What is vscode-tips-and-tricks?

microsoft/vscode-tips-and-tricks — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-06-24

★ 9,068Audience · developerComplexity · 1/5Setup · easy

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((VS Code Tips))
    Topics
      Navigation shortcuts
      File management
      Git integration
    Editing Features
      Multi-cursor
      Code completion
      Debugging
    Audience
      VS Code beginners
      Developers
    Status
      Archived repo
      Moved to official docs

mindmap root((VS Code Tips)) Topics Navigation shortcuts File management Git integration Editing Features Multi-cursor Code completion Debugging Audience VS Code beginners Developers Status Archived repo Moved to official docs

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Learn time-saving VS Code keyboard shortcuts for navigation, file switching, and editing without touching the mouse.

USE CASE 2

Discover VS Code features like the Command Palette, multi-cursor editing, and split panes that speed up daily coding.

USE CASE 3

Use as a quick reference for Mac or Windows shortcuts when onboarding to VS Code for the first time.

How does it compare?

	microsoft/vscode-tips-and-tricks	jshint/jshint	cvhub520/x-anylabeling
Stars	9,068	9,068	9,067
Language	—	JavaScript	Python
Setup difficulty	easy	easy	moderate
Complexity	1/5	2/5	3/5
Audience	developer	developer	data

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

So what is it?

This repository is a collection of tips and shortcuts for Visual Studio Code, a free code editor made by Microsoft. The tips cover a wide range of topics including basic navigation, customizing the editor's appearance, using extensions, managing files and folders, editing efficiently, code completion, debugging, and working with Git, which is a tool for tracking changes to code over time. The content has since moved to the official Visual Studio Code documentation website, so new contributions and issue reports are now handled through a different Microsoft repository called vscode-docs. This repository remains available but is no longer the primary home for this material. The tips themselves are practical and hands-on. They show specific keyboard shortcuts for Mac and Windows, explain how to use features like the Command Palette (a search box that lets you run any editor command by name), and demonstrate things like opening files quickly, navigating between tabs, splitting the editor into multiple panes, and customizing the color theme. The README includes animated GIFs showing many features in action, which makes it useful for visual learners. This is not a programming project in the traditional sense. There is no code to run or install. It is a reference document aimed at people who use VS Code and want to get more out of it, whether they are just starting out or looking to speed up their workflow. If you want the most current version of this content, the official VS Code documentation website is the better place to look.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I'm new to VS Code. Give me a guided tour of the 10 most impactful keyboard shortcuts from this tips list, starting with the Command Palette and working up to multi-cursor editing.

Prompt 2

I rely on the mouse too much in VS Code. Show me keyboard shortcuts for switching between open files, jumping to a file by name, and navigating back and forward through recent cursor positions.

Prompt 3

Help me set up VS Code keybindings so I can open the integrated terminal, split the editor into two panes, and toggle the sidebar without ever using the mouse.

Prompt 4

List the essential VS Code shortcuts for working with Git inside the editor: staging files, viewing diffs, committing, and resolving merge conflicts entirely from the keyboard.

Frequently asked questions