Essential Extensions
1. Prettier — Code Formatter
Auto-formats your code on save. Never argue about code style again.
2. ESLint
Catches bugs and code quality issues before you run the code.
3. ES7+ React/Redux Snippets
Type rafce and get a full React component. Huge time saver.
4. Tailwind CSS IntelliSense
Autocomplete for all Tailwind classes with previews.
5. Auto Rename Tag
Rename opening tag → closing tag renames automatically.
6. GitLens
See who wrote every line of code and when. Essential for teams.
7. Thunder Client
Built-in REST API testing — no need to switch to Postman.
8. Path IntelliSense
Autocomplete for file import paths.
9. Error Lens
Show errors inline next to the code — no more red squiggles.
10. Material Icon Theme
Better file icons for easier navigation in explorer.
11. One Dark Pro (Theme)
The most popular VS Code theme. Easy on the eyes for long sessions.
12. Live Server
Auto-refresh browser when you save HTML/CSS files.
13. Bracket Pair Colorizer
Different colors for nested brackets — easier to read.
14. Import Cost
Shows the size of each imported npm package inline.
15. GitHub Copilot
AI autocomplete for your code. Free for students.
Settings to Configure
{
"editor.formatOnSave": true,
"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
"editor.fontSize": 14,
"editor.tabSize": 2,
"editor.wordWrap": "on"
}These 15 extensions will save you hours every week.