5 Must-Have VS Code Extensions for React development

VS Code is a powerful editor, and its extensions make it even better by streamlining development workflows. Whether you’re debugging, formatting, or managing dependencies, the right tools can save time and boost productivity. This article introduces five must-have VS Code extensions to help you develop React applications more efficiently.

1. Jinno

Jinno enables live previews of React components directly within the editor. With Jinno, you can isolate any component with one click, speeding up your hot reload process and letting you focus on coding rather than switching back and forth between tools. It’s been a game-changer for my workflow, and I believe it could be for yours too!

Why Jinno is a huge productivity boost:

• Instant component previews inside your editor

• One-click isolation to test components without launching a full app

• Faster iteration — no need to break focus by switching tabs

You can install Jinno by visiting the VS Code marketplace link here.

2. ESLint

ESLint is a widely used linting tool for JavaScript and JSX, helping developers detect and fix issues quickly. It ensures code consistency and prevents bugs before they happen.

The ESLint extension for VS Code seamlessly integrates ESLint into your workflow. To install it, search for “ESLint” in the VS Code extensions panel or follow this link.

It works with the ESLint package installed in your project’s workspace. If one isn’t found locally, it defaults to a globally installed version. To configure ESLint properly, check out the official setup guide.

3. Prettier

Prettier is an automatic code formatter that enforces a uniform style across your codebase. It eliminates the need for manual formatting, ensuring that every developer on your team follows the same structure.

To get started, install the Prettier - Code formatter extension by searching for it in VS Code or using this link.

If you want more control over when Prettier formats your code, consider installing vscode-status-bar-format-toggle to enable or disable automatic formatting with a simple click.

4. npm Intellisense

Working with npm packages? npm Intellisense is a handy extension that provides autocompletion for package imports, reducing keystrokes and potential typos.

Installing it is easy — search for npm Intellisense in the VS Code extensions marketplace or find it in the extensions panel within VS Code.

5. Import Cost

Understanding how dependencies impact your application is crucial. Import Cost helps by displaying the size of imported packages directly in the editor, so you can make informed decisions about which libraries to use.

You can install it by searching for the Import Cost extension in the VS Code marketplace.

Here’s an example demonstrating how Import Cost helps visualize the size difference between imports:

Bonus: Create Stories and design system with Jinno

Jinno isn’t just a live preview tool — it also enables you to create stories for your components, making it easier to document and test different prop configurations. With Jinno, you can save various prop examples, ensuring consistency across your project and improving collaboration with your team.

Example: Creating a Story in Jinno

Here’s an example of how you can define a story for a UsersList component using Jinno:

import { User } from './types';
import { UserIcon } from './UserIcon';

export default {
  examples: {
    default: {
      users: [
        {
          id: '1',
          username: 'snow123',
          name: 'John Snow',
          age: 25,
          avatar: UserIcon,
        } as User
      ],
    },
  },
};

This feature makes it simple to isolate components with predefined props, allowing for faster iteration and better debugging. You can install Jinno and start creating your own component stories by visiting the VS Code marketplace link here.

Conclusion

VS Code’s extensive extension marketplace provides countless tools to enhance your React development workflow. This article introduced some of the best ones for improving productivity, from linting and formatting to optimizing imports and enhancing styling workflows.

By integrating these extensions, you can make your development process smoother and more efficient. Happy coding!