Embodiments automate surfacing of underutilized development tool features, thereby enhancing the discoverability of subtools, commands, shortcuts, settings, visualizers, and other tool features. After spotting an inefficiency in the user's interaction with one or more tools, the feature surfacing functionality offers the user an interaction optimization suggestion. A mapping structure correlates detected interaction patterns with objectively better interaction optimizations. Several examples of mappings are discussed. The user can accept a suggestion, have the suggested optimization applied by an enhanced tool, and thereby reduce the number of user gestures utilized to accomplish a desired result, reduce the number of tools utilized, increase security, reduce risk of error, or get to the desired result faster, for example. Interaction optimizations also help the user stay focused, by reducing or avoiding departures from the user's current primary workflow. Other aspects of tool feature surfacing functionality are also described herein.