The Magic of Keyboard Shortcuts: Boost Your Productivity

10 essential keyboard shortcuts

Here are 10 essential keyboard shortcuts for common tools like VS Code, IntelliJ, and Chrome, which can significantly save time and make your tasks more efficient:

1. VS Code: Open Command Palette:

• Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux) | Cmd + Shift + P (Mac)
• Benefit: Access VS Code commands without leaving your keyboard. It’s perfect for quickly executing tasks like search, open files, and change settings.

2. VS Code: Toggle Integrated Terminal:

• Shortcut: Ctrl + ~ (Windows/Linux) | Cmd + ~ (Mac)
• Benefit: Quickly toggle the terminal to run commands directly within the editor, boosting efficiency when coding and testing.

3. IntelliJ: Find Action:

• Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + A (Windows/Linux) | Cmd + Shift + A (Mac)
• Benefit: Allows you to search for any action, class, or file in IntelliJ without leaving the current workspace, speeding up navigation.

4. IntelliJ: Duplicate Line:

• Shortcut: Ctrl + D (Windows/Linux) | Cmd + D (Mac)
• Benefit: Instantly duplicates the current line of code, saving you time when you need to repeat code or experiment with variations.

5. Chrome: Open New Tab:

• Shortcut: Ctrl + T (Windows/Linux) | Cmd + T (Mac)
• Benefit: Open a new tab in Chrome with a single keystroke, letting you browse more efficiently without disrupting your workflow.

6. Chrome: Open Developer Tools:

• Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + I (Windows/Linux) | Cmd + Option + I (Mac)
• Benefit: Quickly inspect web elements or debug JavaScript right within Chrome, eliminating the need to navigate through menus.

7. VS Code: Close Editor:

• Shortcut: Ctrl + W (Windows/Linux) | Cmd + W (Mac)
• Benefit: Close the current editor tab without using the mouse, ideal when you’re juggling multiple files or want to declutter your workspace.

8. IntelliJ: Navigate to Definition:

• Shortcut: Ctrl + B (Windows/Linux) | Cmd + B (Mac)
• Benefit: Instantly jump to the definition of a function, class, or variable, making code navigation much faster and less error-prone.

9. Chrome: Reopen Closed Tab:

• Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows/Linux) | Cmd + Shift + T (Mac)
• Benefit: Reopen recently closed tabs, perfect for retrieving tabs you’ve accidentally closed without having to search again.

10. VS Code: Go to File:

• Shortcut: Ctrl + P (Windows/Linux) | Cmd + P (Mac)
• Benefit: Quickly open any file by typing its name, streamlining your workflow and making navigation within large projects seamless.

By incorporating these shortcuts into your daily workflow, you’ll notice a dramatic boost in your productivity, enabling you to focus more on coding, testing, and browsing, while reducing unnecessary interruptions.