_Follow along with this video:_ --- ### Improving Code Format in Visual Studio Code When you first start, your code might just look like a whole bunch of dull, lifeless, white text. This can be easily fixed by using one of the `Solidity` extensions. Out of all the Solidity extensions available in the Extensions tab (CTRL/CMD + SHIFT + X) the following are worth mentioning: 1. [Solidity by Juan Blanco](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=JuanBlanco.solidity), the most used Solidity extension out there. 2. [Solidity by Nomic Foundation](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=NomicFoundation.hardhat-solidity) is Patrick's favorite Solidity extension. The rest of the course will be displaying this extension. 3. [Solidity Visual Developer](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=tintinweb.solidity-visual-auditor) is another popular choice. **NOTE**: If the code remains unhighlighted despite having installed the extension, there's a quick solution to that. Press `Command + Shift + P`, or `Control + Shift + P` on Windows. This opens up the command bar. In the command bar, type in "Settings" and select "Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)". If you have nothing in there, create a new setting by typing in: ``` { "editor.defaultFormatter": "NomicFoundation.hardhat" } ``` Use: `"editor.defaultFormatter": "tintinweb.solidity-visual-auditor"` for Solidity Visual Developer or `"editor.defaultFormatter": "JuanBlanco.solidity"` for Solidity by Juan Blanco ### Other interesting extensions In the previous lesson, we mentioned a file called `foundry.toml`. This also has an extension that formats it to make it easier to read. Please install [Even Better TOML](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=tamasfe.even-better-toml). Another indispensable extension is [Inline Bookmarks](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=tintinweb.vscode-inline-bookmarks). The Inline Bookmarks plugin facilitates bookmarking the actual code. The extension can be used for document review, auditing, log analysis, and keeping track of development notes and to-do lists. You may share your notes and bookmarks with others with ease because they are saved with your files. The following default trigger words/tags are configured by default: ``` @todo - (blue) General ToDo remark. @note - (blue) General remark. @remind - (blue) General remark. @follow-up - (blue) General remark. @audit - (red) General bookmark for potential issues. @audit-info - (blue) General bookmark for information to be noted for later use. @audit-ok - (green) Add a note that a specific line is not an issue even though it might look like. @audit-issue - (purple) Reference a code location an issue was filed for. ``` You can fully customize the colors! Remember these! They will be very handy in developing and especially in auditing projects. More details are available [here](https://github.com/tintinweb/vscode-inline-bookmarks). Next comes the fun part! Let's compile our contract using Foundry!