Mastering Visual Studio Code Comment Shortcuts on Mac: A Comprehensive Guide

As a developer, you're always looking for ways to improve your coding efficiency and speed. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by utilizing keyboard shortcuts. In this article, we'll dive into the world of Visual Studio Code comment shortcuts on Mac, showcasing some of the most powerful and time-saving techniques.

Select All Occurrences of Current Selection

Before we begin, let's start with a simple yet incredibly useful shortcut: `Ctrl+Shift+Alt +PgDn` (Windows) or `Cmd+Shift+Opt +PgDn` (Mac). This command allows you to select all occurrences of the current selection, saving you from tedious manual searching and replacement.

Search and Replace

Another essential shortcut is `Ctrl+K Ctrl+D` (Windows) or `Cmd+K Cmd+D` (Mac), which enables Windows-style search and replace functionality. With this shortcut, you can quickly find and replace specific text patterns in your code.

Insert Cursor at End of Each Line Selected

When working with multiple lines of code, it's often necessary to insert the cursor at the end of each line. To do so, use `Ctrl+Shift+Alt +Right Arrow` (Windows) or `Cmd+Shift+Opt +Right Arrow` (Mac). This shortcut is particularly useful when debugging or modifying large sections of code.

General Line and Copy Line Shortcuts

Two additional general shortcuts worth mentioning are `Alt +Enter` (Windows) or `Option +Return` (Mac), which inserts a new line at the current cursor position, and `Ctrl+C` (Windows) or `Cmd+C` (Mac), which copies the selected text. These shortcuts work equally well for empty selections.

Collapse/Unfold Region

When working with large code files, it's often helpful to collapse or unfold specific regions of code. To do so, use `Ctrl+Shift+'` (Windows) or `Cmd+Shift+'` (Mac). This shortcut is particularly useful when trying to focus on a specific part of the code.

Multi-Cursor and Selection Shortcuts

Visual Studio Code provides robust multi-cursor and selection capabilities, which can greatly enhance your coding experience. To create multiple cursors, use `Ctrl+Shift+Alt +Left Click` (Windows) or `Cmd+Shift+Opt +Left Click` (Mac). You can also use `Ctrl+Shift+Alt +Right Click` (Windows) or `Cmd+Shift+Opt +Right Click` to create a new selection while keeping the original selection intact.

Customizing Shortcuts

One of the most significant benefits of using Visual Studio Code is its flexibility. You can customize your shortcuts by assigning a different shortcut to any given command. To do so, open the Options dialog box, expand the Environment node, and then choose Keyboard.

In conclusion, mastering Visual Studio Code comment shortcuts on Mac can significantly enhance your coding experience. By incorporating these powerful shortcuts into your workflow, you'll be able to work more efficiently and effectively, saving time and increasing productivity. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, this comprehensive guide will help you unlock the full potential of Visual Studio Code and take your coding skills to the next level.

Get Your Printable Keyboard Shortcut Cheatsheet

For an easy-to-reference printable cheatsheet of keyboard shortcuts for Visual Studio, click here. With this handy resource, you'll always have access to the most powerful shortcuts at your fingertips.

Additional Resources

For more information about accessibility in Visual Studio, see Accessibility tips and tricks and How to: Use the keyboard exclusively. Additionally, if you're looking for a comprehensive list of common keyboard shortcuts and other productivity information, be sure to check out 'Do not download software from unofficial websites.'.

Visual studio code comment shortcut mac