If you spend a lot of time coding in Visual Studio Code, you know that every second saved adds up—fast. Over the years, I’ve discovered a handful of VS Code extensions that quietly turbocharge my productivity. These tools don't just make coding easier; they save me hours of work every week.
Here are the 5 extensions I swear by:
1. 🔍 GitLens – Supercharged Git
Why it saves time:
GitLens turns your editor into a Git powerhouse. It shows who, why, and when a line of code was changed directly in your editor. No more bouncing between terminal commands or external Git tools.
Killer features:
- Inline Git blame annotations
- Powerful Git history and repo insights
- File and line history at a glance
Time saved: Hunting down code origins and context is now nearly instant.
2. 💥 TabNine – AI Autocomplete
Why it saves time:
TabNine uses AI to predict your code completions far beyond traditional IntelliSense. It often finishes entire lines or even blocks of code for you.
Killer features:
- AI-powered suggestions based on your project
- Works in many languages (JS, Python, Go, etc.)
- Learns from your codebase
Time saved: Dozens of micro-keystrokes and context switches every session.
3. 🔧 Prettier – Code Formatter
Why it saves time:
Prettier eliminates arguments about code formatting and saves time spent manually fixing indentations or brackets.
Killer features:
- Auto-formats your code on save
- Consistent style across teams/projects
- Supports nearly every major language
Time saved: Forget about wasting time re-indenting or aligning code.
4. 🎯 Path Intellisense
Why it saves time:
This tiny plugin auto-completes filenames and paths as you type—especially helpful in large projects with deep folder structures.
Killer features:
- Auto-suggests file paths
- Reduces typos and guesswork
- Speeds up importing files/modules
Time saved: Every import becomes lightning fast—no more “where’s that file?” frustration.
5. 🧪 TODO Highlight
Why it saves time:
You write TODO comments… but never see them again. This plugin highlights TODOs and FIXMEs in bright colors, and even lets you search them project-wide.
Killer features:
- Custom highlighting for
TODO,FIXME, etc. - Quick panel to view all TODOs at once
- Great for solo or team development
Time saved: You never forget what needs fixing—and you stay organized.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Each of these extensions tackles a different kind of time-waster: from searching through files to writing repetitive code. Individually, they’re helpful. Together? They’re a productivity force multiplier.
If you’re spending more time navigating your tools than writing code, try installing these and feel the difference.
Have a go-to extension that you can’t live without? Drop it in the comments—I’m always on the hunt for more.
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