VS Code vs. IntelliJ: Comparing Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Developers

Comparing essential keyboard shortcuts in Visual Studio Code and IntelliJ IDEA helps developers understand the strengths of each IDE. In VS Code, shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + P (or Cmd + Shift + P on Mac) to open the Command Palette are fundamental, allowing quick access to commands. Meanwhile, IntelliJ’s Shift + Shift for “Search Everywhere” provides a similarly powerful search feature across files and commands. Both IDEs support multi-cursor editing, with Ctrl + D (or Cmd + D on Mac) in VS Code and Alt + J (or Cmd + G on Mac) in IntelliJ, making simultaneous edits easy. Code formatting, a key feature for readability, is handled by Ctrl + Shift + I in VS Code and Ctrl + Alt + L in IntelliJ, which automatically aligns code to styling standards. For refactoring, IntelliJ’s Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T opens a menu of options, while in VS Code, extensions enhance refactoring capabilities. These shortcuts help developers maximize the potential of each IDE, enabling faster, more efficient coding across different development environments. By understanding the unique strengths of these shortcuts, developers can choose the right IDE or even use both, mastering their keyboard commands to streamline their workflow across multiple tools.