Boost Coding Speed with VS Code Tools

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is one of the most powerful and flexible editors out there. In this tutorial, we’ll explore essential extensions and settings that can dramatically speed up your workflow and improve code quality.

Why Use VS Code Extensions?

Extensions can help with linting, debugging, formatting, snippets, and much more. The right set of tools can transform your coding experience.

Top Recommended Extensions

• Prettier - Automatically format your code
• ESLint - Detect and fix JavaScript issues
• Python - Essential if you're working with Python
• GitLens - Supercharge Git functionality
• Live Server - Preview changes in real-time
• Tailwind CSS IntelliSense - Tailwind support for class suggestions and hover previews

Step-by-Step Setup

Let’s go through setting up some of these tools for a smoother development experience.

1. Prettier

Install: Search for "Prettier - Code formatter" in the Extensions tab.
Add to settings.json:
{
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
  "prettier.singleQuote": true,
  "prettier.semi": false
}
    

2. ESLint

Install: ESLint extension
Terminal:
npm install eslint --save-dev
npx eslint --init
    

3. GitLens

GitLens provides rich Git history and blame annotations inline so you know who changed what and when. It's extremely useful in teams.

4. Tailwind CSS IntelliSense

If you're using Tailwind, this extension boosts productivity with class name autocomplete, linting, and color previews.

VS Code Settings Tips

• Enable formatOnSave for faster cleanup
• Customize keybindings for your workflow
• Use workspaces to manage different projects
• Try the new "Profiles" feature for switching between setups

Conclusion

With just a few tools and settings, VS Code becomes a fast, intelligent, and clean environment for development. Don’t forget to keep exploring new extensions and stay updated with the latest features.