VS Code Tips and Tricks

Master Visual Studio Code with these productivity tips, keyboard shortcuts, and advanced features designed to enhance your PowerShell development and general coding workflows.

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Ctrl+P`	Quick Open	Find and open files instantly
`Ctrl+Shift+P`	Command Palette	Access all VS Code commands
`Ctrl+Shift+E`	Explorer Focus	Navigate to file explorer
`Ctrl+Shift+F`	Global Search	Search across all project files
`Ctrl+G`	Go to Line	Jump to specific line number
`Ctrl+T`	Go to Symbol	Find symbols across workspace
`Alt+Left/Right`	Navigate History	Move through navigation history
`Ctrl+Tab`	Switch Tabs	Cycle through open editors

Editing and Text Manipulation

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Ctrl+D`	Select Next Occurrence	Multi-cursor editing of same text
`Ctrl+Shift+L`	Select All Occurrences	Edit all instances simultaneously
`Alt+Click`	Multi-cursor	Add cursor at click position
`Ctrl+Alt+Up/Down`	Multi-cursor Lines	Add cursors above/below
`Alt+Up/Down`	Move Line	Move current line up/down
`Shift+Alt+Up/Down`	Copy Line	Duplicate line above/below
`Ctrl+/`	Toggle Comment	Comment/uncomment lines
`Ctrl+Shift+K`	Delete Line	Remove entire line
`Ctrl+Enter`	Insert Line Below	New line below cursor
`Ctrl+Shift+Enter`	Insert Line Above	New line above cursor

PowerShell-Specific Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action	Description
`F5`	Run Script	Execute PowerShell script
`F8`	Run Selection	Execute selected PowerShell code
`Ctrl+F5`	Run Without Debugging	Execute script without debugger
`F9`	Toggle Breakpoint	Add/remove debug breakpoint
`F10`	Step Over	Debug step over function calls
`F11`	Step Into	Debug step into function calls
`Shift+F5`	Stop Debugging	Terminate debug session

Editor and Window Management

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Ctrl+\`	Split Editor	Split editor vertically
`Ctrl+Shift+\`	Split Horizontal	Split editor horizontally
`Ctrl+W`	Close Editor	Close current editor tab
`Ctrl+Shift+T`	Reopen Closed Tab	Restore recently closed editor
`Ctrl+K Ctrl+W`	Close All	Close all open editors
`Ctrl+K Z`	Zen Mode	Distraction-free editing
`Ctrl+B`	Toggle Sidebar	Show/hide file explorer
Ctrl+`	Toggle Terminal	Show/hide integrated terminal

Advanced VS Code Features

Multi-Cursor Editing

Efficiently edit multiple locations simultaneously:

Selection Techniques

Select word: Ctrl+D to select next occurrence
Select all: Ctrl+Shift+L to select all occurrences
Column selection: Shift+Alt+Drag for rectangular selection
Manual placement: Alt+Click to place cursors manually

Practical Examples

Updating variable names:

$userName = "john.doe"
$userName = Get-User $userName
Write-Host "User: $userName"

Select first $userName, press Ctrl+D twice to select all instances, then type new name.

Formatting lists:

PowerShell
Python  
JavaScript

Use Alt+Click at start of each line, then type - to create bulleted list.

Snippet System

VS Code's snippet system provides instant access to code templates for faster development. Access snippets through IntelliSense (Tab completion), Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P → "Insert Snippet"), or Quick Actions (Ctrl+.).

Built-in PowerShell snippets include function, if, foreach, param, and try for common code structures.

For comprehensive snippet guides, including custom creation, advanced templates, and PowerShell-specific examples, see: VS Code Snippets for PowerShell

Workspace Management

Multi-root Workspaces

Organize related projects in a single workspace:

File → Add Folder to Workspace
File → Save Workspace As...
Configure workspace-specific settings in .vscode/settings.json

Workspace-Specific Settings

{
    "powershell.powerShellDefaultVersion": "PowerShell (x64)",
    "files.associations": {
        "*.ps1": "powershell",
        "*.psm1": "powershell",
        "*.psd1": "powershell"
    },
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "ms-vscode.powershell"
}

Search and Replace Mastery

Advanced Search Features

Feature	Shortcut	Description
Case Sensitive	`Alt+C`	Toggle case-sensitive search
Whole Word	`Alt+W`	Match whole words only
Regex Search	`Alt+R`	Enable regular expressions
Search in Selection	`Alt+L`	Limit search to selection

Regular Expression Examples

Find email addresses:

\b[A-Za-z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Za-z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z|a-z]{2,}\b

Find PowerShell variables:

\$\w+

Find function definitions:

^function\s+(\w+)

Git Integration

Built-in Git Commands

Shortcut	Action	Description
`Ctrl+Shift+G`	Source Control	Open Git panel
`Ctrl+Shift+G G`	Git Status	View repository status
`Ctrl+Enter`	Commit	Commit staged changes
`Ctrl+Shift+P` → "Git"	Git Commands	Access all Git operations

Git Workflow Tips

Stage files: Click + next to changed files
Commit with message: Type message and press Ctrl+Enter
View diff: Click file name to see changes
Discard changes: Click ⟲ to revert file

PowerShell Development Features

IntelliSense and Code Completion

Enhanced Features

Parameter completion: Automatic parameter suggestions
Variable completion: IntelliSense for defined variables
Module completion: Auto-complete for imported modules
Path completion: File and folder path suggestions

Configuration

{
    "powershell.integratedConsole.showOnStartup": false,
    "powershell.scriptAnalysis.enable": true,
    "powershell.codeFormatting.preset": "OTBS",
    "powershell.debugging.createTemporaryIntegratedConsole": true
}

Debugging Capabilities

Setting Up Debugging

Set breakpoints: Click line numbers or press F9
Start debugging: Press F5 or use Command Palette
Debug console: View variables and execute commands
Call stack: Navigate through function calls

Debug Configuration (launch.json)

{
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "PowerShell: Launch Current File",
            "type": "PowerShell",
            "request": "launch",
            "script": "${file}",
            "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
        },
        {
            "name": "PowerShell: Interactive Session",
            "type": "PowerShell",
            "request": "launch",
            "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
        }
    ]
}

Script Analysis

PowerShell extension includes PSScriptAnalyzer for code quality:

Common Analysis Rules

PSAvoidUsingCmdletAliases: Use full cmdlet names
PSAvoidUsingPlainTextForPassword: Secure credential handling
PSUseApprovedVerbs: Use standard PowerShell verbs
PSUseSingularNouns: Function naming conventions

Custom Analysis Settings

{
    "powershell.scriptAnalysis.settingsPath": ".vscode/PSScriptAnalyzerSettings.psd1"
}

Essential Extensions for PowerShell Development

Core Extensions

PowerShell Extension Pack

code --install-extension ms-vscode.PowerShell

Features:

Syntax highlighting and IntelliSense
Debugging support
Integrated console
Script analysis
Code formatting

Git Extensions

code --install-extension eamodio.gitlens
code --install-extension mhutchie.git-graph

Productivity Extensions

code --install-extension streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker
code --install-extension davidanson.vscode-markdownlint
code --install-extension ms-vscode.vscode-json
code --install-extension redhat.vscode-yaml

Extension Configuration

GitLens Settings

{
    "gitlens.advanced.messages": {
        "suppressCommitHasNoPreviousCommitWarning": false,
        "suppressCommitNotFoundWarning": false
    },
    "gitlens.blame.compact": false,
    "gitlens.blame.format": "${message|50?} ${agoOrDate|14-}",
    "gitlens.defaultDateFormat": "MMMM Do, YYYY h:mma"
}

Workflow Optimization

Task Automation

Common Tasks Configuration (.vscode/tasks.json)

{
    "version": "2.0.0",
    "tasks": [
        {
            "label": "Run PowerShell Script",
            "type": "shell",
            "command": "pwsh",
            "args": ["-File", "${file}"],
            "group": "build",
            "presentation": {
                "echo": true,
                "reveal": "always",
                "focus": false,
                "panel": "shared"
            }
        },
        {
            "label": "PowerShell Analyze",
            "type": "shell",
            "command": "pwsh",
            "args": ["-Command", "Invoke-ScriptAnalyzer -Path ${file}"],
            "group": "test",
            "presentation": {
                "echo": true,
                "reveal": "always",
                "focus": false,
                "panel": "shared"
            }
        }
    ]
}

Custom Keybindings

PowerShell-Specific Bindings (.vscode/keybindings.json)

[
    {
        "key": "ctrl+f5",
        "command": "workbench.action.tasks.runTask",
        "args": "Run PowerShell Script"
    },
    {
        "key": "ctrl+shift+a",
        "command": "workbench.action.tasks.runTask", 
        "args": "PowerShell Analyze"
    },
    {
        "key": "ctrl+shift+r",
        "command": "powershell.refactorCode"
    }
]

File Templates

Create project templates for consistent structure:

PowerShell Module Template

MyModule/
├── MyModule.psm1
├── MyModule.psd1
├── Public/
├── Private/
├── Tests/
├── docs/
└── .vscode/
    ├── settings.json
    ├── tasks.json
    └── launch.json

Performance Optimization

VS Code Settings for Better Performance

{
    "files.exclude": {
        "**/.git": true,
        "**/.svn": true,
        "**/.hg": true,
        "**/CVS": true,
        "**/.DS_Store": true,
        "**/node_modules": true,
        "**/*.exe": true,
        "**/*.dll": true
    },
    "search.exclude": {
        "**/node_modules": true,
        "**/bower_components": true,
        "**/*.code-search": true
    },
    "files.watcherExclude": {
        "**/.git/objects/**": true,
        "**/.git/subtree-cache/**": true,
        "**/node_modules/*/**": true
    }
}

Memory Management

Tips for Large Projects

Close unused tabs: Ctrl+K Ctrl+W to close all
Exclude large directories: Use .vscode/settings.json
Disable unused extensions: Check extension impact
Use workspace folders: Organize related projects
Regular restarts: Clear accumulated memory

Troubleshooting Common Issues

PowerShell Extension Problems

Extension Not Loading

# Check PowerShell version
$PSVersionTable

# Update PowerShell
winget upgrade Microsoft.PowerShell

# Reload VS Code window
# Ctrl+Shift+P → "Developer: Reload Window"

IntelliSense Not Working

Restart PowerShell session: Terminal → New Terminal
Check module imports: Verify required modules are available
Clear cache: Restart VS Code
Update extension: Check for PowerShell extension updates

Performance Issues

Slow Startup

{
    "extensions.autoUpdate": false,
    "extensions.autoCheckUpdates": false,
    "telemetry.enableTelemetry": false,
    "update.enableWindowsBackgroundUpdates": false
}

High CPU Usage

Check running tasks: Terminal → Running Tasks
Disable file watchers: Exclude large directories
Close unused editors: Ctrl+K Ctrl+W
Monitor extensions: Developer Tools (Ctrl+Shift+I)

Git Integration Issues

Authentication Problems

# Configure Git credentials
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@domain.com"

# Set up credential helper
git config --global credential.helper manager

Line Ending Issues

# Configure line endings
git config --global core.autocrlf true  # Windows
git config --global core.autocrlf input # Linux/Mac

References and Additional Resources

Official Documentation

VS Code Keyboard Shortcuts - Official shortcut reference (PDF)
VS Code Tips and Tricks - Microsoft's official tips collection
PowerShell Extension Documentation - PowerShell development guide
VS Code User Guide - Comprehensive editing features guide

Extension Resources

PowerShell Extension - Official PowerShell extension
GitLens Extension - Git supercharged
VS Code Extension Marketplace - Browse all available extensions

Configuration Guides

VS Code Settings - User and workspace settings
Custom Keybindings - Keyboard shortcut customization
Tasks Configuration - Automate development tasks
Debugging Guide - Debug configuration and usage

PowerShell Resources

PowerShell Documentation - Official PowerShell documentation
PSScriptAnalyzer - PowerShell code analysis tool
PowerShell Best Practices - Community style guide

Community Resources

VS Code Blog - Latest features and updates
r/vscode - VS Code community on Reddit
Stack Overflow - VS Code - Q&A and troubleshooting
VS Code GitHub - Report issues and feature requests

Video Tutorials

VS Code YouTube Channel - Official tutorials and tips
PowerShell on YouTube - PowerShell team content

Learning Resources

Learn VS Code - Interactive tutorials
PowerShell Learning Path - Microsoft Learn courses
Git Learning Resources - Git documentation and tutorials

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