You’ve downloaded VS Code, ah, wonderful, you’ve made a fresh start. Everything seems to be running smoothly, doesn’t it? At first, it feels like this. Sometimes you even think, “Well, I can handle this, why do I need extensions?” Of course, everything looks very simple and understandable at the beginning. However, as projects grow, those “simple” things can suddenly become a mountain of complexity. That’s when VS Code’s fantastic extension world comes to the rescue. People say, “solutions to every problem,” and I can tell you, VS Code extensions are exactly that for me.
By the way, I remember the days when I installed VS Code and started coding directly, it felt like diving into an ocean. Doing everything manually was exhausting and time-consuming. There were so many repetitive tasks that I would sometimes ask myself, “Is this really how it should be done?” Then I noticed everyone around me had set up something, added something. I said, “Alright, I’ll take a shot at this.” And I’m glad I did, honestly it made my life much easier.
Now I will mention some essential extensions I love using with VS Code. These aren’t complicated or requiring expertise; quite the opposite, they are very easy for beginners and will significantly simplify your work. They’re like reinventing VS Code itself. Each one is an expert in its own field and saves you time, reduces errors, and makes coding much more enjoyable. Sometimes you forget something, and these extensions fill those gaps perfectly.
Code Writing Facilitators
Firstly, the part where we spend most of our time is the editor section of VS Code. There are extensions to make this more useful. For example, “Prettier”. This extension automatically formats your code. If you accidentally place something in the wrong spot, it corrects it immediately. Indents, spaces, parentheses… Everything becomes perfect. So, there’s no need to wonder, “Where did I put this parenthesis?” It’s a real life saver. My own code used to be mediocre, but thanks to Prettier, they look visually perfect now.
There’s also “ESLint.” This extension mainly works for JavaScript and similar languages, but generally improves code quality. It catches potential errors, style inconsistencies in your code. They say it’s like having a “sharp-eyed” companion, and ESLint is exactly that. Sometimes you overlook a mistake, but ESLint catches it immediately. This makes your code cleaner, more readable, and less error-prone. Isn’t that great?
Have you ever gotten tired of repeating the same thing over and over while coding? For example, creating a component and inserting headers, and rewriting the same stuff each time. That’s when “Live Server” comes into play. This extension instantly displays your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files in your browser live. When you make a change, the page automatically refreshes. You don’t need to manually refresh the page after every change. It saves you an incredible amount of time. Sometimes I find it hard to visualize how my code will look in the browser, but thanks to Live Server, that problem is gone.
Visual and User Experience Enhancers
Now, how about extensions that beautify VS Code and make it easier to use? As you know, VS Code is already quite stylish, but themes can take this elegance to the next level. One of my favorites is “Dracula Official”. Its colors are very pleasant and easy on the eyes, especially when working at night. There’s also “One Dark Pro,” which is very popular and looks nice. These themes do not just beautify the appearance but also enhance code readability. Sometimes you pick a color palette that burdens your eyes, but in these themes, it’s not like that.
There’s also “Material Icon Theme.” This extension changes the icons for your files and folders. For instance, a JavaScript file will have one icon, a CSS file another, and so on. This allows you to understand what each file does at a glance, making your workspace much more intuitive. I think this small but effective detail makes VS Code even more user-friendly. Sometimes, you open and close many folders trying to find what you need, but these icons reduce that hassle.
If you ever need to recall an API or document something, “Path Intellisense” can help. This extension suggests auto-completions for file paths as you type. When you start typing a file path, VS Code shows the existing files and folders. It minimizes errors and saves time. I remember when I first used this extension, I thought, “Wow!” It’s truly practical.
Beyond Coding, But Very Useful
Writing code is not all there is to this work. Sometimes you need to use the terminal or connect with other programs. In these cases, extensions that support VS Code’s native terminal features or extend them are available. For example, “GitLens.” If you use Git, this extension brings all its power inside VS Code. You can see who wrote which line and when, and examine changes in more detail. I think every Git user should install this. Recently, I checked a GitHub repository, and there was a feature showing who added what and when — that’s probably a GitLens feature. Isn’t that great?
There are also extensions like “Remote – SSH” that make the internal terminal of VS Code more functional or extend its capabilities. With this, you can connect to a remote server from your computer and code as if you’re on that server. This is especially useful for server management or remote deployment. They say, “the remote computer is at your fingertips,” and this extension does exactly that. Initially, I found it a bit complicated, but after a few attempts, I understood the logic and found it very useful. I even used it when testing on my own server. I don’t remember the exact price, but I think it was around 15-20 Euros per month.
Finally, to personalize VS Code further, you might want to try “Code Spell Checker.” This extension checks spelling mistakes in your code and markdown files. Yes, it’s like a grammar checker but works for texts inside your code. This prevents unnecessary typos and mistakes inside your code. Sometimes, I mentioned my code fails in class due to simple errors, but with this extension, the chances of encountering such mistakes decrease. Overall, these extensions will make your VS Code experience richer and more productive. They are constantly updated with new features, which is the best part. This list is just a start, and you can explore new extensions according to your needs. Isn’t that great?