# Navigating Large Codebases in VS Code

Working with large codebases is different. Let me show you some ways I navigate through massive piles of code.

In small projects you can feel like a magician. With AI wind in your sails, you storm through backlog like crazy. This changes when features pile up and cost of failure increases.

Here’s what I do:

(For windows in most of the cases replace CMD with CTRL!)

---

🔹 **CMD+P - an absolute killer**

Start typing - fuzzy file name search across the project

@ … - go to symbol (variable or function name) in the file you’re in

: … - jump to line number

---

🔹 **CTRL+G - jump to line number shortcut**

🔹 **CMD+Shift+o - jump to symbol**

🔹 **CMD+Shift+\\ - jump to matching bracket** ⭐️

🔹 **CMD+click - go to definition**

---

🔹 **CMD+Shift+P and then „Find all references”**

It actually finds places where given function, class or whatever is used. Better than just find all.

In general the command opens a command palette, which I use all the time, but it’s the one everyone (likely) knows.

---

🔹 **VS Code Bookmarks! Check out the extension by Alessandro Fragnani**

It lets you bookmark lines in files across the project and jump between them.

Huge time saver when working across many files, often cleaner than looking up got diffs.

---

🔹 **Copy Python Path by kawamataryo**

In VS code you can easily copy a relative path. But there’s no option to copy an import statement by right clicking on a symbol or a file.

For months I copied the path and replaced slashes with dots. Then I discovered this extension!

---

These are life saving in my daily work.

Which ones do you use?

If you liked this content, please support me by sharing this post and subscribing to my [**Newsletter**](https://horosin.com/newsletter)**.**

You can also find me here:

* x/twitter: [**horosin\_**](https://twitter.com/horosin_)
    
* [**linkedin**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/horosin/)