Issue #72  (Rename Symbol Command)09/06/23

VS Code has a bunch of refactoring features that are described in detail in the Refactoring article in the VS Code docs, which I've discussed briefly before.

One particular refactoring-related feature is VS Code's Rename Symbol command, which is accessible by hitting F2 on your keyboard. This is a useful shortcut for Windows users because F2 is the universal shortcut for renaming.

This feature allows you to rename any variable, function, or other symbol in your code and the name change will be applied to all the places where that symbol is referenced.
 
When you hit F2 and rename the symbol, you'll notice an option to apply it immediately to all instances by hitting ENTER. But you can also choose SHIFT+ENTER, which allows you to preview the rename operation.
 
This opens a "Refactor Preview" panel that allows you to review the changes that are going to take place before you commit to them. This would be useful for a large file or possibly for an inherited project that you may not know the full scope of.

And if you happen to prefer not to see the option to 'preview' your rename operation, you can disable it in your settings:
 
While this does clean up the UI a bit for the rename operation, I don't think it's all that bad to have that option always enabled (as it is by default). If it's enabled, you'll always have the option to preview the operation rather than potentially forgetting it's there.

Now on to this week's hand-picked links!
 

VS Code Tools

Edwin Kofler's VS Code Config — A VS Code configuration to add to your settings.jsonc to disable popular extensions' annoyances (telemetry, notifications, welcome pages, etc).

novel-vscode — A VS Code extension for Novel, the popular open-source Notion-style WYSIWYG editor with AI-powered autocompletions.

Seamless Project, Seamless Talent! — With Toptal, you don't just hire freelancers; you partner with industry experts. Say goodbye to prolonged hiring processes and hello to instant matches with the top 3% talent pool.  Sponsor 

Decompiler — A VS Code extension that lets you decompile binary executables, Java Jar archives, Android APKs, Python .pyc and .pyo, and more.

VS Code Articles & Videos

VS Code for PHP and Laravel — A workspace setup tutorial to help you get started using VS Code for PHP and Laravel development.

How to Disable the Red Underlines in VS Code — In case you wanted to disable the underlines that indicate errors in your code, this quick tip explains how to disable it for a specific language or globally.

Bytes: Your Favourite JavaScript Newsletter — I subscribe to a lot of newsletters, but this is definitely one I look forward to. Entertaining with lots of cool and useful JavaScript coding tidbits, news, and tools.   Sponsor 

▶ Accept Quick Fixes and Code Actions in VS Code — This is a quick video tip on accepting fixes to your code that are indicated by the aforementioned wavy underlines.

Best of the Rest

Toolbox App 2.0 Overhauls Installations and Updates — The latest update to the JetBrains Toolbox App that allows you to easily manager your IDEs.

Codesphere — A Cloud IDE that lets you collaborate live, streamline workflows, and scale effortlessly on one platform.

Flintable — A playground that lets you play with ESLint fixable rules, with support for vanilla JavaScript, with TypeScript, Vue, and React in the pipeline.

Suggestions?

If you have any link suggestions, including a tool, article, or other resources related to VS Code or another IDE, send it via DM on X: @LouisLazaris or just hit reply on this email.

That's it for this issue.

Happy VS Coding!
Louis
VSCode.Email
@LouisLazaris