Top JavaScript VSCode Extensions for Development

By Everett Quebral
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Top JavaScript VSCode Extensions for Development

Visual Studio Code (VSCode) has become the go-to editor for modern JavaScript and TypeScript development. Its speed, extensibility, and developer-friendly ecosystem make it ideal for building everything from quick scripts to large-scale applications.

But to get the most out of VSCode, you need to enhance it with the right extensions.

In this article, we’ll cover:

  • The best JavaScript extensions for writing cleaner, faster code
  • Tools that boost performance, formatting, linting, and debugging
  • Why these extensions matter and how to configure them

1. ESLint 🧹

Extension: ESLint
Author: Dirk Baeumer

Why Use It:

Automatically catches errors and enforces code style as you type using your .eslintrc configuration.

Features:

  • Realtime error reporting
  • Supports custom ESLint configs (Airbnb, Standard, Prettier)
  • Works with TypeScript, JSX, and Next.js

Setup:

Install ESLint locally:

npm install eslint --save-dev
npx eslint --init

Then VSCode will auto-detect your project’s ESLint rules and format as you save.


2. Prettier – Code Formatter 🎨

Extension: Prettier
Author: Esben Petersen

Why Use It:

Standardizes code formatting across your project to reduce “style debates” and improve consistency.

Features:

  • Auto-formats on save
  • Works with HTML, CSS, JS, TS, JSON, GraphQL, Markdown
  • Integrates with ESLint for style + rules enforcement

Recommended Settings:

"editor.formatOnSave": true,
"[javascript]": {
  "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"
}

3. JavaScript (ES6) Code Snippets

Extension: JavaScript (ES6) Snippets
Author: charalampos karypidis

Why Use It:

Speeds up boilerplate code with tab-trigger snippets for ES6/ES7 syntax.

Useful Snippets:

  • impimport module from 'module'
  • clgconsole.log()
  • fn → arrow function skeleton
  • rcc, rfc → React class/function component templates

Great for rapid prototyping and keeping your fingers off the trackpad.


4. Path Intellisense 🧭

Extension: Path Intellisense
Author: Christian Kohler

Why Use It:

Autocompletes filenames and relative paths in your imports. No more typos like ..src/componets/Buton.tsx.

Bonus:

Works across your entire monorepo or workspace folders.


5. Debugger for Chrome 🐞

Extension: Debugger for Chrome
Author: Microsoft

Why Use It:

Debug JavaScript running in the Chrome browser or a Node.js process—right inside VSCode.

Features:

  • Set breakpoints in .js or .ts files
  • Step through code in the editor
  • Inspect variables and watch expressions

Launch Config:

{
  "type": "chrome",
  "request": "launch",
  "name": "Launch Chrome",
  "url": "http://localhost:3000",
  "webRoot": "${workspaceFolder}/src"
}

6. Bracket Pair Colorizer 2 🧩

Extension: Bracket Pair Colorizer 2
Author: CoenraadS

Why Use It:

Colors matching brackets and makes deeply nested code easier to read.

Example:

if (a) {
  function inner() {
    return () => {
      console.log('colors!');
    }
  }
}

Great for JSX-heavy or complex callback code.


7. GitLens 🔍

Extension: GitLens
Author: Eric Amodio

Why Use It:

Enhances Git integration in VSCode. See who changed a line, why, and when.

Features:

  • Inline Git blame
  • File history and commit log
  • Author heatmap
  • Compare branches and stashes inside the editor

GitLens is essential for team projects and open source contributions.


8. npm Intellisense 📦

Extension: npm Intellisense
Author: Christian Kohler

Why Use It:

Autocompletes npm module names in your import statements.

import express from 'express'

It’ll suggest 'express' as you type, reducing lookup time and typos.


9. Import Cost 💸

Extension: Import Cost
Author: Wix

Why Use It:

Displays the size of imported packages inline so you can spot bloated dependencies early.

import _ from 'lodash' // 🔥 70kb

Helps reduce bundle size and enforce performance budgets.


10. Code Spell Checker 🔡

Extension: Code Spell Checker
Author: Street Side Software

Why Use It:

Catches typos in comments, variable names, strings, and markdown.

Perfect for preventing embarrassing mistakes in production or documentation.


Bonus: Workspace Settings Template

{
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
  "eslint.validate": ["javascript", "typescript"],
  "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
    "source.fixAll": true
  },
  "files.exclude": {
    "**/node_modules": true
  }
}

Final Thoughts

The right VSCode extensions can significantly boost your productivity and reduce bugs. For JavaScript developers, these tools turn VSCode into a fully-featured IDE—while still staying lightweight.

Try installing a few of these today:

  • Write cleaner code with ESLint + Prettier
  • Move faster with snippets and path suggestions
  • Debug smarter with Chrome tools
  • Catch mistakes early with GitLens and spell checkers

Once you’ve built your ideal setup, consider syncing your settings with GitHub using Settings Sync to apply them across devices.


Resources

Stay Tuned

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