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:

• imp → import module from 'module'
• clg → console.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

• VSCode Marketplace
• Awesome VSCode Extensions
• Prettier vs ESLint – When to Use What
• VSCode Settings Sync