You know that moment when you open VS Code, and it feels… empty? Like something’s missing? You’ve got the clean blue interface, the blinking cursor, and a head full of code, but somehow, the spark isn’t there.
You’ve probably been there too. When you first start coding, your VS Code setup is bare bones: no extensions, no themes, no productivity boosters. You find yourself constantly hopping between browsers, terminals, and documentation just to get basic things done.
Then one day, you install a few VS Code extensions… and everything changes. Suddenly, your editor feels smarter. Code formats itself, Git commits make sense, API testing happens right inside VS Code, and your workflow becomes 10× faster.
Today, I’ll run you through the 10 best VS Code extensions. Real, battle-tested tools that’ll make coding faster, cleaner, and (dare I say it?) more fun. If your goal is to boost VS Code productivity, clean up your JavaScript, or simply make your IDE work smarter (not harder), these extensions are exactly what you need.
Why the Right VS Code Extensions Matter
Let’s be real, installing too many extensions can turn your smooth VS Code into a laggy mess. But having too few limits your efficiency and creativity.
That’s why this list is curated from real-world coding experience, not random marketplace picks. These are the ones that developers actually use, daily tools that quietly (and reliably) make your coding life better.
Extension #1: Prettier — Code Formatting That Saves Your Sanity
What it does: Automatically formats your code on save.
Why it’s awesome: Prettier ensures your codebase looks clean and consistent, no more team arguments about tabs vs. spaces. It works across languages like JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, and more.
Pro Tip: Pair Prettier with ESLint for a truly flawless coding experience. Your future self (and your teammates) will thank you.
Extension #2: ESLint — Your Code’s Best Friend
What it does: Lints your JavaScript and TypeScript code to catch potential issues.
Why it’s awesome: ESLint doesn’t just find bugs, it enforces consistency and prevents bad habits before they sneak into production.
Pro Tip: Enable “Auto Fix on Save” to have ESLint correct minor issues automatically. Combine it with Prettier, and your codebase will look like it came straight out of a style guide.
Extension #3: GitLens — Become a Git Detective
What it does: Enhances VS Code’s built-in Git capabilities.
Why it’s awesome: With GitLens, you can see who changed what and why with inline blame annotations. It’s like having X-ray vision for your Git history.
Pro Tip: Use the “Commit Graph” view to visualize branches and merges, perfect for keeping your repo under control.
Extension #4: Auto Rename Tag — HTML’s Little Miracle
What it does: Automatically renames the closing tag when you rename the opening tag (and vice versa).
Why it’s awesome: Perfect for front-end developers. No more hunting for mismatched <div>s or </span>s at 2 a.m.
Pro Tip: Combine this with the HTML CSS Support extension to make your markup and styles dance in perfect sync.
Extension #5: Path Intellisense — Never Type a File Path Wrong Again
What it does: Auto-completes filenames as you type import or require statements.
Why it’s awesome: It saves hours of debugging those annoying “file not found” errors caused by typos.
Pro Tip: Works beautifully in large projects where remembering every directory path is nearly impossible.
Extension #6: Error Lens — Bring Errors Front and Center
What it does: Highlights errors and warnings directly in your code instead of hiding them in the Problems panel.
Why it’s awesome: You see issues instantly, no tab switching needed. It’s like having a personal code reviewer right inside your editor.
Pro Tip: Customize colors for errors and warnings to suit your theme, especially if you’re rocking a dark mode setup.
Extension #7: Bracket Pair Colorizer 2 — Make Brackets Beautiful Again
What it does: Colors matching brackets, parentheses, and braces so they’re easy to spot.
Why it’s awesome: Nested code? No problem. You’ll never get lost in a sea of curly braces again.
Pro Tip: Adjust the colors in your settings to match your favorite theme for a consistent (and stylish) look.
Extension #8: REST Client — Test APIs Without Leaving VS Code
What it does: Let's you send HTTP requests directly from VS Code.
Why it’s awesome: Say goodbye to switching between VS Code and Postman. You can test APIs, inspect responses, and debug right where you write code.
Pro Tip: Store commonly used API calls in .http files for quick testing. Or, if you prefer a GUI, try Thunder Client; it’s equally awesome.
Extension #9: CodeSnap — Share Beautiful Code Snippets
What it does: Captures code snippets as clean, shareable images.
Why it’s awesome: Whether you’re creating tutorials, tweeting code samples, or documenting snippets, CodeSnap makes your code look gorgeous.
Pro Tip: Combine it with custom themes like Night Owl or Dracula for visually stunning code screenshots.
Extension #10: Todo Tree — Never Lose a TODO Again
What it does: Scans your entire project for TODO, FIXME, or custom tags and displays them in a neat sidebar.
Why it’s awesome: Perfect for tracking what’s left to do without cluttering your main workspace.
Pro Tip: Configure custom tags like @bug or @note to categorize tasks and stay organized during big projects.
3 Extensions You Should Uninstall
Live Server Reload+: It was fun until it started eating up RAM like a snack. The native Live Preview in VS Code now does the same thing faster.
Material Icon Theme: Looks great, but slowed startup noticeably. Switched to vscode-icons for better performance.
Tabnine AI Autocomplete: Cool concept, but the constant auto-suggestions felt overwhelming. Sometimes simplicity wins.
These removals taught me something crucial: productivity isn’t about having the most extensions, it’s about having the right ones.
Bonus tip: if you regularly handle data in your projects, tools like the Heatmap Generator can give you quick insights without writing a single line of charting code.
Each of these tools brings a small but mighty improvement to your workflow: cleaner code, faster navigation, and fewer headaches.
But here’s the real takeaway: don’t just install everything at once. Try one or two, see how they fit your workflow, and build your personal “dev toolkit” over time.
In my opinion, Prettier + GitLens will change the game for you. But you might fall in love with REST Client or Error Lens, and that’s the beauty of VS Code: it adapts to you.
Top comments (2)
These plugins don't instantly make you a "10 times developer", and of course you know that - but you also know that this kind of article title is guaranteed to generate clicks & views ;-)
Thanks for sharing this helpful list!
Just a small note — Bracket Pair Colorizer 2 is currently deprecated.