Okay, okay, I get it. It’s 2025, and I’m still clinging to some of these VS Code extensions like they’re the last roll of toilet paper in a pandemic. 🤦♂️ But hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? Well, maybe “ain’t broke” is a bit of an exaggeration for some of them. It’s probably time for a serious extension audit.
Let’s be honest with ourselves, some of these extensions are probably doing more harm than good – slowing things down, causing weird conflicts, or just generally being… useless. So, I’m doing this for myself as much as for anyone else who might stumble upon this.
It’s 2025 and You Still Use Useless VS Code Extensions. Here are the Top 20 VS Code Extensions for Developers.
Alright, self, let’s dive into this. Time to Marie Kondo my extension list and spark some joy (and productivity!). Here are the 20 extensions that I, a discerning (or so I like to think) developer, believe are actually essential in 2025. No more excuses for a cluttered, inefficient VS Code setup!
1. GitHub Copilot 🚀
Let’s just get this one out of the way. Yes, it’s AI. Yes, it’s sometimes uncannily smart, and other times it suggests the digital equivalent of putting pineapple on pizza (controversial, I know). But for boilerplate code, quick suggestions, and generally acting as a coding companion, it’s pretty darn useful. It helps write code faster and smarter by providing inline suggestions.
Install: GitHub Copilot on VS Code Marketplace
2. Tabnine 🤖
Another AI code completion tool. I like to have options, okay? Tabnine uses machine learning to provide intelligent code completions based on your project’s context and your coding habits. It supports a ton of languages and can really speed things up when you’re in the zone.
Install: Tabnine AI Autocomplete on VS Code Marketplace
3. GoCodeo ✨
This one’s a newer kid on the block but gaining traction fast. It’s pitched as an AI-powered full-stack development assistant right inside VS Code. From code generation to deployment, it aims to streamline the whole process. If you’re looking to consolidate your toolchain and get a bit of AI help across the board, this is definitely worth a look.
Install: GoCodeo on VS Code Marketplace
4. ESLint 🧐
If you’re writing JavaScript or TypeScript and not using ESLint, we need to have a serious talk. Seriously. It analyzes your code to find problems and enforce coding standards. It’s like having a very pedantic but ultimately helpful friend looking over your shoulder, preventing you from making silly mistakes before they become big headaches.
Install: ESLint on VS Code Marketplace
5. Prettier – Code formatter 💅
My eyes! They bleed without Prettier. This opinionated code formatter keeps your code looking consistent and clean across your projects. No more debates about tabs vs. spaces or where that curly brace should go. Just hit save, and boom – pretty, readable code. It’s a sanity-saver, especially on team projects.
Install: Prettier – Code formatter on VS Code Marketplace
6. SonarLint 🛡️
This extension helps you find and fix bugs and security issues as you code. It runs in the background, highlighting problems and even offering in-context guidance on how to fix them. Think of it as an early warning system for code smells and potential vulnerabilities, helping you write more robust and secure applications.
Install: SonarLint on VS Code Marketplace
7. Code Spell Checker 📝
Typos in code are embarrassing. Typos in comments are… still embarrassing, and can even be misleading. This extension is a lifesaver for catching those sneaky spelling mistakes in your code (string literals, variable names) and comments. It supports multiple languages too!
Install: Code Spell Checker on VS Code Marketplace
8. GitLens — Git supercharged GIT
If you use Git (and you should be using Git), GitLens is an absolute must-have. It supercharges the built-in Git capabilities, allowing you to see code authorship (blame), seamlessly explore revision history, compare branches, and gain valuable insights into your codebase’s evolution, all without leaving the editor. It’s incredibly powerful.
Install: GitLens — Git supercharged on VS Code Marketplace
9. Live Share 🧑💻👩💻
This one feels like magic every time I use it. It enables real-time collaborative editing and debugging. Perfect for pair programming, remote Gituations, or just getting a quick second pair of eyes on some tricky code. You can share your workspace, terminal, and even debugging sessions.
Install: Live Share on VS Code Marketplace
10. Python (by Microsoft) 🐍
If Python is your jam, this is the foundational extension. It provides rich support including IntelliSense (Pylance), linting (Flake8, Pylint), debugging, code navigation, code formatting, refactoring, and environment switching. It’s the official, comprehensive Python toolkit for VS Code.
Install: Python on VS Code Marketplace
11. Pylance (by Microsoft) ⚡️
Also for Python developers, Pylance offers fast static type checking and comprehensive language support. It includes features like intelligent type completion, signature help, auto-imports, and dead code detection. It works alongside the main Python extension to give you a supercharged Python experience.
Install: Pylance on VS Code Marketplace (often bundled with the Python extension)
Also Read: [Updated] Create Kali Linux Live USB with Persistence storage 2025
12. Tailwind CSS IntelliSense 🌬️
If you’re working with Tailwind CSS, this extension is a game-changer. It provides autocompletion for utility classes, syntax highlighting, and linting. It even shows you the CSS that a Tailwind class generates on hover. Makes working with Tailwind so much smoother.
Install: Tailwind CSS IntelliSense on VS Code Marketplace
13. Live Server 🌐
A simple but incredibly useful extension for web developers. It launches a local development server with a live reload feature, so you can see your changes in the browser instantly as you code HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. No more manual refreshing!
Install: Live Server on VS Code Marketplace
14. Auto Rename Tag 🔄
Such a small thing, but oh-so-helpful, especially when wrangling complex HTML or XML structures. When you rename an opening HTML/XML tag, it automatically renames the corresponding closing tag, and vice-versa. Saves a surprising amount of time and prevents silly mistakes that can break your layout.
Install: Auto Rename Tag on VS Code Marketplace
15. Path Intellisense 📁
No more fumbling around trying to remember file paths or making typos in them. This extension autocompletes filenames and paths, making it quicker and easier to import modules, link to assets, or reference other files in your project.
Install: Path Intellisense on VS Code Marketplace
16. REST Client 📡
Allows you to send HTTP requests and view the responses directly in VS Code. You just write your requests in a plain text file with a .http or .rest extension. It’s incredibly handy for testing APIs without needing to switch to another application like Postman or Insomnia.
Install: REST Client on VS Code Marketplace
17. Thunder Client 🌩️
A lightweight, Postman-like REST API client extension for VS Code. It offers a user-friendly graphical interface for creating and testing API requests directly within the editor. Some prefer this for its more GUI-driven approach compared to the text-based REST Client. It’s good to have options!
Install: Thunder Client on VS Code Marketplace
18. Docker 🐳
If you’re working with containers (and in 2025, who isn’t, at least sometimes?), this extension is essential. It helps you manage Docker containers, images, networks, and volumes. You can easily build, run, and debug your containerized applications directly from VS Code.
Install: Docker on VS Code Marketplace
19. Peacock 🎨
When you have multiple VS Code windows open for different projects, it can be surprisingly easy to get lost and type in the wrong window. Peacock subtly changes the color of your workspace (like the title bar and activity bar) to help you quickly identify which project you’re in. Simple, but surprisingly effective for context switching.
Install: Peacock on VS Code Marketplace
20. Material Icon Theme 🖼️
Let’s face it, aesthetics matter, and a visually organized workspace can make you more efficient. This extension provides a huge collection of beautiful and specific icons for different file types and folders, making your file explorer much more visually appealing and easier to navigate at a glance.
Install: Material Icon Theme on VS Code Marketplace
Whew! Okay, that’s 20. My VS Code already feels lighter, faster, and more purposeful. It’s a bit like cleaning out your digital garage – you find some treasures you forgot you had, toss out a lot of accumulated junk, and end up with a much more efficient and pleasant workspace.
Of course, “essential” is subjective, and the best extensions for you will always depend on your specific workflow, the programming languages you use daily, and your personal preferences. But I’m pretty confident that this list provides a solid foundation for most developers looking to stay productive, write better code, and maybe even enjoy their coding environment a bit more in 2025.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some actual coding to do in my newly revamped, “non-useless” VS Code environment. 😉 It’s time to put these tools to work!