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Nishkarsh Pandey
Nishkarsh Pandey

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🔹 Part 3: Terminal, Zen Mode, Extensions & Hidden VS Code Gems (Windows & Mac)!!

Welcome to the final post in the series:
“Mastering VS Code Shortcuts: From Beginner to Pro”

By now, you’ve learned how to navigate, edit, and refactor code with lightning speed. In this last part, let’s unlock power features that transform VS Code into a full dev powerhouse — built-in terminal control, distraction-free modes, extensions management, and some hidden gems you might not know about.

🖥️ Terminal & Debugging Shortcuts::

Action Windows Mac
Toggle Integrated Terminal Ctrl + ` Cmd + `
Create New Terminal Instance Ctrl + Shift + Cmd + Shift +
Focus Terminal Ctrl + Cmd +
Run Selected Text in Terminal Ctrl + Enter Cmd + Enter
Debug Start / Continue F5 F5
Step Over F10 F10
Step Into F11 F11
Step Out Shift + F11 Shift + F11
Toggle Breakpoint F9 F9

🔥 Pro tip: Open the terminal and run commands without leaving VS Code. Combine with multi-cursor and editing shortcuts for max efficiency.

🧘‍♂️ Zen Mode & Distraction-Free Coding::

Action Windows Mac
Toggle Zen Mode Ctrl + K Z Cmd + K Z
Toggle Fullscreen F11 Cmd + Ctrl + F
Toggle Side Bar Visibility Ctrl + B Cmd + B
Toggle Panel (Output/Terminal) Ctrl + J Cmd + J

🌿 Zen mode hides all distractions and centers your editor for deep focus sessions. Use it when you want to dive deep into a tricky bug or complex feature.

🔌 Extensions & Command Palette::

Action Windows Mac
Open Extensions View Ctrl + Shift + X Cmd + Shift + X
Open Command Palette Ctrl + Shift + P Cmd + Shift + P
Quick Open Settings Ctrl + , Cmd + ,
Open Keyboard Shortcuts Ctrl + K Ctrl + S Cmd + K Cmd + S

🛠️ Customize VS Code to your heart’s content — from themes to debuggers and linters — all accessible via shortcuts.

🕵️‍♂️ Hidden Gems You Should Know
Toggle Breadcrumbs: Ctrl + Shift + . (Win) / Cmd + Shift + . (Mac)
Shows a navigation bar at the top of the editor for quick file and symbol navigation.

Quick Open Recent Files: Ctrl + Tab (Windows/Mac)
Hold Ctrl and tap Tab to cycle through recently opened files.

Show Keyboard Shortcut Reference: Ctrl + K Ctrl + R (Windows) / Cmd + K Cmd + R (Mac)
Displays a PDF with all shortcuts — great for quick lookup.

Quick Outline: Ctrl + Shift + O (Windows/Mac)
Jump between functions, classes, and symbols inside the current file instantly.

✅ Final Wrap-up & Next Steps
Congratulations! 🎉 You’ve now unlocked the most essential, advanced, and hidden VS Code shortcuts to turbocharge your coding workflow on Windows and Mac.

Remember:

Use terminal shortcuts to stay inside VS Code for everything.

Enter Zen Mode when you want zero distractions.

Explore the extensions and command palette to personalize your editor.

And never underestimate the power of multi-cursors and smart editing from Parts 1 & 2.

What now?
Bookmark these posts to revisit often.

Start using one new shortcut every day until it becomes muscle memory.

Share your favorite shortcut or tip in the comments — I’d love to hear what makes you faster!

Thanks for following this series! 🙌

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Gen AI apps are built with MongoDB Atlas

Gen AI apps are built with MongoDB Atlas

MongoDB Atlas is the developer-friendly database for building, scaling, and running gen AI & LLM apps—no separate vector DB needed. Enjoy native vector search, 115+ regions, and flexible document modeling. Build AI faster, all in one place.

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