrange tasks into categories and tick them off when completed. With its ability to streamline your code organization, it is a perfect choice for those who want to stay on top of their tasks.

28. Version Lens:

Version Lens help you manage dependencies in your project. With its rapid identification and display of dependency versions, you can quickly locate and update outdated packages, which is especially advantageous for teams that want to avoid outdated packages in their project.

29. vscode-icons:

vscode-icons allows you to add a variety of icons to your project, making it easier to locate, navigate, and understand your code. Its broad range of icon options makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking to customize their project icons and enhance their coding experience.

Also, you can use Material Icon Theme heme is another popular extension for adding icons to your project in Visual Studio Code. It provides a set of icons inspired by Google’s Material Design.

30. YAML:

YAML offers an efficient and straightforward method to edit and validate YAML files. Its rapid editing and validation capabilities make it an ideal choice for those who want to quickly and efficiently manage and analyze their data.

Thanks for reading; I hope you found this article informative and discovered some exciting new extensions for your coding needs. I made sure to curate a list of unique and intriguing extensions that can help boost your productivity and streamline your workflow. As a programmer myself, I use some of these extensions regularly and can attest to their usefulness. If you enjoyed this article, please consider leaving a clap and following me for more tech-related content. Thank you for your support, and happy coding!

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Camila Pozas García

Software engineer, writing about coding, creativity, and everything in between. ✨