Let’s be honest.
We all have that one folder in our brain (and our VS Code sidebar) full of extensions we installed three years ago and completely forgot about.
But as a Senior Developer, I don't want more tools. I want better tools. I want extensions that stay out of my way until I need them, and then save me 30 minutes of debugging in 30 seconds.
In 2026, our workflows are faster and more AI-driven than ever. Here are the 5 VS Code extensions that have earned a permanent spot in my setup this year.
1. Error Lens 🔍
If you install only one extension from this list, make it this one.
By default, VS Code puts a tiny red squiggly line under your errors. You have to hover over it, wait for the popup, and read the tiny text. Error Lens takes that error message and prints it right next to the line of code in your editor.
Why I love it: It makes bugs impossible to ignore. It forces you to fix syntax errors immediately, rather than letting them pile up until compile time.
Pro Tip: It also works great with linters (ESLint), so you see "Missing semicolon" instantly.
2. GitLens — Git Supercharged ⚡
Okay, this is a classic, but in 2026, it is non-negotiable for professional work.
GitLens gives you "X-Ray vision" into your code. The killer feature? Current Line Blame. As soon as you click a line of code, it shows you:
- Who wrote it.
- When they wrote it.
- The commit message associated with it.
Why I love it: It stops me from asking "Who wrote this garbage?" only to realize... it was me, 6 months ago. 😅
3. Pretty TypeScript Errors 💅
If you work with TypeScript, you know the pain. You make a mistake, and VS Code throws a generic error that looks like a wall of unreadable JSON text.
Pretty TypeScript Errors formats those complex type errors into human-readable, syntax-highlighted blocks.
Why I love it: It turns Type 'String' is not assignable to type '{ id: number; name: string; }' into a clear visual breakdown. It saves so much mental energy when debugging complex generic types.
4. Console Ninja 🥷
How many times have you written console.log(data), switched to your browser, opened DevTools, refreshed the page, and filtered the console?
Console Ninja displays your console.log output right inside your VS Code editor, next to the log statement.
_Why I love it: _It keeps me in the "Flow State." I don't have to context-switch to the browser just to check if a variable is null.
5. Todo Tree 🌳
As a Senior Dev, I often leave notes for myself (or my team) like:
- // TODO: Refactor this later
- // FIXME: This crashes on empty input
Todo Tree scans your entire workspace for these tags and puts them into a neat explorer tree in your sidebar.
_Why I love it: _It prevents "Technical Debt" from becoming "Technical Mystery." Before I push a PR, I check the tree to make sure I didn't leave any critical FIXME items behind.
Honorable Mention: The AI Assistant 🤖
Whether you use GitHub Copilot or Codeium, having an AI pair programmer is standard in 2026. I use it mostly for writing unit tests and generating boilerplate documentation. It’s not magic, but it’s a massive time-saver.
What’s in your extensions.json?
These are my "Big 5," but I’m always looking to optimize. What is the one VS Code extension you absolutely cannot code without? Drop it in the comments below! 👇
Happy Coding!
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