🔧 Top VS Code Extensions Every Developer Should Install in 2025

1. GitLens – Supercharged Git

GitLens enhances VS Code's built‑in Git features with blame annotations, commit history, and interactive insights—letting you answer “who changed what and why” without ever leaving the editor. Highly recommended by developers across the board :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.

2. Prettier – Opinionated Code Formatter

Automatically formats your code on save across languages like JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, Python, Markdown and more. It enforces consistency and cleans up diffs. A staple in 2025 :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.

3. ESLint – Linting & Code Quality

This extension integrates ESLint into VS Code, flagging errors and enforcing best practices for JavaScript and TypeScript. It’s a must for catching issues early :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

4. Live Server – Instant Reload

Ideal for web developers, this tool launches a local server and automatically reloads the page on file saves. A popular choice with millions of installs :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.

5. Bracket Pair Colorizer 2

Makes it easy to navigate nested code by color‑coding matching brackets. Helps reduce syntax errors and boosts readability :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.

6. Path IntelliSense

Auto‑completes file paths when importing or linking files—very handy in large codebases :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.

7. Docker – Manage Containers

Integrates Docker support directly within VS Code, letting you build, run, and debug containers without leaving the editor :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.

8. Auto Rename Tag

Automatically updates the matching closing tag when you rename an opening tag, perfect for HTML/XML editing :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.

9. Error Lens – Inline Error Highlighting

Displays errors and warnings inline with your code, eliminating the need to check the Problems panel—praised as a “game changer” by users :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.

10. REST Client or Thunder Client

Send HTTP requests directly from VS Code—ideal alternative to Postman. REST Client and Thunder Client both enjoy strong community favor :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.

🌟 Honorable Mentions

• Tabnine / GitHub Copilot – AI‑based code suggestions for faster development :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
• Markdown All in One – Supercharges Markdown editing with shortcuts and previews :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
• CodeSnap – Capture beautiful code screenshots for sharing in docs or social media :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
• Todo Tree / TODO Highlight – Centralize and visualize TODO/FIXME comments in a sidebar :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
• Better Comments – Color‑coded comment categories for improved readability :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.