The Ultimate VS Code Cheatsheet

# ── macOS ──
brew install --cask visual-studio-code

# ── Ubuntu/Debian ──
sudo apt update
sudo apt install wget gpg
wget -qO- https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor > packages.microsoft.gpg
sudo install -D -o root -g root -m 644 packages.microsoft.gpg /etc/apt/keyrings/packages.microsoft.gpg
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/packages.microsoft.gpg] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/code stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list > /dev/null
sudo apt update && sudo apt install code

# ── Fedora/RHEL ──
sudo rpm --import https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc
sudo dnf install code

# ── Windows ──
# Download from https://code.visualstudio.com/
# Or via winget:
winget install Microsoft.VisualStudioCode

# ── Verify Installation ──
code --version

# ── Open Files/Directories ──
code                    # launch VS Code
code .                  # open current directory
code file.ts            # open a specific file
code file1.ts file2.ts  # open multiple files
code -r .               # open in last active window
code -n .               # open in new window
code -g                 # open VS Code Insiders

# ── Diff Files ──
code --diff file1.ts file2.ts

# ── Pipe to VS Code ──
echo "hello" | code -   # read from stdin

# ── Install Extensions from CLI ──
code --install-extension dbaeumer.vscode-eslint
code --uninstall-extension extension-id
code --list-extensions

{
  "breadcrumbs.enabled": true,
  "editor.minimap.enabled": true,
  "editor.minimap.maxColumn": 80,
  "editor.minimap.renderCharacters": false,
  "editor.minimap.size": "proportional",
  "workbench.editor.wrapTabs": true,
  "workbench.editor.showTabs": "multiple",
  "workbench.editor.highlightModifiedTabs": true,
  "workbench.editor.pinnedTabSizing": "shrink",
  "explorer.fileNesting.enabled": true,
  "explorer.fileNesting.patterns": {
    "*.ts": "${capture}.js, ${capture}.d.ts, ${capture}.js.map",
    "*.component.ts": "${capture}.component.html, ${capture}.component.css"
  }
}

{
  "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.linux": "bash",
  "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.osx": "zsh",
  "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.windows": "PowerShell",
  "terminal.integrated.fontSize": 14,
  "terminal.integrated.fontFamily": "'Fira Code', monospace",
  "terminal.integrated.cursorBlinking": true,
  "terminal.integrated.scrollback": 5000,
  "terminal.integrated.env.osx": { "ZDOTDIR": "/Users/me/.zsh" }
}

# ── Terminal Shortcuts ──
Ctrl+Shift+`          # Create new terminal
Ctrl+Shift+5          # Split terminal (horizontal)
Ctrl+Shift+2          # Split terminal (vertical)
Ctrl+PageUp/PageDown  # Navigate between terminals
Ctrl+Shift+Delete     # Kill active terminal
Ctrl+Shift+C/V        # Copy/Paste in terminal

# ── Code Folding ──
Ctrl+Shift+[     # Fold (collapse) region
Ctrl+Shift+]     # Unfold (expand) region
Ctrl+K Ctrl+0    # Fold all regions
Ctrl+K Ctrl+J    # Unfold all regions
Ctrl+K Ctrl+1    # Fold level 1
Ctrl+K Ctrl+2    # Fold level 2
Ctrl+K Ctrl+[    # Fold at cursor

# ── Zen Mode (Distraction Free) ──
Ctrl+K Z         # Toggle Zen Mode
# Esc Esc to exit Zen Mode

# ── CLI Extension Commands ──
code --install-extension publisher.extensionName
code --uninstall-extension publisher.extensionName
code --list-extensions
code --list-extensions --show-versions
code --disable-extension publisher.extensionName
code --enable-extension publisher.extensionName

# ── Sync Settings ──
# Settings Sync is built-in (Sign in with GitHub/Microsoft)
# Syncs: Settings, Keyboard Shortcuts, Snippets, Extensions, UI State

# ── Install from .vsix File ──
code --install-extension my-extension.vsix

{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "type": "node",
      "request": "launch",
      "name": "Launch Program",
      "program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/index.ts",
      "preLaunchTask": "npm: build",
      "outFiles": ["${workspaceFolder}/dist/**/*.js"],
      "sourceMaps": true,
      "smartStep": true,
      "skipFiles": ["<node_internals>/**"]
    },
    {
      "type": "node",
      "request": "attach",
      "name": "Attach to Process",
      "port": 9229,
      "restart": true,
      "stopOnEntry": false
    },
    {
      "type": "node",
      "request": "launch",
      "name": "Jest Tests",
      "program": "${workspaceFolder}/node_modules/.bin/jest",
      "args": ["--runInBand", "--no-cache"],
      "console": "integratedTerminal"
    }
  ],
  "compounds": [
    {
      "name": "Full Stack",
      "configurations": ["Launch Server", "Launch Client"],
      "preLaunchTask": "npm: build",
      "stopAll": true
    }
  ]
}

[
  {
    "key": "ctrl+k ctrl+ctrl+k",
    "command": "editor.action.formatDocument",
    "when": "editorTextFocus"
  },
  {
    "key": "ctrl+shift+up",
    "command": "editor.action.moveLinesUpAction",
    "when": "editorTextFocus && !editorReadonly"
  },
  {
    "key": "ctrl+d",
    "command": "editor.action.copyLinesDownAction",
    "when": "editorTextFocus && !editorReadonly"
  },
  {
    "key": "alt+/",
    "command": "editor.action.triggerSuggest",
    "when": "editorTextFocus"
  }
]

{
  "React Component": {
    "prefix": "rfc",
    "body": [
      "import React from 'react';",
      "",
      "interface ${1:${TM_FILENAME_BASE}}Props {",
      "  ${2:// props}",
      "}",
      "",
      "export default function ${1:${TM_FILENAME_BASE}}({${3:props}}: ${1:${TM_FILENAME_BASE}}Props) {",
      "  return (",
      "    <div>",
      "      ${4:// content}",
      "    </div>",
      "  );",
      "}"
    ],
    "description": "Create React Functional Component"
  },
  "Console Log": {
    "prefix": "cl",
    "body": ["console.log('${1:message}', ${2:variable});"],
    "description": "Insert console.log statement"
  }
}

{
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
  "editor.formatOnPaste": true,
  "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
  "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
    "source.fixAll.eslint": "explicit",
    "source.organizeImports": "explicit"
  },
  "editor.suggestSelection": "first",
  "editor.tabCompletion": "on",
  "editor.bracketPairColorization.enabled": true,
  "editor.guides.bracketPairs": true,
  "editor.inlineSuggest.enabled": true,
  "editor.stickyScroll.enabled": true,
  "editor.linkedEditing": true,
  "editor.wordWrapColumn": 120,
  "files.autoSave": "afterDelay",
  "files.autoSaveDelay": 1000,
  "explorer.confirmDelete": false,
  "explorer.confirmDragAndDrop": false,
  "git.autofetch": true,
  "git.confirmSync": false,
  "terminal.integrated.scrollback": 10000,
  "workbench.startupEditor": "none"
}