A programmer decided to minimize mouse use in Visual Studio Code (VSC) to enhance productivity and focus, opting for keyboard navigation through various shortcuts. The text outlines several useful shortcuts for splitting and focusing on editor views, navigating file histories, and moving around the code efficiently, as well as accessing definitions, references, and implementing changes across projects. It highlights the benefits of using the integrated terminal and configuring custom shortcuts for tasks like maximizing panels and killing terminals. The key takeaway is the importance of consistently adopting these shortcuts to improve coding efficiency and reduce reliance on the mouse, all while inviting readers to share their own shortcuts and explore further resources like Visual Studio Code’s documentation and LogRocket's error tracking tools.