Tool and Code Extensions for Developers

Development tool extensions enhance IDE capabilities, automate workflows, and integrate specialized tools into development environments. This collection explores extensions for Visual Studio, VS Code, and other development tools that improve productivity and code quality.

Extension Value and Selection

Productivity Extensions accelerate development through code generation, refactoring assistance, and workflow automation. Effective extensions integrate seamlessly into existing workflows without adding complexity or performance overhead.

Code Quality Tools provide linting, static analysis, and formatting capabilities that maintain code standards across teams. Extensions like analyzers, code cleanup tools, and style enforcers ensure consistency.

Specialized Tool Integration connects IDEs with external services, build systems, cloud platforms, and version control systems, creating unified development experiences.

Articles in this section highlight valuable extensions for .NET development, web development, and DevOps workflows. Topics include extension configuration, performance impact considerations, and balancing extension benefits with IDE performance.

The goal is curating high-value extensions that genuinely improve development efficiency without creating extension bloat or stability issues. Quality over quantity drives extension selection.

Still Waiting for the Final Piece: When C# 14 Comes Close, But Not Quite There

Still Waiting for the Final Piece: When C# 14 Comes Close, But Not Quite There

C# 14 introduces the new ‘Extension Everything’ syntax—an elegant step toward more expressive code, yet one that still can’t quite match VB.NET’s classic ByRef magic. A humorous reflection on what’s almost, but not fully, possible in .NET 10.
Illuminate Technical Debt

Illuminate Technical Debt

Whatever our role, be it developer, IT professional or architect, we try to avoid technical debt. If this is not possible from the outset, or if we decide to accept this technical debt for a limited period of time, we usually lack the tools to do so. This is where this article may help.