Visual Studio Code Extensions

Below are some of the Visual Studio Code extensions I used, will update if there are more.

1. Markdown All in One

  • Use case: Writing technical notes, documentation, and blog posts quickly.
  • Why useful:
    • Keyboard shortcuts for formatting (bold, headings, lists).
    • Live preview of rendered Markdown.
    • Table of contents generation.

2. VSCode Journal

  • Use case: Daily or ad-hoc personal notes directly in VSCode.
  • Why useful:
    • Automatically creates timestamped entries in a “journal” folder.
    • Great for capturing quick thoughts, work logs, or debugging notes.
    • CMD + Shift + J

3. vscode-journal-view

  • Use case: Companion extension to VSCode Journal for browsing entries.
  • Why useful:
    • Provides a sidebar view to navigate journal entries by date.
    • Easier than digging through raw Markdown files.

Python Development using VSCode

For Python projects, I add two more key extensions:

4. Python (by Microsoft)

  • Use case: Core extension for Python editing and debugging in VSCode.
  • Why useful:
    • IntelliSense (autocomplete, type hints, docstrings).
    • Debugging with breakpoints.
    • Support for virtual environments and Jupyter notebooks.

5. Black Formatter

  • Use case: Auto-format Python code consistently with the Black style guide.
  • Why useful:
    • Saves time debating about code style.
    • Helps maintain clean diffs.