Microsoft’s Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is called Visual Studio (IDE). It can be used to create PC programs, websites, web apps, online services, mobile applications, etc. Visual Studio uses platforms like Windows API, Windows Forms, Windows Presentation Foundation, and Windows Store to develop applications. Visual Studio’s extensibility via plugins and extensions is one of the reasons for its popularity. These add-ons extend the IDE’s basic capabilities, allowing users to speed up and simplify the development process.
Here is a list of must-have Visual Studio extensions for developers:
- Visual Studio Spell Checker
Perfect for spell-checking code remarks and simple text strings, so that code files are of higher quality and easier to read. Spell Checker is a free plugin that works with Visual Studio 2017 and beyond. It assists with spelling checks and corrections in remarks and simple text as they are written. It may even check the spelling of a complete code file or solution.
- Code Maid
Ideal for teams searching for a free tool to perform essential cleaning work in existing code files, such as formatting comments, removing random whitespace, and so forth. Code Maid is a free Visual Studio add-on that simplifies code files for all languages supported by the IDE, including XML, JS, JSON, Typescript, C#, and others.
- VS Color Output
Suitable for teams or developers who rely significantly on output and execution files and need the means to differentiate between the different log types and sections. VSColor Output is a free extension that allows users to customize the text color of the output that is generated when an application is run or debugged.
- Resharper
Suitable for Microsoft Visual Studio teams searching for a competent refactoring solution and a tool to assist in the development of high-quality apps. JetBrains Resharper is a very popular add-on for Microsoft Visual Studio. It may automate a variety of tasks relating to compiler mistakes, runtime errors, and redundancies, as well as provide intelligent ways for resolving problems.
- Visual Studio IntelliCode
As users modify the code files, an intelligent recommender will auto-complete code snippets as a drop-down. In VS 2019 version 16.3 and higher, Intellicode is preinstalled. It is available as a free plugin for previous versions.
- SQLite and SQL Server Compact Toolbox
Suitable for teams working on a large number of data-intensive tasks that must connect to databases regularly for query execution or schema validation. This extension allows users to add a variety of functionality, such as connecting databases, querying multiple tables, and obtaining results in the necessary formats.
- SlowCheetah
Great for teams with multiple environment setups and several application config settings files to handle for each of those environments. By pressing F5 in Visual Studio, you can automatically change the application config or any other configuration or settings document across the build configurations.
- Visual Assist
Visual Assist is ideal for teams searching for a professional refactoring tool as well as those working on the development of games using the UE4 engines. Visual Assist fills in the gaps in the coding experience, extending the capabilities of Visual Studio and making it a better IDE.
