Top 10 Visual Studio Code extensions that every programmer must have.

As coding becomes increasingly complex and demanding, having the right set of tools can make all the difference in productivity, efficiency, and code quality. From streamlining workflow tasks to enhancing code readability and debugging capabilities, these extensions have been handpicked to address the diverse needs of developers across different programming languages and disciplines. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or just starting your coding journey, these top 10 extensions are guaranteed to elevate your Visual Studio Code experience and empower you to write better code faster. Keep up as we explore the must-have extensions that will revolutionize the way you work in Visual Studio Code and boost your productivity.

1. Peacock

Peacock extension is perfect for that project you are working on that requires multiple open tabs in Visual Studio Code. With Peacock, you can assign a distinct color to each tab, making it easy to identify and navigate through your various projects.

On your visual studio code:

1. Press ctrl + shift + p to open the command palette
2. Choose Peacock: Change to a favorite color
3. Choose one of the pre-defined colors and see how it changes your editor.

2. Prettier

Would't be easy if you could indent your code just by typing a short code or by saving it. You can do that with Prettier.

Prettier is a lifesaver for developers seeking to maintain consistent and clean code formatting effortlessly. Gone are the days of manually adjusting indentation, line breaks, and spacing to conform to coding standards.

With Prettier seamlessly integrated into Visual Studio Code, formatting becomes a breeze, allowing developers to focus more on writing code rather than worrying about its presentation.

After you install it. Go to your file and press ctrl + shift + p or command + shift + p for macOS, search for format and then choose Format Document.

Visual Studio Code must throw an pop up requiring you to configure a default formatter. Click on Configure button.

Choose Prettier option.

It's also possible to automatize this process and format your code on save. On your Visual Studio Code press ctrl + , or command + , for macOS, search for Editor: Format on Save and enable the first option you find.

3. Turbo Console Log

Throughout the web development process, it's often crucial to check the contents of variables, and JavaScript's console.log function is our go-to tool for this task.

But what if there were a way to automate this process? That's precisely the issue this extension addresses. By simply pressing Ctrl + Alt + L (or Command + Alt + L for macOS), it generates a console.log statement for us, complete with the file name and the variable's line number.

4. Auto Rename Tag

This extension greatly simplifies the process of renaming our tags in Visual Studio Code. Instead of manually retyping both the opening and closing tags, this extension streamlines the task by automatically updating both occurrences simultaneously with just a few keystrokes.

5. Git Graph

Many people may not be familiar with Git commands in the terminal. That's where Git Graph comes in handy. It provides a comprehensive UI that allows users to visually navigate through the versions of their code.

With Git Graph, users can easily understand the branching and merging of their Git repository, making version control more accessible and intuitive for all levels of expertise.

The code above has two branches, master and dev. The most common way to navigate between them is by running the git checkout <branch name> command.

Instead, let's use Git Graph.

It's all possible to check file changes and revent them.

6. Indent Rainbow

The Indent Rainbow extension for Visual Studio Code introduces a unique and intuitive way to enhance code readability by visualizing the indentation structure. While traditional code editors rely solely on indentation characters (such as spaces or tabs) to denote code structure, Code Indent Color takes it a step further by assigning distinct colors to each indentation level.

This innovative approach provides developers with a visual representation of their code's hierarchy, making it easier to comprehend and navigate complex codebases. By instantly highlighting different levels of indentation with vibrant colors, Code Indent Color allows developers to quickly grasp the code's structure and identify nested blocks, loops, and functions.

Extension on:	Extension off:

7. Better Comments

Comments are essential for maintaining the logic of our code and aiding in its scalability. They serve as valuable annotations that provide insights into the functionality, purpose, and reasoning behind specific code segments.

extension our comments become way more visually efficient where we have different colors for question, alerts and highlights.

8. TabNine

The TabNine extension for Visual Studio Code is a powerful tool designed to revolutionize the coding experience by leveraging machine learning technology. Unlike traditional code completion plugins, TabNine goes beyond basic suggestions, providing intelligent and context-aware completions that anticipate the developer's needs.

By analyzing the code context, TabNine offers highly accurate suggestions, saving valuable time and reducing cognitive load during the coding process. Whether it's completing variable names, suggesting entire lines of code, or offering relevant function calls, TabNine adapts to the developer's coding style and preferences, enhancing productivity and efficiency.

9. CodeSnap

Have you ever needed to take a screenshot of your code? With CodeSnap, developers can quickly capture and annotate sections of their code directly within the editor, creating visually appealing snapshots that convey the essence of their implementation.

Whether it's highlighting a specific algorithm, showcasing a particular design pattern, or illustrating a complex functionality, CodeSnap simplifies the process of documenting and sharing code snippets with colleagues, clients, or the broader developer community.

Output:

10. Live Server

The Live Server extension for Visual Studio Code is a game-changer for web developers seeking real-time feedback on their projects. With Live Server, developers can instantly spin up a local development server and view their web pages live in the browser. Gone are the days of manually refreshing the browser to see changes or worrying about setting up complex server configurations.

Live Server handles all the heavy lifting, allowing developers to focus on coding without interruption. Whether it's HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or any other web technology, Live Server provides a seamless development experience, enabling developers to see their changes immediately reflected in the browser as they type.

Conclusion

In summary, these top 10 Visual Studio Code extensions revolutionize coding by simplifying tasks like formatting, version control, and code visualization. From Prettier's effortless code formatting to Git Graph's intuitive version control interface, each extension addresses common developer pain points. Moreover, with enhancements like Peacock's color-coded tabs and Indent Rainbow's visual indentation, coding becomes both efficient and visually appealing. By incorporating these extensions into your workflow, you can boost productivity and streamline your coding experience. Explore them today and witness the transformation in your coding journey.