I Didn't Want to Open Excel Just to Generate Sequential Numbers in VS Code

almiraj — Sat, 30 May 2026 02:03:00 +0000

While working in VS Code, I occasionally need sequential numbers.

Something like this:

user_001
user_002
user_003

Or test data for SQL:

INSERT INTO users(id, name, created_at)
VALUES(1, 'testA', '2026-05-28 10:00:00');

INSERT INTO users(id, name, created_at)
VALUES(2, 'testB', '2026-05-28 10:00:01');

INSERT INTO users(id, name, created_at)
VALUES(3, 'testC', '2026-05-28 10:00:02');

Of course, I could open Excel and use formulas.

But somehow that always felt wrong.

I was already in VS Code.
I wanted to stay in VS Code.

VS Code Is Surprisingly Weak at Sequential Numbers

There are workarounds.

You can use multiple cursors.
You can use find-and-replace tricks.
You can generate data elsewhere and paste it back.

None of them are particularly difficult.

They're just slightly inconvenient.

And if you work with SQL, CSV files, or test data regularly, those small inconveniences show up again and again.

So I Built a VS Code Extension

https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=almiraj.insert-numbers-ex

The extension inserts sequential numbers at multiple cursor positions.

For example:

It supports zero-padding and space-padding.

It also supports dates and times.

2026-12-31 23:59:58
2026-12-31 23:59:59
2027-01-01 00:00:00
2027-01-01 00:00:01

The alphabet, too.

a
b
c
d

Nothing revolutionary.

Just something I found myself wanting often enough.

My Goal Was Simplicity

There are already several extensions that solve similar problems.

Instead of adding more features, I focused on a few things:

Lightweight
Easy to understand
Easy to use immediately
Minimal configuration
Clear documentation

For small utility tools, I think simplicity matters more than feature count.

Reliability Matters

Text-editing extensions should behave predictably.

The extension includes automated tests covering common scenarios such as:

Multiple cursors
Zero-padding
Custom starting values
Repeated execution
Different input patterns

The functionality itself is intentionally small, which also helps keep behavior straightforward and predictable.

Special Sequence Numbers

You might even assign serial numbers like this.

A
A
A
B
B
B
C
C
C

Who Might Find This Useful?

If you regularly work with:

SQL scripts
CSV files
Test data generation
Bulk text editing

and prefer staying inside VS Code instead of switching tools, this might save you a few minutes every week.

Final Thoughts

This is not a flashy extension.

It's one of those small tools that removes a tiny bit of friction from everyday development.

Those are often my favorite kinds of tools.

DEV Community: almiraj