Three VS Code Extensions I Can't Live Without

Three VS Code Extensions I Can't Live Without

Introduction

A great code editor is a developer's best friend, and Visual Studio Code is my go-to. But what truly makes it powerful is its vast ecosystem of extensions. Over the years, I've tried dozens, but a few have become so essential to my workflow that I can't imagine coding without them.

Here are three extensions that have dramatically improved my productivity and coding experience.

1. GitLens — Supercharging Git

Git is powerful, but its command-line interface can be cumbersome for quickly understanding a file's history. GitLens solves this by embedding authorship information directly into your code. With a glance, you can see who last modified a line, when it was changed, and the associated commit message.

Its blame annotations and repository history navigation are game-changers for collaborating on a team or simply understanding the evolution of your own projects.

2. Prettier - Code Formatter

Clean, consistent code is non-negotiable. Prettier is an opinionated code formatter that enforces a consistent style by parsing your code and re-printing it with its own rules.

The best part? It can be configured to run automatically on save. This means I never have to waste another second manually formatting my code or arguing about style guides in a pull request. It’s a simple tool that saves an incredible amount of time and mental energy.

3. ESLint

While Prettier handles formatting, ESLint is a linter that analyzes your code to find and fix programming errors, bugs, and stylistic issues. It's like having a pair of expert eyes constantly reviewing your work.

Configured correctly in a project, it can catch everything from unused variables to potential null pointer exceptions before you even run your code. It's an indispensable tool for writing robust, high-quality JavaScript and TypeScript.

Conclusion

These three extensions are the foundation of my development environment. They automate the tedious parts of coding, allowing me to focus on what truly matters: solving problems and building great software.