12 VS Code Extensions I Install on Every New Setup (2026) Fresh install of VS Code? These are the first things I add. Essential (Can't Work Without) 1. Error Lens — See Errors Inline Instead of hovering over red squigglies to see the error, Error Lens shows it right in the code: // Before: hover to see "Type 'string' is not assignable to type 'number'" const age : number = " twenty-five " ; // ❌ ??? // After: const age : number = " twenty-five " ; // Type 'string' is not assignable to type 'number' ← visible instantly! Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode Saves me ~50 hovers per day. 2. GitLens — Git Supercharged # What this extension gives you: # - Current line blame (who wrote this, when) # - File history at a glance # - Compare branches visually # - Search commits by message/content # - See who changed a specific line Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode The inline blame alone is worth the install. Hover over any line → see who changed it and when. 3.…