5 VS Code Extensions That Actually Speed Up My Workflow

#webdev #vscode #productivity #beginners

Let's be honest — there are thousands of VS Code extensions out there, and most "top extensions" lists include the same obvious picks.

Today I want to share 5 extensions that genuinely changed how I code. These aren't just "nice to have" — they save me real time every single day.

1. Error Lens

What it does: Displays errors and warnings inline, right next to your code.
Instead of hovering over red squiggles or checking the Problems panel, you see the error message immediately.

const user = { name: "Alex" };
console.log(user.age); // Error: Property 'age' does not exist on type...

The error appears right there on the same line. No extra clicks.
Why I love it: I catch typos and type errors instantly. It feels like having a second pair of eyes.

🔗 Error Lens on Marketplace

2. Auto Rename Tag

What it does: When you rename an HTML/JSX opening tag, it automatically renames the closing tag.

Before:

<div>Content</div>
<!-- You change "div" to "section"... -->
<!-- Now you have to manually find and change </div> too -->

After (with extension):

<section>Content</section>
<!-- Both tags update simultaneously -->

Why I love it: Sounds small, but in React/Vue components with nested elements, this saves dozens of manual edits per day.

🔗 Auto Rename Tag on Marketplace

3. GitLens

What it does: Shows who changed each line of code, when, and why — right inside the editor.
Hover over any line and see:

The commit message
The author
How long ago it was changed

// You see a weird piece of code and wonder "why is this here?"
// GitLens shows: "Fixed edge case for empty arrays" — John, 3 months ago

Why I love it: Perfect for understanding legacy code or figuring out why something was written a certain way. No need to open GitHub or run git blame manually.

🔗 GitLens on Marketplace

4. Prettier

What it does: Automatically formats your code on save.
Tabs vs spaces? Semicolons or not? Single or double quotes? Prettier handles it all with zero effort.

Before save:

const data={name:"test",value:42,active:true}

After save:

const data = {
  name: "test",
  value: 42,
  active: true,
};

Why I love it: I stopped thinking about formatting entirely. Just write code, hit save, done.
Pro tip: Add a .prettierrc file to your project so the whole team uses the same style:

{
  "semi": true,
  "singleQuote": false,
  "tabWidth": 2
}

🔗 Prettier on Marketplace

5. Todo Tree

What it does: Finds all TODO, FIXME, BUG comments in your codebase and displays them in a sidebar tree.

// TODO: Add error handling here
// FIXME: This breaks on mobile
// BUG: Returns null for empty input

All these comments are collected in one place. Click on any item — jump straight to that line.
Why I love it: I actually remember to fix things now. Before this extension, my TODOs just disappeared into the void.

🔗 Todo Tree on Marketplace

Bonus Tip

Don't install 50 extensions at once. Add them one by one, use each for a week, and keep only what actually helps.
A cluttered VS Code is a slow VS Code.

What extensions do you use daily? Drop them in the comments — I'm always looking for new tools to try!