7 VS Code Shortcuts

I got a new keyboard which messed with my keyboard shortcut muscle memory so I had to look them all up again and retrain my brain. Learn these 7 tricks jealous coworkers hate to supercharge your workflow and retire in Malta.

Multiple Cursors

I learned the other day that some devs I work with don’t know the VS Code multiple cursor shortcuts. For me these are big game changers.

1. Insert cursors on each selected line
   Mac: Select lines, press Option + Shift + I Windows: Select lines, press Alt + Shift + I
   This places a cursor at the end of every selected line.

2. Insert multiple cursors one at a time
   Mac: Hold Option, then click.
   Windows: Hold Alt, then click.

3. Click and drag for multiple cursors
   Mac: Hold Option + Shift, then click + drag.
   Windows: Hold Alt + Shift, then click + drag.
   This is “column selection” mode in VS Code.

4. Add cursor at each regex match
   Mac: Cmd + F → enable regex → type pattern → press Option + Enter
   Windows: Ctrl + F → enable regex → type pattern → press Alt + Enter

5. Add cursor at end of each line
   Mac: Cmd + Option + ↓
   Windows: Ctrl + Alt + ↓

Misc Handy Stuff

6. Select all occurrences of word
   Mac: Cmd + D
   Windows: Ctrl + D

7. Move line up/down
   Mac: Option + ↑
   Windows: Option + ↑