DEV Community

Cover image for 🎯 VS Code Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Earlier (Or Maybe Not, Depending on Your Life Choices) 💻✨
TechTales.io
TechTales.io

Posted on

🎯 VS Code Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Earlier (Or Maybe Not, Depending on Your Life Choices) 💻✨

🎯 VS Code Shortcuts That’ll Save Your Sanity (And Maybe Your Job) 💻💥

Intro:

Ever found yourself drowning in an ocean of code, wondering if you should just throw your laptop into the nearest pool? It’s 2 a.m., you’ve opened three tabs, 15 files, and a lifetime’s worth of Stack Overflow tabs—and yet, you’re still looking for that one shortcut that’ll make you feel like you’ve got it all together. Guess what? I’m about to give you the VS Code hacks you never knew you needed, or maybe you’re already using them, and you just needed someone to say, “You’re doing great, sweetie.” Let’s dive in.

1. Autocomplete Like a Porn Script Writer 🍆📜

Ever stared at your screen, wondering what comes next? Don’t worry, your editor has a script ready. Just press Tab, and voilà—autocomplete finishes your thoughts faster than a bad punchline. Not all heroes wear capes; some are just AI trying to guess your next move.

2. Ghost That Tab Like It’s a Bad Tinder Date 👻

Closing a file with Ctrl + W is as satisfying as dodging your third MLM invite of the week. One tap, and it’s gone—unlike that embarrassing tweet you made in 2013, which lives on like a stubborn cockroach.

3. File Stalking Mode: Ctrl + P 🔍

Crushes ghost you, but VS Code doesn’t. Need to hunt down a file? Smash Ctrl + P, type its name, and BAM! It pops up faster than embarrassing browser tabs when your boss walks in.

4. Tweak, Don’t Twerk: Ctrl + ,

Press Ctrl + , to open settings and tweak your editor like it’s a Sims character. Pro tip: Don’t spend more time customizing your theme than writing actual code. (We see you, Dracula theme gang. 🦇)

5. Hide Code Like Skeletons in Your Closet 🗯️

Highlight your questionable code, hit Ctrl + /, and boom—hidden. Use it to comment out logic you’re too scared to delete, like that line of code from 2012 that still somehow works.

6. Debugging Like CSI: Code Scene Investigation 🕵️‍♂️

Hit F5 to debug your code line by line. Feel like a detective as you track down the culprit (spoiler: it’s usually a semicolon). Warning: debugging is addictive. You’ll solve one issue only to discover 10 others lurking in the shadows.

7. Select Multiple Lines Like You're in the Matrix 👾

Got multiple lines of code you need to tackle? Just hold Shift and use the up and down arrows. It’s like your cursor’s on a workout plan—getting those lines in shape. Works for code, and let’s face it, it works for your New Year’s resolution, too.

8. Go to the Line Like a Boss 👑

Need to jump to a specific line? Ctrl + G takes you there like you’re skipping the awkward small talk at the office party. It’s like being the cool kid in high school, knowing exactly where to go, and not wasting time on the irrelevant stuff.

9. Sexy Character Scrolling 😘

Select text one character at a time. Because sometimes, precision is hotter than speed. 🔥 Hold Shift + Right Arrow and let the smooth scrolling begin. Because, why rush when you can savor the moment?

10. Search & Replace: Stalker Edition 🔫

  • Ctrl + F: Search
  • Ctrl + H: Replace

Think of Ctrl + F as stalking, and Ctrl + H as rewriting history. Perfect for erasing that “bananaCounter” variable you swore made sense at 3 a.m.

11. Pick Apart Code Like a Word Ninja: Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow 🥷

Ready to dissect that overly verbose function? Hit Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow and slice through your code, word by word. It’s like being a ninja, but instead of fighting bad guys, you're battling unnecessarily long variable names. Get precise, get quick—because who has time for bloated code?

12. Move Word by Word: Ctrl + Arrow Key 💨

Navigating your code just got smoother! Hit Ctrl + Arrow Key to zip through words, skipping over those unnecessary functions like an expert. It’s like dancing through your code, avoiding regrets and bypassing those embarrassing variable names. No more getting stuck on “bananasForBreakfast69”—just keep it moving!

💥 TL;DR—Shortcuts for When You Just Can’t Adult Anymore:

  • Tab: Autocomplete your life decisions
  • Ctrl + W: Close files, close your problems
  • Ctrl + P: File hunting made easy
  • Ctrl + Shift + T: Tab resurrection—because who really knows what happened?
  • Ctrl + ,: Settings for procrastinators
  • Ctrl + /: Commenting out your bad code and bad life choices
  • Shift + Up/Down: Line selection like a pro
  • Ctrl + G: Jump to line—no awkward small talk
  • Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow: Select word by word like a code ninja—perfect for slicing through messy functions.
  • Ctrl + Arrow Key: Move word by word—avoid regrets, keep it moving!

💌 SHAMELESS PLUG TIME:

Still hunting for that perfect shortcut? Or just here for the roast? Let me know which tech chaos or life crisis you want me to dunk on next. Sharing is caring—don’t gatekeep this cheat sheet like it's the last donut in the office. 🍩

Pro Tip: If debugging is the art of taking the bugs out, then programming is the art of putting them in. Cheers to the endless loop of bad decisions and great coffee! ☕💻

Top comments (0)