Essential VS Code Hotkeys for Developer Productivity

As developers, one of the biggest productivity gains comes from mastering editor navigation and manipulation. Being able to quickly find functions, jump between files, and edit code efficiently lets us focus more on solving hard problems rather than fighting with our editor.

Here are my favorite VS Code productivity techniques and hotkeys. Especially useful is the # command to search symbols across your workspace.

Navigation

File Navigation

• Cmd + P: Quick open files with fuzzy search
• @: Jump to symbols in current file
• #: Search symbols across workspace
• %: Search text across all files

Go Back/Forward

• Ctrl + -: Jump back to previous cursor locations
• Ctrl + Shift + -: Go forward to next cursor location
• Works across files and cursor positions

Last Edit Location

• Cmd + K, Cmd + Q: Jump to where you last made an edit
• Great for returning after exploring other files

Switch Between Recent Tabs

• Ctrl + Tab: Show and cycle through recent tabs
• Quick tap to toggle between last 2 files
• Hold to see full list ordered by recency

Go to Line/Column

• Open command palette: :22 jumps to line 22
• :22:10 jumps to line 22, column 10
• Helpful for stack traces and minified files

Definition & References

• Ctrl + Click or F12: Go to definition
• Shift + F12: Find all references
• Great for exploring unfamiliar codebases

Editing

Line Operations

• Option + Shift + ↑/↓: Duplicate line up/down
• Option + ↑/↓: Move line up/down ("bubble" lines)
• Works with multiple selected lines

Smart Selection

• Option + ←/→: Move by word
• Option + Shift + ←/→: Select by word
• Cmd + ←/→: Jump to line start/end
• Cmd + K, ;: Select within quotes (requires Quick and Simple Text Selection plugin)

Expanding Selection

• Cmd + Shift + ←/→: Select to line start/end
• Search "Expand Selection to Scope" in command palette
• Incrementally selects larger code blocks

Quote Management

• Cmd + ': Toggle between quote types (with plugin)
• Works with single, double, and backtick quotes

Pro Tips

Use the Command Palette

• Cmd + Shift + P: Opens command palette
• Search for commands you can't remember
• Shows keyboard shortcuts for commands

Enable Breadcrumbs

• Shows file location and code structure
• Quick navigation between sibling files
• Access symbols and file hierarchy

Remember: The goal is to minimize mouse usage and maximize keyboard efficiency. Start with a few shortcuts and gradually incorporate more as they become muscle memory.

Source: MAXIMUM VS Code Productivity — Navigating Codebases Quickly - YouTube. Thanks to Wes Bos for the video.