In case you missed it, the recently launched Visual Studio 2019 comes with a number of handy new features to help developers become more productive. Mastering these new components, along with the integrated development environment already wide array of features, serves as a great advantage for anyone looking to advance in the programming industry.
Indeed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that computer and technology jobs are projected to grow by 13% annually from 2016 to 2026. The median annual wage for these occupations is more than $80,000 last year. Since the industry is quite lucrative, businesses are beginning to streamline the people they choose to fill open roles, so much so that Yoss highlights that many are only looking to hire from the top 1% of the tech talent pool — particularly those who have gone through a rigorous skills validation and qualification process. Therefore, programmers looking to rise above the rest must be proficient in general programming and web development, and should be able to effectively use tools like Microsoft Visual Studio well. Here are some ways to do that:
Taking advantage of Visual Studio 2019’s new features
Just last year, IntelliCode debuted at Microsoft’s developer conference and was still an optional extension. Now, IntelliCode’s set of AI-assisted capabilities are generally available for C# and XAML in Visual Studio 2019 to help cut the time developers spend on projects.
The newly expanded GitHub integrations, on the other hand, enables developers to automate workflows before running a sequence of serial or parallel actions in response.
Live Share is another great new addition as it allows team members to collaborate in real-time — sharing, editing, and debugging codes across each other’s screens.
And last but not least, the new document health icon at the bottom right side of the editor helps you spot overlooked details and errors for better accuracy and efficiency.
Tips and tricks to be more productive
Multiline cursor input
If you need to select multiple lines vertically, you can do that by placing the cursor on the first line start point, holding Alt, and dragging down. Then, you can select text or add a cursor to begin typing.
Collapse all code
Use Ctrl + M and O to collapse all your code. This will come in handy when you need to examine the signature without implementation getting in the way.
Execute command with macros
You can configure a commonly used command-line operation with macros related to a current project through the tools menu. Go to external tools and then the menu. Add an item, then you can configure the command using the macros available through the button next to the text box. You can specify parameters through Prompt for Arguments and also map the command output to the Visual Output Window.
Master the command palette in VS Code
The command palette in VS Code lets you access various commands just by typing them out rather than navigating menus with your mouse. Bring out the command palette with the Ctrl + Shift + P shortcut and start typing the command you want to input.
Search across many files
Symbol-finding features like F12 don’t always work, especially when you’re searching for files that aren’t source codes. Ctrl + F lets you search within the current files, while Ctrl + Shift + F lets you search within all the files in the entire current working project.
Summary
Visual Studio 2019 is finally out, and it’s teeming with new tools to boost productivity. Apart from the tools, there are also a lot of simple tips and tricks you can try that will allow you to work faster and more accurately, ultimately making you more productive.
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