diff --git a/.vscode/c_cpp_properties.json b/.vscode/c_cpp_properties.json
index 700c34538..738dff1eb 100644
--- a/.vscode/c_cpp_properties.json
+++ b/.vscode/c_cpp_properties.json
@@ -1,12 +1,31 @@
 {
   "configurations": [
     {
-      "name": "Linux",
-      "includePath": ["${workspaceFolder}/**", "${workspaceFolder}/aztec-connect-cpp/src", "${workspaceFolder}/aztec-connect-cpp/barretenberg/cpp/src/aztec"],
-      "defines": [],
+      "name": "Linux | Optimized",
+      
+      // --- Recommended Best Practice: Use compile_commands.json ---
+      // Reading compile commands generated by CMake ensures that all necessary 
+      // include paths, defines, and compiler flags are captured automatically.
+      // NOTE: Uncomment and adjust the path below if using CMake.
+      // "compileCommands": "${workspaceFolder}/build/compile_commands.json",
+
+      // --- Manual Include Paths (Fallback if compileCommands is not used) ---
+      // Removed the highly inefficient recursive path ("${workspaceFolder}/**"). 
+      // Only explicit source and external dependency paths should be listed.
+      "includePath": [
+        "${workspaceFolder}/include", // Common directory for headers in the project root
+        "${workspaceFolder}/aztec-connect-cpp/src",
+        "${workspaceFolder}/aztec-connect-cpp/barretenberg/cpp/src/aztec",
+        // Add other necessary external libraries or submodules here
+      ],
+      
+      // Global preprocessor definitions (usually handled by compileCommands)
+      "defines": [], 
+      
+      // Compiler settings
       "compilerPath": "/usr/bin/clang",
       "cStandard": "c11",
-      "cppStandard": "c++20",
+      "cppStandard": "c++20", // Using the modern C++20 standard
       "intelliSenseMode": "clang-x64"
     }
   ],