diff --git a/boilerplate/files/.vscode/extensions.json b/boilerplate/files/.vscode/extensions.json
index cfc600e5c..6754c712a 100644
--- a/boilerplate/files/.vscode/extensions.json
+++ b/boilerplate/files/.vscode/extensions.json
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 
     // List of extensions which should be recommended for users of this workspace.
     "recommendations": [
+        // mcdev vscode extension
+        "IBM.output-colorizer",
+
         // collaboration
         "gruntfuggly.todo-tree",
         "aaron-bond.better-comments",