It's hard to argue that VS Code isn't one of the most powerful code editors. What makes the tool stand out isn't just its features or easy-to-use interface, though. Instead, it's the ability to customize the tool and make it even more powerful by downloading extensions.

If you currently rely on the tool for web development, chances are you've downloaded some web development related VS Code extensions to speed up your workflow, like Live Server and Tabnine. If you primarily use VS Code to code in Python, you might have downloaded extensions like Ruff or Excalidraw.

Like most, I also primarily rely on the code editor for… well, coding, and most of the extensions I've downloaded are meant to help me write better code and improve my workflow. At the same time, I use a few silly extensions that don’t help me code better at all. They just make the process more enjoyable, playful, and somehow more fun.

Vs Code Pets

The first silly extension I downloaded while goofing around with my friends during our first programming class was VS Code Pets. This extension adds a little virtual pet to your editor that walks, jumps, and often just chills in the corner of your screen while you code. Frankly, just glancing over at the corner of my screen and seeing a pet hanging out there when I can't figure out why my code won't compile is oddly comforting.

You can choose from different pets like a bunny, cat, chicken, crab, fox, and more. The best part is you're not limited to having only one pet at a time. You can add multiple pets and even name them. By clicking a button in the menu, you can also drop a ball into your editor for them to play with. Once you do, all your pets chase it around, and as ridiculous as it sounds, it never fails to make me smile.

VS Code Pokemeon

If you're a Pokémon fan and would rather have Pokémon characters running around your code instead of virtual pets, the VS Code Pokémon extension is perfect for you. It lets you spawn different Pokémon that wander around your editor window as you work.

You can choose which Pokémon appear, adjust how many show up, and even interact with them. classic Generation 1 Pokémon like Pikachu, Charmander, and Bulbasaur, or go for later favorites from Generation 2 like Totodile, Cyndaquil, and Chikorita. You can also click on the Spawn random additional Pokémon icon (shown as two crossing arrows) to add a surprise Pokémon to your editor at any time.

The best part is that if you have both the Pokémon and Pets extensions installed, you'll be able to see both of them in action, just in separate corners of your editor, creating a chaotic but adorable little coding playground.

Power Mode

This extension is probably even more pointless than the first one, but it's one I've strangely gotten attached to. By default, once you've installed the Power Mode extension and enabled it in the settings, little particles appear every time you type. If you aren't a fan of the particles and want to take it up a notch, you can choose from a few different effects like a simple Rift, exploding Rift, Fireworks, Flames, Magic, and even Clippy.

There's also a combo meter that shows a progress bar slowly decreasing over time. Type before it empties, and the meter fills up again to continue your streak. Stop typing, and the combo resets. It even counts every single character you type, which makes the whole thing oddly addictive. I'm the kind of person who's always challenged myself to complete tasks against a timer, so having the combo meter show up as I code does keep me more focused. Sometimes, that tiny burst of fireworks or seeing the meter climb into the thousands is enough to keep me glued to the keyboard a little longer.

Rainbow Fart

Coding isn’t easy. Sometimes, when you’re hours deep into a coding session and can’t figure out how to fix that one bug, all you really want is someone to say a few encouraging words. If you don’t have anyone to do that, Rainbow Fart has your back. Once you've installed the extension and give it permission to integrate it with your code editor, it'll start showing you with unexpected compliments when you're coding.

Strangely, it only seems to work when you're creating a new function or adding the "=>" symbil. But given how often you create functions when coding, you'll hear compliments pretty often. For instance, some of the compliments the Rainbow Fart extension have given me include "You are such a rockstar programmer," "Excellent," "Keep going," and "You are the best," and more. The only downside? You need to keep Rainbow Fart’s webpage open for it to work. Still, it’s a fun extension to have, even if it occasionally startles you mid-debug.

Subway surfers focus helper

Unfortunately, I can't focus on one thing for too long without getting distracted. When I'm studying for exams, I either lock my phone in a cupboard or watch "study with me" streams on YouTube to trick myself into feeling productive. When I'm working, I almost always have a Netflix show or video gameplay running in the background to keep me from losing focus.

The Subway Surfers Focus Helper extension in VS Code leans into that same idea. It adds a GIF player at the bottom of your editor that loops endless Subway Surfers gameplay, giving your brain that little dose of visual stimulation while you code. Instead of needing to play the gameplay on my iPad or a different tab and using Split View, the extension keeps everything in VS Code itself.

These VS Code extensions make coding 10x more fun

Will the extensions above help you with coding in any way? Not in the slightest. But will they make the process a tad bit more enjoyable? Absolutely. I only wish I knew of more extensions like these!