While I don’t consider myself a power user or a professional software developer, I rely on Visual Studio Code (VSCode) on an almost daily basis. Over time, it has become my preferred code editor for everything from quickly testing a simple one-liner to building more advanced scripts and lightweight tools designed to automate repetitive tasks. Its speed, flexibility, and massive extension ecosystem make it an easy choice for both beginners and experienced users alike.
I use VSCode across a variety of workflows, including scripting, configuration management, infrastructure work, and general text editing. Whether I’m working with PowerShell, Python, YAML, or configuration files for automation platforms, VSCode consistently provides a clean, efficient, and customizable environment that helps me stay productive without getting in the way.
More recently, I’ve started experimenting with home automation, which naturally led me to install the Arduino IDE and explore microcontroller development. While those tools are useful in their own right, this post is intentionally focused on VSCode and the specific extensions I install every time I set up a new environment. These extensions help transform a basic editor into a powerful, AI-assisted development and automation platform.
One of the first things I enabled when getting started was the built-in AI functionality through GitHub Copilot. Copilot quickly became an invaluable companion, especially for writing boilerplate code, exploring unfamiliar languages, and speeding up common tasks. Even as a non-professional developer, having AI assistance directly inside the editor significantly lowers the friction of learning, experimenting, and building.
After installing VSCode, my setup process usually follows a simple and repeatable pattern. First, I sign in to VSCode using my GitHub account, which allows settings, extensions, and preferences to sync automatically across machines. This makes it incredibly easy to move between systems or rebuild a workstation without starting from scratch.
Once signed in, I open the Extensions panel and begin installing the core VSCode extensions that support my day-to-day workflow. These extensions cover everything from programming languages and infrastructure tools to visual enhancements that make code easier to read and maintain. The result is a highly personalized VSCode setup that feels lightweight, powerful, and perfectly suited to automation, scripting, and experimentation.
In the sections below, I’ll outline the Visual Studio Code extensions I rely on most, along with why each one earns a permanent spot in my editor.
Once signed in, enter Ctrl+Shift+X to launch Extensions and search for the following