Top 10 VS Code Extensions Every Web Developer Should Install

Visual Studio Code remains the most widely used editor for web developers — and for good reason. It balances performance, extensibility, and an approachable UX. On Programa.Space we see many projects using VS Code as the primary editor, so this list focuses on extensions that accelerate development workflows, increase reliability, and help ship faster.

Why extensions matter

Extensions let you tailor your environment to the tasks you perform every day. The right set reduces context switching and prevents subtle errors that would otherwise show up in staging or production. Below are ten extensions I install on every workstation — these earn their place by providing immediate value.

1. 1. ESLint

   ESLint is the linchpin for JavaScript/TypeScript code quality. With the extension, you get real-time linting, autofixes, and integration with your repository’s rules. On Programa.Space, configure a shared ESLint config in your monorepo so dev environments are consistent.

2. 2. Prettier - Code formatter

   Formatting is a solved problem with Prettier. Combine this with editor.formatOnSave to remove style debates from code reviews and keep diffs focused on logic.

3. 3. GitLens — Git supercharged

   GitLens surfaces commit history, blame, and line-level authorship inline. It’s invaluable for understanding why code exists and who changed it — information that reduces onboarding time.

4. 4. Live Share

   Live Share enables collaborative editing and debugging. For remote pair programming or quick design reviews, it’s faster than spinning up a screen-share and explains intentions in context.

5. 5. Debugger for Chrome / Edge

   Modern debugging integrations let you set breakpoints, inspect variables, and step through code as if you were running locally — critical when diagnosing client-side bugs that only appear in specific environments.

6. 6. REST Client

   For testing HTTP endpoints without leaving the editor, REST Client is faster than Postman for quick requests and works well with saved collections and environment variables.

7. 7. Tailwind CSS IntelliSense

   If you use Tailwind, this extension massively improves productivity by offering class name autocompletion, linting, and documentation hints inline.

8. 8. Docker

   Most Programa.Space projects use containers for reproducibility. The Docker extension helps build images, explore running containers, and manage registries without dropping to the terminal.

9. 9. Code Spell Checker

   Typos in variable names, comments, or documentation are annoying and sometimes embarrassing. A lightweight spell checker catches these quickly and reduces noisy PR comments.

10. 10. Remote - Containers / Remote - SSH

    Remote development extensions allow you to develop inside a container or remote machine that matches production. This is crucial for projects with compiled dependencies or complex toolchains.

How to combine them effectively

Installing extensions is only the beginning — configure them:

• Share editor settings with .vscode/settings.json in the repository to standardize behavior.
• Use workspace-specific extension recommendations (.vscode/extensions.json) so contributors install the right tools.
• Enable format-on-save for deterministic diffs and add format checks to CI.

Performance considerations

A cluttered editor can become slow. I recommend:

• Only installing extensions you use regularly.
• Disabling features you don't need (e.g., heavy language servers for languages you don't work with).
• Using Remote - Containers for heavy toolchains to keep your host machine snappy.

Workflow examples

Here are three short workflows mixing these extensions:

1. Fixing a bug reported in production: Use GitLens to find the responsible change, open the branch, use Live Share to pair with the original author, reproduce with Docker containers, and debug with the Chrome debugger.

2. Implementing a UI tweak: Use Tailwind IntelliSense for class names, run visual tests locally inside Remote - Containers, and craft API requests with REST Client to verify backend behavior.

3. Onboarding a new contributor: Provide a dev container, recommend extensions via extensions.json, and use Live Share for the first pairing session.

Final tips

Extensions change over time. Check periodically for updates and re-evaluate whether an extension still provides value. Encourage the team to keep a small core set that everyone uses — that consistency reduces friction.

Summary: These ten extensions create a balanced, productive development environment for web projects on Programa.Space. Start with the essentials (ESLint, Prettier, GitLens) and layer on remote, container, and language-specific tools as your project requires.