23 Best VS Code Extensions For Developers

Visual Studio Code, also known as VS Code, is one of the most popular code editors used by developers today. As an open-source code editor developed and maintained by Microsoft, VS Code provides extensive features like Git integration, intelligent code completion, and syntax highlighting. It is also a cross-platform editor available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

To boost productivity for software development projects, developers can utilize some of the best VS Code extensions covered in this article. Out of the box, VS Code offers fantastic capabilities for editing source code and web pages. However, as a developer, you may require more functionalities from this lightweight integrated development environment (IDE).

The VS Code Marketplace is the go-to hub for all kinds of extensions. Read on to discover some of the best VS Code extensions you can use in your web or Windows application development projects.

Why VS Code Extensions Are Useful

Primarily, VS Code extensions help enhance the editor‘s usability for various software development and application development projects. If your project requires any specific functionality lacking in VS Code, you can search the Marketplace for an extension.

Additionally, extensions assist in improving productivity for your application development team. You can prevent common mistakes during coding using intelligent code completion extensions.

Moreover, there are sophisticated extension pack installers that can help import repositories from package hosting sites for your DevOps projects. In short, extensions allow you to transform VS Code into a full-fledged IDE.

Now let‘s explore some of the top VS Code extensions.

Live Server

Live Server is one of the most popular VS Code extensions with over 30 million downloads. As the name suggests, Live Server launches a local development server on your machine and lets you view changes in real-time as you edit your code.

Instead of having to manually refresh your browser each time you edit code, Live Server automates the process so you can see updates instantly.

Key Features

• Cross-browser testing: You can use LiveServer with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge and more.

• Selective file tracking: You can choose which files to track in LiveServer.

• Works with any HTTP technology: LiveServer works with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, JavaScript frameworks like Angular, Vue and React.

You can install the extension by searching "live server" in the Marketplace. Note there are several extensions with the same name, so opt for the one with high ratings and downloads.

REST Client

This VS Code extension allows developers to send HTTP requests and receive responses right inside the editor. The most popular REST Client extension has over 3 million downloads.

Key Features

• Varied authentication support: REST Client supports Digest Auth, Basic Auth, Azure Active Directory, SSL Client Certificates, AWS Signature v4.

• Supports multiple requests: Use ### delimiter to compose different requests in one file.

• Remembers cookies: REST Client stores cookies to easily execute subsequent requests.

• Allows system variables: Insert variables into URLs, headers, and request body.

REST Client works with any language with HTTP request capabilities.

Image Optimizer

Visual elements like images make websites more appealing. Image Optimizer provides tools to optimize JPEG, PNG and GIF files.

The extension can do both lossless (compress without losing info) and lossy compression (some original data is lost).

Key Features

• Batch optimization: Manually select or choose entire folders to optimize images in batch.

• Configurable settings: Determine compression levels on images.

• Image preview: See all images before accepting changes.

• Integration with builds: Optimize images as part of build process before deploying to production.

Image Optimizer works for any project involving images, regardless of programming language.

GitHub

GitHub is the most popular platform for hosting, tracking, managing and collaborating on code. The GitHub VS Code extension allows managing code, tracking changes and collaborating seamlessly.

Key Features

• Easy GitHub connection: Use the Team Explorer button to connect VS Code to GitHub. Supports two-factor authentication.

• GitHub Explorer: Manage and navigate repositories from the tree view.

• Pull request management: View, create and manage pull requests.

• Code review: View history, comment on changes and compare file versions.

• Issue management: View and manage issues directly within VS Code.

The GitHub extension is only available for Visual Studio 2017 and later.

PostSharp

PostSharp is an extension that allows writing cleaner, shorter code. It offers common .NET patterns to help automate your own patterns.

Key Features

• Aspect-oriented programming: Uses System.Reflection API to validate code at build time.

• PostSharp Logging: Add extensive, customizable logging to applications.

• PostSharp Caching: Integrates with Redis and MemoryCache for caching methods.

• PostSharp Threading: Helps manage multithreading at right abstraction levels. Detects deadlocks and reduces complexity.

PostSharp offers a free Essentials version with commercial options.

Visual Assist

Visual Assist is a productivity tool for code generation, navigation, refactoring and coding assistance. Designed for C/C++ and C#, it also supports Python, JavaScript, and VB.

Key Features

• Code generation: Use commands like Create from Usage, Implement Interface/Virtual Methods, Add Missing Case Statements.

• Code refactoring: Rename, Change Signature, Encapsulate Field, Introduce Variable, etc.

• Easy navigation: Quickly navigate your project with Open File in Solution and Find Symbol in Solution.

Visual Assist offers a free 30-day trial. After the trial expires, some features are disabled until you purchase a license starting at $249 per user.

CodeMaid

CodeMaid cleans up and simplifies code with support for JavaScript, HTML, CSS, TypeScript, PHP, C#, C, C++, and JSON.

Key Features

• Code cleaning: Removes unwanted whitespace and lines of code.

• Code reorganizing: Reformat code to match your preferences or StyleCop conventions.

• Code visualization: Tree view provides hierarchy for easy navigation.

• Comment formatting: Format comments for readability.

CodeMaid is open source and currently supports VS 2019 and VS 2022.

GitLens

GitLens helps better understand code by showing when and why lines or blocks were changed.

Key Features

• Robust code history: Extensive git blame information.

• Code lens: Adds test status, references, and other useful info.

• Blame annotations: See who last modified code.

• Repository navigation: Switch branches without leaving editor.

GitLens is free software but some features require a license purchase. Works with any Git repository regardless of language.

Giflens

Giflens allows visualizing, exploring, and navigating GIF assets. Hover over GifLens tags to visualize.

Key Features

• GIF preview: View GIFs directly within VS Code.

• Speed control: Customize playback speed.

• Multiple GIF support: Open multiple GIFs to compare.

Giflens is free and can be used with any code file containing GIFs.

Docker

The Docker VS Code extension simplifies building, managing and deploying containerized applications. With robust features to work with Docker containers, images, and registries directly within VS Code.

Key Features

• Edit Docker files: Benefit from syntax help and autocompletion.

• Docker explorer: Manage and examine Docker assets like volumes, networks, containers, and images.

• Powerful CLI commands: Manage networks, volumes, registries, images, and Docker Compose.

• Docker Compose support: Tab completion and IntelliSense for docker-compose.yml files.

Docker is free and open source. Great for web and server-side development using any language.

VsVim

VsVim targets developers familiar with Vim by bringing Vim emulation to VS Code. Vim is a popular command-line based text editor common with sysadmins and developers.

Key Features

• Vim emulation: Execute Vim commands within VS Code.

• Multi-cursor support: Make the same edit at multiple locations.

• Highly customizable: Disable specific Vim commands.

• Visual mode: Text manipulation and selection like Vim.

VsVim is free and not tied to any specific language. Works with all VS Code file types.

Settings Sync

The Settings Sync extension synchronizes settings, snippets, themes, keyboard shortcuts, and extensions across machines using GitHub Gist.

Key Features

• Cloud storage: Store settings and sync them across devices.

• Automatic sync: Changes automatically propagate across devices.

• GitHub integration: Store settings on a public or private GitHub repository.

Settings Sync is free and works with files created in any programming language.

Remote – SSH

The Remote – SSH VS Code extension lets you use any remote computer with SSH as your IDE. Greatly enhances troubleshooting and development in various situations.

Key Features

• Develop on a powerful remote workstation from your local computer.

• Switch seamlessly between dev environments without impacting local performance.

• Collaborate on the same IDE from multiple remote machines.

No need to deploy source code locally. Runs commands and extensions directly on the remote host.

Prettier

To enforce consistent code style across projects, try the Prettier extension.

Key Features

• Opinionated code formatter.

• Integrates with many editors.

• Avoids debates around styling conventions.

• Saves time and energy.

Prettier can clean up and reformat inconsistent existing codebases.

npm

For JavaScript projects, npm provides package management support. Use npm in VS Code like other IDEs.

This Microsoft-developed extension has over 5 million installs.

Project Manager

For managing multiple VS Code projects, Project Manager provides easy access regardless of location.

Save any folder or workspace as a project. Tag projects for organization. Easily identify renamed or deleted projects.

Project Manager has over 2 million installs.

SonarLint

SonarLint is a free extension that catches bugs and security vulnerabilities as you code. It highlights issues and provides clear resolution guidance to fix code before committing. Supports analysis for Java, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP, C#, C/C++, and more.

Stylelint

Stylelint is a code linter that flags errors, bugs, and suspicious patterns. It enforces code style conventions to avoid sloppy code. Supports CSS, SCSS, Less, and more.

Key Features

• Plugin support for custom rules.

• 170+ built-in rules covering modern CSS.

• Automatically fixes some issues.

Stylelint has over 700K installs according to VS Marketplace.

CSS Peek

CSS Peek lets you preview CSS code from HTML files on hover instead of toggling between files.

It also makes IDs and classes clickable links to quickly jump to their definitions. CSS Peek has over 3 million installs.

Polacode

Polacode enables creating beautiful code screenshots to share your work. Keeps existing VS Code themes and fonts. Just arranges code snippets nicely.

Use commands like polacode.shadow, polacode.backgroundColor to customize appearance. Drag the handle to resize.

Import Cost

The Import Cost extension displays the size of imported third party libraries inline. Uses webpack to determine file sizes.

Key Features

• Shows entire library import size.

• Size for default imports.

• Works with JavaScript and TypeScript.

This extension has over 1 million installs.

Path Intellisense

When working with multiple project files, Path Intellisense autocompletes filenames to avoid typos and memorizing long names.

It instantly suggests files matching the letters you type. Can also show hidden files.

JavaScript Debugger

JavaScript Debugger is a debug adapter protocol based debugger for JavaScript. Supports Chrome, Node.js, Edge, VS Code extensions and more.

This open-source extension from Microsoft has over 600K installs. Use it freely for commercial or non-commercial development.

Final Thoughts

In this post, we covered some of the top VS Code extensions to boost your productivity and streamline development workflows. Depending on your project needs, you can install any of these useful VS Code add-ons.

This comprehensive list of the best VS Code extensions will save you time otherwise spent searching. Now you can invest more time into your projects since you know which extensions to use.

You may also want to look at some of the best IDEs programmers should know.