Simplifying VSCode

#webdev #vscode #productivity

Introduction

As a long-time user of Visual Studio Code (VSCode), I've accumulated a vast array of extensions, settings, and files that have made my workspace cluttered and overwhelming. I found myself spending more time searching for files and navigating through menus than actually coding. It was time for a change.

In this blog post, I'll share my experience of cleaning up and simplifying my VSCode workspace. I'll discuss the steps I took to remove unused extensions, organize my files, customize settings, and use keyboard shortcuts and snippets to streamline my workflow. By the end of this post, you'll have a better understanding of how to optimize your workspace and improve your coding experience. So, let's dive in!

Extensions I Removed

codecrumbs-vs-code - Never used it after the first few weeks of installing
Codetour - Same as above
Import Cost - I use Bundlephobia for this instead
Playwright Test for VSCode - I use Playwright's UI mode for this functionality now
Polacode - I use ray.so instead now
ReacTree - Seemed cool when I looked at it, but I've never had a use case for it
Remove Non ASCII Chars - The linting tools I use already handles this

Status Bar Sections Removed

Workspace Trust
GitLens Commit Graph
Problems
Editor Selection
Editor Indentation
Editor Encoding
Editor End of Line
Editor Language Status
Editor Language
Prettier
Feedback
Notifications

Sidebar Icons Removed

After years of use, the sidebar in VSCode can become cluttered with icons, making it difficult to navigate and find what you need. To simplify my workspace, I recently removed the below sidebar icons:

Run and Debug
Extensions
GitLab Workflow
GitLens
TODOs
Bookmarks
Accounts

Conclusion

In conclusion, by removing unused extensions, status bar sections, and sidebar icons, as well as organizing files, customizing settings, and using keyboard shortcuts and snippets, I was able to simplify my VSCode workspace and improve my coding experience. It's important to regularly review and optimize your workspace to ensure that it remains efficient and clutter-free.