VS Code

Overview

VS Code is a lightweight but extensible editor that dominates modern development. This reference documents a tuned configuration built for daily full-stack work — covering TypeScript, Rust, Python, Docker, and infrastructure-as-code workflows.

Essential settings

This settings.json is the editor-wide baseline for the whole workflow. It tunes the editor core — fonts, formatting, bracket guides, inlay hints — along with the window, terminal, Git, spell checking, and the Vim extension.

{
  // ── Editor Core ──
  "editor.fontFamily": "'Fira Code', 'monospace', 'Droid Sans Fallback'",
  "editor.fontSize": 14,
  "editor.fontWeight": "600",
  "editor.fontLigatures": true,
  "editor.lineNumbers": "on",
  "editor.cursorStyle": "block",
  "editor.insertSpaces": true,
  "editor.tabSize": 2,
  "editor.wordWrap": "wordWrapColumn",
  "editor.wordWrapColumn": 100,
  "editor.renderWhitespace": "none",
  "editor.renderControlCharacters": false,
  "editor.glyphMargin": false,
  "editor.minimap.enabled": false,
  "editor.matchBrackets": "always",
  "editor.guides.bracketPairs": true,
  "editor.suggestSelection": "first",
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
  "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
    "source.fixAll": "explicit",
    "source.fixAll.eslint": "explicit"
  },
  "editor.inlayHints.fontFamily": "Courier New",
  "editor.inlayHints.fontSize": 11,
  "editor.inlayHints.enabled": "on",
  "editor.unicodeHighlight.ambiguousCharacters": false,

  // ── Editor Default Formatter ──
  "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",

  // ── Window ──
  "window.menuBarVisibility": "toggle",
  "window.zoomLevel": 1.3,
  "window.confirmSaveUntitledWorkspace": false,
  "window.customTitleBarVisibility": "windowed",

  // ── Workbench ──
  "workbench.colorTheme": "Monokai",
  "workbench.iconTheme": "material-icon-theme",
  "workbench.startupEditor": "newUntitledFile",
  "workbench.tips.enabled": false,
  "workbench.settings.editor": "json",
  "workbench.settings.useSplitJSON": true,
  "workbench.list.horizontalScrolling": true,
  "workbench.secondarySideBar.defaultVisibility": "hidden",
  "workbench.colorCustomizations": {
    "[Monokai]": {
      "editor.background": "#0e0d0d",
      "sideBar.background": "#0e0d0d",
      "activityBar.background": "#0e0d0d",
      "editorLineNumber.foreground": "#434343",
      "editor.lineHighlightBackground": "#23292f",
      "editor.selectionBackground": "#3b3b3b",
      "terminal.background": "#0e0d0d",
      "statusBar.background": "#0e0d0d",
      "sideBarSectionHeader.background": "#0e0d0d",
      "tab.inactiveBackground": "#202020",
      "tab.border": "#0e0d0d",
      "titleBar.border": "#0e0d0d",
      "editorGroupHeader.tabsBackground": "#0e0d0d"
    }
  },

  // ── Explorer ──
  "explorer.confirmDragAndDrop": false,
  "explorer.confirmDelete": false,
  "files.exclude": {
    "**/.classpath": true,
    "**/.project": true,
    "**/.settings": true,
    "**/.factorypath": true
  },
  "breadcrumbs.enabled": false,

  // ── Terminal ──
  "terminal.integrated.fontFamily": "'Fira Code', 'monospace', 'Droid Sans Fallback'",
  "terminal.integrated.fontSize": 15,
  "terminal.integrated.lineHeight": 1.3,
  "terminal.integrated.gpuAcceleration": "on",
  "terminal.external.linuxExec": "terminator",

  // ── Git ──
  "git.confirmSync": false,
  "git.enableSmartCommit": true,

  // ── Files & Associations ──
  "files.associations": {
    "*.sh": "shellscript",
    ".env": "dotenv",
    ".env.*": "dotenv",
    "*.env": "dotenv",
    ".envrc": "dotenv"
  },

  "material-icon-theme.files.associations": {
    "**.html": "html"
  },

  // ── Chat / AI ──
  "chat.disableAIFeatures": true,

  // ── Spell Check ──
  "cSpell.useCustomDecorations": true,
  "cSpell.textDecoration": "underline dashed #FFFFFF2F",
  "cSpell.enabledFileTypes": {
    "json": false,
    "python": true
  },

  // ── Vim Extension ──
  "vim.insertModeKeyBindings": [
    { "before": ["j", "j"], "after": ["<Esc>"] }
  ],
  "vim.cursorStylePerMode.insert": "line-thin",
  "vim.cursorStylePerMode.normal": "block",
  "vim.handleKeys": {
    "<C-c>": false,
    "<C-x>": false,
    "<C-v>": false,
    "<C-w>": false,
    "<C-d>": false,
    "<C-s>": false,
    "<C-z>": false,
    "<C-a>": false
  },

  // ── Debug ──
  "debug.console.fontSize": 14.5,
  "debug.console.fontFamily": "'Fira Code', 'monospace', 'Droid Sans Fallback'",
  "debug.allowBreakpointsEverywhere": false,
  "debug.breakpointsView.presentation": "tree",

  // ── YAML ──
  "yaml.validate": false,
  "yaml.customTags": [
    "!And", "!If", "!Not", "!Equals", "!Or", "!FindInMap",
    "!Base64", "!Join", "!Cidr", "!Ref", "!Sub", "!GetAtt",
    "!GetAZs", "!ImportValue", "!Select", "!Split"
  ],

  // ── Diff ──
  "diffEditor.ignoreTrimWhitespace": false,
  "json.schemaDownload.trustedDomains": {
    "https://json.schemastore.org/": true,
    "https://opencode.ai/config.json": true
  }
}

Language-specific settings

TypeScript / JavaScript

These settings keep TS/TSX files formatted with Prettier, sync import paths automatically when a file is moved or renamed, and surface parameter names as inlay hints so signatures are readable without hovering.

{
  "[typescript]": {
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"
  },
  "[typescriptreact]": {
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"
  },
  "js/ts.updateImportsOnFileMove.enabled": "always",
  "js/ts.inlayHints.parameterNames.enabled": "all",
  "js/ts.tsserver.experimental.enableProjectDiagnostics": true
}

Python

Python files are formatted with Black and wrapped at 100 columns, while the Pylance language server runs in basic type-checking mode so type errors surface in the editor before the code ever runs.

{
  "[python]": {
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "ms-python.black-formatter",
    "editor.wordWrap": "wordWrapColumn",
    "editor.wordWrapColumn": 100
  },
  "python.languageServer": "Pylance",
  "python.analysis.typeCheckingMode": "basic"
}

Rust

Rust Analyzer handles both formatting and language features here. Callable snippets auto-fill function arguments at call sites, and diagnostics for inactive code are disabled to keep the problems panel focused.

{
  "[rust]": {
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "rust-lang.rust-analyzer"
  },
  "rust-analyzer.completion.callable.snippets": "fill_arguments",
  "rust-analyzer.diagnostics.disabled": ["inactive-code"]
}

Go

Go files use the official Go extension for formatting, with imports organized automatically on save — no manual goimports step. The Go toolchain also keeps itself updated in the background.

{
  "[go]": {
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "golang.go",
    "editor.insertSpaces": true,
    "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
      "source.organizeImports": "explicit"
    }
  },
  "go.toolsManagement.autoUpdate": true
}

Terraform

Formatting is deferred to a save-time code action rather than running on every save, and the experimental features add on-save validation plus auto-filling of required resource fields.

{
  "[terraform]": {
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "hashicorp.terraform",
    "editor.formatOnSave": false,
    "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
      "source.formatAll.terraform": "always"
    }
  },
  "terraform.experimentalFeatures.validateOnSave": true,
  "terraform.experimentalFeatures.prefillRequiredFields": true
}

Docker / Compose

Compose files are YAML, so they reuse the Red Hat YAML extension with two-space indentation and advanced auto-indent. The heavier Compose language server is disabled in favor of the lighter YAML tooling.

{
  "[dockercompose]": {
    "editor.insertSpaces": true,
    "editor.tabSize": 2,
    "editor.autoIndent": "advanced",
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "redhat.vscode-yaml"
  },
  "docker.extension.enableComposeLanguageServer": false
}

Shell

Shell scripts are formatted with shfmt on save and linted continuously by ShellCheck, catching syntax errors and quoting pitfalls before you run the script.

{
  "[shellscript]": {
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "mkhl.shfmt",
    "editor.formatOnSave": true,
    "shellcheck.enable": true
  },
  "shfmt.executablePath": "/usr/bin/shfmt"
}

Markdown

Markdown is set up for comfortable long-form writing: text wraps at 120 columns, whitespace is visible so tables stay aligned, and quick suggestions are disabled to keep the editor quiet while typing prose.

{
  "[markdown]": {
    "editor.wordWrap": "wordWrapColumn",
    "editor.wordWrapColumn": 120,
    "editor.renderWhitespace": "all",
    "editor.quickSuggestions": { "other": "off", "comments": "off", "strings": "off" },
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode"
  }
}

SQL

SQL files are formatted by Prettier-SQL with the dialect pinned to PostgreSQL, so keyword casing and quoting always match your database.

{
  "[sql]": {
    "editor.defaultFormatter": "inferrinizzard.prettier-sql-vscode"
  },
  "Prettier-SQL.SQLFlavourOverride": "postgresql"
}

Recommended extensions

Extension	Purpose
esbenp.prettier-vscode	Code formatter
dbaeumer.vscode-eslint	ESLint integration
rust-lang.rust-analyzer	Rust language server
golang.go	Go language support
ms-python.python + ms-python.black-formatter	Python + formatting
hashicorp.terraform	Terraform syntax and validation
ms-azuretools.vscode-docker	Docker support
redhat.vscode-yaml	YAML language support
mkhl.shfmt	Shell script formatting
inferrinizzard.prettier-sql-vscode	SQL formatting
streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker	Spell checking
PKief.material-icon-theme	File icon theme
vscodevim.vim	Vim keybindings
ahmadalli.vscode-nginx-conf	Nginx config syntax
ms-vscode.cpptools	C/C++ language support

Keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+P	Quick file open
Ctrl+Shift+P	Command palette
`Ctrl+``	Toggle terminal
Ctrl+B	Toggle sidebar
Ctrl+Shift+E	Explorer
Ctrl+Shift+F	Search across files
Ctrl+D	Select next occurrence
Ctrl+Shift+L	Select all occurrences
Alt+Up/Down	Move line up/down
Ctrl+/	Toggle comment
Ctrl+Shift+K	Delete line
Ctrl+Enter	Insert line below
F2	Rename symbol
F12	Go to definition
Ctrl+Shift+F12	Find all references

See also

• Vim Reference — modal editing and configuration
• Bash & Shell Scripting — shell scripting reference