Introduction
Let’s be clear – I’m not a coding expert. And that’s exactly why I rely on simple tools, practical tricks, and a bit of help from AI to work more efficiently and get things done.
Here are a few of the tools and habits I use daily.
Auto formatting
One of the best things I’ve discovered recently is the ability to auto-format code. For someone like me, who likes structure, messy code is unbearable. 😂
Thankfully, it’s super easy: just press ALT + SHIFT + F and like magic, your code is neatly formatted. You just need to have the appropriate extension installed for the language you’re working in. For me, that’s the PowerShell extension for VS Code.
You can also go into Settings and enable “Format on Save”, which will automatically tidy up your code every time you hit save. You can even choose whether it should format the whole file or only the parts you’ve changed since the last save. Very handy!
Using AI to generate comments
I get it – maybe you’re still skeptical about AI.
But like it or not, it’s here to stay – so why not use it to your advantage?
I use AI for many parts of my workflow, and VS Code is no exception. Let’s be honest: no one enjoys writing comments for their own code. After all, it’s perfectly self-explanatory… right? 😎
This is where AI comes in handy. There are probably several ways to do it, but my go-to is simple: I select the whole script, open the Editor Inline Chat with CTRL + I, and ask it to generate comments for me.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just someone who codes occasionally like me, small tricks like these can make a big difference. Auto-formatting keeps your code clean and readable, and using AI to generate comments saves time – while also making your scripts easier to maintain (for yourself or others).
The best part? These are all easy wins. No complex setup, no steep learning curve – just practical tools to help you work smarter, not harder.
Give them a try and see how much smoother your coding sessions can be.
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