Recommended essential extensions that double VS Code coding speed

The five VS Code extensions worth installing first are Prettier, Auto Rename Tag, Code Spell Checker, Live Server and GitLens: they automate formatting, tag editing, spell checking, browser refreshes and Git history lookups. VS Code (Visual Studio Code) is loved by working developers and coding beginners alike, not only for its lightness but for its vast ecosystem of extensions built by developers around the world.

Which VS Code extension formats code automatically? Prettier - Code formatter

Prettier formats your code every time you save a file. Developers have to care about indentation and spacing, and Prettier arranges code consistently according to preset rules (quote style, indentation width, etc.). It is the number one essential install, reducing the time spent matching coding conventions to nearly zero.

How do you rename matching HTML tags at once? Auto Rename Tag

Auto Rename Tag changes the closing tag automatically when you edit the opening tag. It is especially useful for HTML or React (JSX): rename the starting tag (e.g. <div>) and the ending tag (</div>) changes to match, so you no longer have to go back and fix the second tag by hand.

How do you catch typos in variable names? Code Spell Checker

Code Spell Checker underlines English spelling errors in code with a curly line. Typos in code can be embarrassing and can even cause serious bugs when searching for variable names. The extension understands programming naming conventions such as camelCase, so it checks words inside identifiers correctly.

How do you see web changes without refreshing? Live Server

Live Server re-renders the page in your browser the moment you save HTML, CSS or JS, with no need to press refresh (F5). It is highly recommended for anyone studying web front-end development, and keeping the browser open on a second monitor makes the workflow even more efficient.

Who wrote this line of code? GitLens — Git supercharged

GitLens shows 'when', 'who' and 'in which commit' each line of code was written, in faint text right inside the editor. It is a must if you use Git: when a bug appears during collaboration, it makes finding the person responsible(?) or understanding the history of a change very convenient.

Summary

VS Code extensions are powerful tools that can be added and removed as needed. Use the five introduced here to make your coding environment more comfortable! 💻✨