Top 7 VS Code extensions 🤓 almost nobody knows about
Tags: ide, extensions, vscode, productivity
Published: 2022-03-07 18:14:32


As a developer, you're most probably using Visual Studio Code on a daily basis. But did you know that there are tons of extensions out there that can make your life a lot easier and take your productivity to another level?

![never gets easier.webp](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1645502895927/O7oK0JOsL.webp)

I have a lot of VS Code extensions. Some are indispensable, some are good to have, and some become irrelevant because I'm no longer learning the language I downloaded it for.

Today, I'm going to list my top 7 extensions that I think are underrated and unknown to most developers.😍

## Top Unknown VS Code extensions

**Bonus**: At the end, there is a bonus extension, so be sure to check it out.

Now, starting off with the 7th one,

### 7: [P42 JavaScript Assistant](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=p42ai.refactor)

![Preview](https://p42.ai/image/vscode/vscode-intro.gif)

As the website says:

> The P42 JavaScript Assistant adds 68 automated refactorings and quick fixes for JavaScript, TypeScript, and React to Visual Studio Code.

Here's another demo:

![Demo 2](https://i.imgur.com/ubkdmM0.gif)

There's also a sidebar, so you could see the refactors your poor code needs, all in one place!

### 6: [Office Viewer](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=cweijan.vscode-office)

"Show me the demo first!" Here you go:

![Office Viewer](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/sockpd86skxv1t3710is.gif) 

A really helpful but annoying extension that allows you to view major office format like: 

- Excel: .xls, .xlsx, .csv
- Svg: .svg
- Pdf: .pdf
- Font: .ttf, .otf, .woff
- Markdown: .md
- HttpRequest: .http
- PlantUml: .puml, .plantuml
- Windows Reg: .reg

Now that's crazy. But you may want to disable this for certain file types (like `.md`), read the extension description to know more.

### 5: [Indent line](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=sandipchitale.vscode-indent-line) (5k downloads)

This extension fixes all indentation issues with a single shortcut. What is better than seeing it for yourself? Here's a demo

![Demo](https://github.com/sandipchitale/vscode-indent-line/raw/master/images/indent-line-demo.gif)

But why need it when you have prettier? There's a reason. As far as I know, prettier does not format python code, but this extension supports many languages that prettier does not.

### 4: [Polacode](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=pnp.polacode)

Ever wanted to present your code to someone or some platform, but it looks ugly? A great alternative to [Carbon](https://carbon.now.sh/), it automatically detects the language, highlighting, etc. and presents a picture-perfect version of your code.

![Demo](https://github.com/octref/polacode/raw/master/demo/usage.gif)

Don't use it to share your company's code though :)

### 3: [Toggle Quote](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=BriteSnow.vscode-toggle-quotes)

Ever typed a string with `"` and wanted to convert it to a template literal with `` ` ``  or to `'`? Why move your cursor back and forth? Just press a simple keyboard shortcut to toggle through these quotes.

![Toggle.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1645501577361/dsEThH6bF.gif)

I hope you get the idea. This is pretty useful for me personally, since I mistakenly write the `"` and then remember to use `` ` ``

### 2: [Bracket Padder](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=viablelab.bracket-padder)

A simple package that provides smart whitespace padding and closing of bracket pairs: `() [] {}`. Even though prettier does it automatically, it also supports languages like python, go, etc. which prettier does not support. 

![Preview](https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/6108538/22630998/56e3f60e-ec05-11e6-8e5b-53c99e36f46c.gif)

A must-have to increase readability.

### 1: [Toggle Case](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ryanlaws.toggle-case)

This is one of the most useful extensions on the list. The thing it does might sound very basic, but combined with VS Code's awesome features, it could save a lot of time.

![Demo](https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/2899448/10712456/3c5e29b6-7a9c-11e5-9ce4-7eb944889696.gif)

It becomes awesome when dealing with multi-cursor text, where it could convert case for multiple instances to ones, saving a lot of time. It also converts text like `foo bar` to paths like `foo/bar`. A must-have for every programmer.

### Bonus! [Hot dog stand]()

**Get the joke?**.

![hot dog.png](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1645499475560/cxGX1iXSb.png)

OK, let's start the pitching.

Have you ever wanted to **burn your eyeballs within seconds**!? Well now, you can! With ho... Oh, wait. No one in their healthy minds would want that!

## Wrapping it up

Thanks for reading! If you are looking to take your VS Code experience to the next level, be sure to check out some of these extensions. Also, I'm going to post about a really cool project soon, so stay tuned. 

You know the drill. If you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends and followers. And if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.

Until then, happy coding!


![Bye.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1645503093621/VbybySt7w.gif)

<sup>(This post was cross posted from my trending [Hashnode Blog](https://blog.mohityadav.codes/top-vs-code-extensions-only-5-people-know-about), so sorry if you've already read this, and I took up some part of your feed real-estate 😅)</sup>