VS Code is one of the best and most popular editors in today’s world.
From my understanding, it becomes outstanding from tools in IT due to following reasons:
- Lightweight
- Cross Platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)
- High quality and multiple plugins
- Clean and simple UI
In this post, I put some plugins I have used in my day to day job, and improve my productivity.
Coding and Scripting Helper
TabNine
I have been used TabNine for a while, and it is become part of my working flow now. It is quite powerful and give good insight and improve productivity. However, it is still a bit different from XCode and Visual Studio suggestion. I think it is good enough and worth to try.
Code Runner
Code Runner is a plugin I recently found. I feel it is really helpful when I want to try some code snippet. Previously, I always use online code playground to test out my idea or assumption. With this plugin, I can simply use the VS Code to do all the work.
It is supper easy, set the language you want to run. And simple select the code, right click -> select “Run Code” Or Use Ctrl+Alt+N, the result will shows in output.
Performance
Import Cost
Import Cost is a plugin helping you understand the size of bundle you imported in your JS file.
file-size
file-size is a plugin showing current file size. It is helpful when you want to know the size of file or strings.
Git
GitLens
GitLens is one of the best plugins for Git in VS Code. Git is the most popular and common tools devs using today. GitLens really helps you understand what happens within the code.
I really like it can give you hint on line by line on the author and date change of the code.
Documentation and Comments
Code Spell Checker
Code Spell Checker is a plugin help spelling in code and document.
Markdown All in One
Markdown All in One is a plugin for Markdown. Markdown is a good and simple language used to create documents.
Markdown All in One is a plugin helping writing Markdown in VS Code.
Bookmarks
Bookmarks is a plugin that you can set bookmark in file, so that you can come back at any time. 😉
Better Comments
Want you code comments more colourful ? Better Comments is here. It having highlight, alert, todo and query to present on comments.
Todo Tree
Todo Tree is a plugin to manage TODO comments in code repo. It is a good habit to resolve all TODO before building the PR. :)
Navigation
Camel Case Navigation
Camel Case is one of popular way to naming variables and functions within programming. I used CTRL+-> a lot to quick navigating throw the code. However, I sometime feel difficult to go into the word to change, as VS Code treat the camel case word as whole word. Using Camel Case Navigation, I can go into the middle of the word and make the change using CTRL+->. Feeling Awesome.
Text and Data Processing
JSON Parse & Stringify
Today, we are heavily working with Non-SQL DB and RESTful API, JSON is one of the most common data structure we are dealing with everyday. JSON Parse & Stringify is a plugin to stringify or parse JSON data.
Using online free tools, it has the risk to expose sensitive information within data. This plugin avoid the situation that you need some manipulation on JSON and JSON string.
vscode-base64
Base64 encoding and decoding is another translating we used a lot as developers. For example, HTTP Base Authentication requires both username and password need to be encoded to base64. vscode-base64 is a plugin that can do the job.
jwt-decoder
JSON Web Tokens(JWT) is used to represent claims between two parities. jwt-decoder can decode the JWT, and give more info on the token real content.
Other Tooling
Remote Development
Remote Development is something that you can visual the ambition of MS for VS Code. As we are moving towards Cloud today, software development is also moving to Cloud. I am using this feature to work on this post which is located in my WSL system, and it is perfectly feeling like working in the same system. Highly recommended.
REST Client
REST Client, a replacement for POST Man. I don’t know if anyone having a bit trouble using POST Man some time, this is a plugin that can work with APIs. The pro of this is easier to manage multiple endpoints and easily share if the team is using it. I am still trying to find a way to integrate this one into my workflow.
Setting Sync
Setting Sync is a plugin that can be used to share and maintain the settings of VS Code, I haven’t used this one yet, but I am going to try and find out if it is good.
Themes
VSCode Great Icon
VSCode Great Icon, icon shows in explorer. I like this one with the simplicity.
Ayu
Ayu is a theme I am currently using. I feel dark mode making me exhausted after a while working and reading. I am using Ayu light, and so far, I am enjoy it.