20 essential shortcut

In this blog, I’ll share 20 essential shortcuts to enhance your productivity. We’ll start with 10 shortcuts for Visual Studio Code (VSCode) that developers will find invaluable, followed by 10 general shortcuts that every laptop user should know. While these shortcuts mainly focus on Windows, I’ll include variations for macOS and Linux where applicable.

10 Essential VSCode Shortcuts for Developers

1. Quick Open: Instantly open files.

  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + P
  • macOS: Cmd + P

2. Toggle Terminal: Open the integrated terminal.

  • Windows/Linux: `Ctrl + “`
  • macOS: `Cmd + “`

3. Command Palette: Access all commands.

  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + P or F1
  • macOS: Cmd + Shift + P or F1

4. Sidebar Toggle: Show or hide the sidebar.

  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + B
  • macOS: Cmd + B

5. Multi-line Editing: Edit multiple lines simultaneously.

  • Windows/Linux: Alt + Click
  • macOS: Option + Click

6. Split Editor: Open multiple files side by side.

  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + \
  • macOS: Cmd + \

7. Duplicate Line: Duplicate the current line or selection.

  • Windows/Linux: Shift + Alt + Up/Down
  • macOS: Shift + Option + Up/Down

8. Find in Files: Search across files.

  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + F
  • macOS: Cmd + Shift + F

9. Rename Symbol: Rename all instances of a symbol.

  • Windows/Linux: F2
  • macOS: F2

10. Comment/Uncomment Line: Quickly comment or uncomment a line.

  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + /
  • macOS: Cmd + /

(For more advanced features, visit the VSCode Extension Marketplace)

Read also: Microsoft Unveils AI-Driven Windows with Copilot+ PCs

Essential General Shortcuts for All Users

1. Copy/Paste: Basic but essential.

  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V
  • macOS: Cmd + C / Cmd + V

(Read more about essential Windows Keyboard Shortcuts)

2. Undo/Redo: Revert or restore changes.

  • Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y
  • macOS: Cmd + Z / Cmd + Shift + Z

3. Screenshot: Capture your screen.

  • Windows: PrtScn or Windows + Shift + S
  • macOS: Cmd + Shift + 3 (full screen) / Cmd + Shift + 4 (selection)
  • Linux: PrtScn or Shift + PrtScn (selection)

(Learn how to take screenshots on macOS from the Apple Support)

4. Task Manager: Open task manager to manage processes.

  • Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Esc
  • macOS: Cmd + Option + Esc
  • Linux: Ctrl + Shift + Esc or Ctrl + Alt + Del

5. Switch Applications: Quickly switch between open applications.

  • Windows/Linux: Alt + Tab
  • macOS: Cmd + Tab

6. Lock Screen: Secure your laptop quickly.

  • Windows: Windows + L
  • macOS: Ctrl + Cmd + Q
  • Linux: Ctrl + Alt + L

7. Open Settings: Access system settings.

  • Windows: Windows + I
  • macOS: Cmd + ,
  • Linux: Varies by distro, often accessible via system menu

8. Minimize All Windows: Clear your screen.

  • Windows: Windows + D
  • macOS: Cmd + Option + M
  • Linux: Ctrl + Alt + D

9. Virtual Desktops: Manage multiple desktops.

  • Windows: Windows + Ctrl + D (new desktop), Windows + Ctrl + Left/Right (switch)
  • macOS: Ctrl + Up (Mission Control), Ctrl + Left/Right (switch)
  • Linux: Ctrl + Alt + Left/Right or Super + S

(Discover more about Linux Keyboard Shortcuts)

10. Search: Quickly search your system.

  • Windows: Windows + S
  • macOS: Cmd + Space
  • Linux: Super + S or Ctrl + Alt + T (for terminal search)

These shortcuts will help you navigate your laptop and VSCode more efficiently, boosting your productivity and saving you time. Happy coding and computing!

Source: BlogTech