AI Shortcuts for VS Code on Mac

VS Code is the most popular code editor, and combining it with Echoo gives you on-demand AI assistance that complements existing tools like GitHub Copilot and extensions. While Copilot excels at inline suggestions as you type, Echoo lets you select existing code and transform it with a single shortcut.

The Code Improver command is your go-to shortcut in VS Code. Select a function or block of code, press your shortcut, and get a refactored version that follows best practices for naming, structure, and error handling. The popup output mode is ideal here because it lets you review the changes before applying them, which is critical when working with production code.

Build a library of VS Code-specific commands for your daily workflow. A "Generate Unit Test" command that takes selected code and produces test cases saves significant time. A "Add JSDoc" or "Add Docstring" command adds documentation to functions. A "Convert to TypeScript" command helps migrate JavaScript files incrementally. Each command should include instructions about your preferred testing framework, documentation style, and language conventions.

When debugging in VS Code, the Explain Error command is invaluable. Select an error in the integrated terminal or the Problems panel, press your shortcut, and get a clear explanation with fix suggestions. For complex build errors or webpack configuration issues, select the entire error output for the most helpful response.

Create language-specific commands for the languages you use most. A "Review React Component" command that understands hooks, memoization, and component patterns produces better suggestions than a generic code review. A "Review Python Function" command that knows about type hints, docstrings, and PEP 8 conventions catches style issues specific to your stack.

For maximum productivity, use DeepSeek or Anthropic Claude for code tasks as they produce high-quality code improvements. OpenAI is also excellent and fast. If you work on proprietary code that cannot leave your machine, configure Ollama with a code-focused model like DeepSeek Coder or CodeLlama for fully private code assistance.