For a long time I love the multiple columns selection UX in Sublime Text (ST). Then came Visual Studio Code (VSC) which does a lot of things better than ST. Just one thing annoys me all the time: The way that VSC handles the creation of the multiple columns selection.

In ST, you press and hold a key - e.g. the shift key - and only then you right click with your mouse into the text and this then is the point where the multi column selection starts. You can then drag the selection endpoint and if you think you chose the wrong starting point, you can simply release the right mouse button and then click it again on the right starting point. When you then finally release the shift key, the multiple columns selection is ready.

In contrast to that, in VSC you first have to place the cursor in the starting position of your intended multiple columns selection, then press and hold e.g. the shift+ctrl keys and then with your mouse pointer click and drag the multiple columns selection to it's end point. Should you think that you chose the wrong starting point, you have to release the shift+ctrl keys, place the cursor at the right starting point, press and hold the shift+ctrl keys again and then make your multiple columns selection and finally release the keys.

The difference between these two scenarios sounds like not being worth to mention, but the actual UX differs a lot. You have to experience it in order to understand the difference. Making a multiple columns selection AND being able to change it while still holding the necessary modifier key and simply deciding on the start and endpoint of your multiple columns selection only using the mouse is way more convenient than if you have to release the modifier keys, klick the starting point with the mouse, press and hold the modifier keys again and then select the end point.

This feature was the main reason (besides speed) why I fell in love with ST. And still with VSC having - in most places - a nicer and more appealing user interface, I often switch back to using ST only because of that. I think that working with multiple cursors / selected columns is a real performance boost when coding.

And I guess it would not be hard to modify the way VSC handles this behaviour. For me, this change would be a real game changer.