Hey Devs! 👋
I’ve been using VSCode for a while now, and there are a few shortcuts I just can't live without. These simple key combos have saved me hours of frustration (and kept my fingers from getting too tired 😅). Here are my top 5 favorites:
1. CTRL + Left/Right Arrow
This one is a game changer for quickly navigating through words in your code. Instead of holding down the arrow key or awkwardly using the mouse, just press CTRL + Left/Right Arrow to jump word-by-word. It’s so much faster and makes scrolling through your code feel like a breeze. 🌬️
2. ALT + Up/Down Arrow
Need to move a block of code up or down without cutting/pasting it everywhere? ALT + Up/Down Arrow lets you shift lines or entire selections of code up or down with just a press of a button. This is super helpful when you’re reordering things or organizing your code. 🔄
3. CTRL + X (Cut)
Now, this one is pretty basic, but trust me, it’s one of those shortcuts I constantly use. CTRL + X is my go-to when I need to cut a piece of code and move it around. I don’t just use it for deletions — I cut and paste code around, re-organize my functions, or even move sections of code between files. 💻✂️
4. CTRL + P
When I need to quickly search for a file, CTRL + P is my best friend. It brings up the quick file search, letting me type part of the file name and jump straight to it in seconds. If you’re working on a project with lots of files, this shortcut is a massive time-saver. 🏃♂️💨
5. CTRL + G
Jumping to a specific line number is so simple with CTRL + G. Just hit it, type the line number, and boom — you’re right there. It’s perfect for debugging or when you’re trying to quickly navigate between lines of code you need to reference. 🔍
Honorable Mentions ✨
CTRL + SHIFT + F (Search in Files)
This one is a lifesaver when you need to search for something in your entire project. Whether it’s a function, variable, or even a specific word, CTRL + SHIFT + F will search across all your files. It’s like having Google search inside your codebase. 🧑💻🔍
CTRL + ` (Toggle Terminal)
If you're like me and constantly switching between code and terminal commands, CTRL + ` (the backtick key) will open and close the terminal without breaking your flow. Super useful when you're running scripts, testing stuff, or just need to see the output without losing focus. 🎮🖥️
If you’re not using these shortcuts already, give them a try — they’ll seriously save you so much time! ⏳
What shortcuts do you swear by in VSCode? Let me know in the comments!👇
Happy coding! 🎉
Top comments (3)
The times I've used VSCode I've enabled the Vim keys plugin so I get to do things the way I like :)
Us old-timers knew about most of this before GUI's were a thing :O
The first 3 were why I still use keyboard over mouse while developing.
Free programming codes:
programmingforbegin.blogspot.com/