Supercharge Your React and React Native Project Initiation with These Must Have VS Code Plugins

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) has become the go-to choice for many developers when it comes to code editing and customization. With its vast collection of extensions, VS Code allows developers to enhance their productivity and streamline their workflows. In this blog post, we will explore a selection of essential VS Code plugins that can significantly improve your React and React Native (R&RN) project initiation process. Let's dive in!

1. Auto Import: Downloads: 3,206,622 | Reviews: 111
   A powerful plugin that simplifies the process of importing modules in your projects. It automatically detects and suggests imports as you type, eliminating the need to manually search and add import statements. With numerous downloads and positive reviews, this plugin has proven to be a favorite among developers.
2. Code Spell Checker: Downloads: 7,504,874 | Reviews: 241
   Code Spell Checker is a handy tool for detecting and highlighting spelling errors in your code. It ensures that you maintain clean and error-free code by catching typos and misspelled words. With an extensive user base and positive feedback, this plugin helps you maintain code quality and readability. This makes long string in PRs a walk to the beach.
   "Especially if your first language is not English, like myself"
3. Color Highlight: Downloads: 5,560,107 | Reviews: 88
   When working with front-end projects, visualizing colors in your code is essential. Color Highlight automatically detects and highlights color codes (e.g., HEX, RGB) in your code, making it easier to identify and manipulate colors. This plugin enhances the visual representation of your stylesheets and improves development efficiency.
4. ES7 React/Redux/GraphQL/React-Native Snippets: Downloads: 25,574 | no reviews
   This plugin offers a comprehensive set of code snippets specifically tailored for React, Redux, GraphQL, and React Native development. By providing shortcuts for commonly used code patterns, it significantly reduces the time and effort required to write repetitive code. Although it may have a lower download count, its utility for R&RN projects cannot be underestimated. "rfc is my favorite shortcut, it writes a Functional Component template".
5. Git History: Downloads: 8,832,129 | Reviews: 155
   Git History is an invaluable plugin for developers using version control systems like Git. It allows you to visualize and browse through your project's commit history directly within VS Code. With this plugin, you can quickly track changes, compare revisions, and gain a deeper understanding of your project's development timeline.
   "This was working before" - best friend.
6. Import Cost: Downloads: 2,859,801 | Reviews: 53
   Import Cost is a plugin that calculates and displays the size of imported packages or modules in your code. It helps you identify the impact of different dependencies on your project's bundle size. By providing this information upfront, Import Cost enables you to make informed decisions when choosing third-party libraries or optimizing your code.
   The importance of size/weight in mobile apps cannot be overstated, as it is a definite advantage to take into account the limitations imposed by size constraints.
7. Jest Runner: Downloads: 867,567 | Reviews: 50
   Testing with Jest is a common practice. Jest Runner streamlines the testing process by allowing you to run and debug your Jest tests directly within VS Code. It provides a convenient interface for executing tests and viewing the results, enhancing your testing workflow and productivity.
8. npm Dependencies Link: Downloads: 70,235 | Reviews: 5
   Managing npm dependencies is an integral part of any React or React Native project. npm Dependencies Link simplifies this task by providing quick access to the documentation of installed packages. With a single click, you can navigate to the package's official documentation, saving you time and effort during development.
9. Turbo Console Log: Downloads: 878,010 | Reviews: 67
   Debugging is an essential aspect of software development, and Turbo Console Log makes it easier. With this plugin, you can quickly insert console.log statements in your code with a keyboard shortcut. It saves you from writing repetitive logging statements manually and helps you debug applications effectively.
10. Version Lens: Downloads: 1,266,854 | Reviews: 71
    Version Lens is a plugin that provides enhanced visibility into your project's package dependencies. It displays the latest version of each installed package directly in your package.json file. This information allows you to keep track of outdated dependencies and easily update them to benefit from new features, bug fixes, and security patches.
11. GitHub Copilot: Downloads: 7,443,006 | Reviews: 902
    Is an AI-powered code completion tool that provides intelligent suggestions for writing code in various programming languages, including R&RN. While not a traditional VS Code plugin, it is an innovative tool that can greatly assist developers during the early stages of development.

By incorporating these essential VS Code plugins into your R&RN development workflow, you can streamline your project initiation and maximize your productivity. These plugins, recommended by top developers and authors, offer features such as automatic imports, code spell-checking, color highlighting, code snippets, version control visualization, dependency management, debugging enhancements, and more. Explore these plugins, tailor them to your needs, and witness a significant boost in your R&RN development journey.

Happy coding!

While there are no guarantees for a happy ending, lets make a pleasant journey - Miguel Garcia.

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