Introduction
Visual Studio Code is a popular choice among developers worldwide, especially those in India, due to its versatility and rich ecosystem of extensions. This article explores the top 5 VS Code extensions that every developer should consider using to boost productivity and improve their coding experience.
Prettier
Prettier is a code formatter that supports various languages. It helps in maintaining a consistent coding style by automatically formatting your code.
Why Use Prettier?
Consistency in style across a project is crucial, and Prettier helps achieve this effortlessly. It supports languages like JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS, and more.
Basic Setup
{ "editor.formatOnSave": true, "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"}ESLint
ESLint is an indispensable tool for JavaScript developers. It identifies and fixes problems in your JavaScript code.
Benefits of ESLint
Ensures code quality by enforcing coding standards and detecting potential errors early. It integrates seamlessly with Prettier.
Installation and Usage
npm install eslint --save-devBetter Comments
Better Comments helps in creating more human-friendly comments in your code files.
Types of Comments
- Highlights
- Queries
- TODOs
- Warnings
Features
Enhances readability and helps in quickly identifying the important parts of your code.
Live Server
Live Server provides a local development server with live reload feature for static and dynamic pages.
Advantages of Using Live Server
Instantaneous updates to your web project upon saving changes, which speeds up the development process significantly.
How to Start Live Server
Right-click any HTML file and select 'Open with Live Server'.GitLens
GitLens supercharges the built-in Git capabilities in VS Code. It provides insightful information about your code repository.
Key Features
- Code authorship visualization
- File history and a Git blame view
- Commit searching and comparison
Enhancing Collaboration
GitLens makes it easier to understand code changes and improves collaboration across distributed teams.
FAQs
What are the most popular VS Code extensions?
Some popular extensions include Prettier, ESLint, and GitLens due to their contributions to code formatting, quality, and version control.
How do I install an extension in VS Code?
Open the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window or via Ctrl+Shift+X, and then search for the desired extension.
Are these extensions free?
Yes, all the mentioned extensions like Prettier, ESLint, and Live Server are free to use.
Conclusion
Incorporating these extensions into your workflow can significantly boost your efficiency and quality of work. They cater to different aspects of development, from coding style and error checks to version control and live development.