Visual Studio Code extensions for Javascript developers

Recommended Visual studio code extensions for Javascript developers

Alemoh Rapheal B. Enike
7 min readJun 15, 2022

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In this article, we’ll be looking at awesome vscode extensions for Javascript developers.

Vscode is a free open-source text editing tool by Microsoft with support for developing applications using different programming languages. It has built-in Git functionality.

Install extensions to add new languages, themes, and debuggers, and connect to additional services. Extensions run in separate processes, ensuring they won’t slow down your editor.

It has a desktop app for Windows, Linux and macOS. Find out more about Vscode

Vscode is one of the best editors a developer should’ve.

The following are a few amongst many extensions out there to smoothen your development experience in building Javascript apps.

ES lint

Is a linting extension tool that automatically checks and analyzes codes for syntax, semantics, bugs, programmatic and stylistic errors and raises a flag. It ensures the codes are following the javascript standard guidelines. This is useful as it helps to inform and/or fix errors that will occur. This extension can be customized.

The extension uses the ESLint library installed in the opened workspace folder. If the folder doesn’t provide one the extension looks for a global install version. If you haven’t installed ESLint either locally or globally do so by running npm install eslint in the workspace folder for a local install or npm install -g eslint for a global install.

On new folders you might also need to create a .eslintrc configuration file. You can do this by either using the VS Code command Create ESLint configuration or by running the eslint command in a terminal. If you have installed ESLint globally (see above) then run eslint — init in a terminal. If you have installed ESLint locally then run .\node_modules.bin\eslint — init under Windows and ./node_modules/.bin/eslint — init under Linux and Mac.

Quokka.js

Quokka.js is a developer productivity tool for rapid JavaScript / TypeScript prototyping. Runtime values are updated and displayed in your IDE next to your code, as you type.

Babel JavaScript

JavaScript syntax highlighting for ES201x, React JSX, Flow and GraphQL.

I highly recommend using this syntax highlighting with a theme that supports it.

Visual Studio IntelliCode

The Visual Studio IntelliCode extension provides AI-assisted development features for Python, TypeScript/JavaScript and Java developers in Visual Studio Code, with insights based on understanding your code context combined with machine learning.

JavaScript (ES6) code snippets

This extension contains code snippets for JavaScript in ES6 syntax for Vs Code editor (supports both JavaScript and TypeScript).

VS Code JavaScript Booster

Make your life easier, use code actions to do repetitive tasks for you! They can help a lot, just follow the light bulb 💡!

This VS Code extension provides various code actions (quick fixes) when editing code in JavaScript (or TypeScript/Flow). Just note the light bulb at the left and press it to learn how you can transform the code under the cursor.

Path Intellisense

Visual Studio Code plugin that autocompletes filenames.

Live server

Launch a local development server with live reload feature for static & dynamic pages.

REST Client

REST Client allows you to send HTTP request and view the response in Visual Studio Code directly.

Super cool extension for developers building APIs for frontend application

Main Features

  • Send/Cancel/Rerun HTTP request in editor and view response in a separate pane with syntax highlight
  • Send GraphQL query and author GraphQL variables in editor
  • Send cURL command in editor and copy HTTP request as cURL command
  • Auto save and view/clear request history
  • Organize MULTIPLE requests in the same file (separated by ### delimiter)
  • View image response directly in pane
  • Save raw response and response body only to local disk
  • Fold and unfold response body
  • Customize font(size/family/weight) in response preview
  • Preview response with expected parts(headers only, body only, full response and both request and response)

Live Share Extension Pack

This is a collection of live share and live share audio extensions. This is useful where you need to share your vscode for debugging with another developer or a team.

This extension pack includes everything you need to start collaboratively editing and debugging in real-time, including integrated audio and text chat. This provides you and your team/class with a one-click installation, in order to begin pair programming, performing remote code reviews, driving interactive lectures, and more, without needing to leave Visual Studio Code.

Head over here for a detailed explanation of how to set up this extension. Enjoy!!!

Prettier — Code formatter

Prettier is an opinionated code formatter. It enforces a consistent style by parsing your code and re-printing it with its own rules that take the maximum line length into account, wrapping code when necessary.

Beautify

Beautify javascript, JSON, CSS, Sass, and HTML in Visual Studio Code.

VS Code uses js-beautify internally, but it lacks the ability to modify the style you wish to use. This extension enables running js-beautify in VS Code, AND honouring any .jsbeautifyrc file in the open file’s path tree to load your code styling. Run with F1 Beautify (to beautify a selection) or F1 Beautify file.

Vscode Icons

Add beautiful custom icons to folders on the directory

Error Lens

Features

  • Highlight lines containing diagnostics
  • Append diagnostic as text to the end of the line
  • Show icons in gutter
  • Show message in status bar

New Relic CodeStream

Here’s a powerful extension beyond coding to repository and code reviews.

GitHub pull requests, GitLab merge requests and code reviews in your IDE. Eliminate context-switching. Integrates with New Relic One observability, Bitbucket, Slack, MS Teams, Jira, Trello and more.

New Relic CodeStream is a developer collaboration platform that integrates essential dev tools into VS Code. Eliminate context-switching and simplify code discussion and code review by putting collaboration tools in your IDE.

Create and Review GitHub and GitLab Pull Requests in VS Code

Create, review and merge GitHub pull requests and GitLab merge requests inside VS Code, with full source-tree and full file access, your favorite keybindings, built-in diff tool, and code intelligence.

Super amazing!!! Find out more about codestream here

You’ll be prompted to sign in to make use of it in vscode. Head over here to create an account or click on the sign up button.

Peacock

Subtly change the color of your Visual Studio Code workspace. Ideal when you have multiple VS Code instances, use VS Live Share, or use VS Code’s Remote features, and you want to quickly identify your editor.

Guide on how to use Peacock

Code Time

Code Time is an open-source plugin for automatic programming metrics and time tracking in Visual Studio Code. Join our community of over 200,000 developers who use Code Time to reclaim time for focused, uninterrupted coding. Protect valuable code time and stay in flow.

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