VSCode Extension Expert

A comprehensive guide for developing Visual Studio Code extensions using TypeScript/JavaScript. This skill is built directly from the official VSCode extension samples repository and covers everything from basic extension creation to advanced language features, custom editors, and publishing workflows.

🎯 Getting Started with Official Generator

The best way to create a new VS Code extension is by using the official Yeoman generator tool.

Prerequisites

Ensure you have Node.js and Git installed.

Creating a New Extension

Option 1: One-time use (recommended)

npx --package yo --package generator-code -- yo code

Option 2: Global installation

npm install --global yo generator-code
yo code

After Creation

1. Open the extension folder in VS Code
2. Navigate to src/extension.ts
3. Press F5 to launch Extension Development Host
4. Test from Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P)

🛠️ How to Use This Skill

Starting a New Extension

"I want to create a new VS Code extension"
"Help me set up a VS Code extension project"

During Development

"How do I add a new command?"
"My extension isn't loading, can you help me debug?"
"I want to create a webview panel"

Working with Generated Projects

I'll respect your choices:

• Package manager: npm, yarn, pnpm, or bun
• Bundler: webpack, esbuild, or unbundled
• Language: TypeScript or JavaScript
• Extension type: commands, themes, language support, etc.

Core Concepts

Extension Anatomy

Basic package.json

{
  "name": "my-extension",
  "displayName": "My Extension",
  "version": "0.0.1",
  "engines": { "vscode": "^1.85.0" },
  "categories": ["Other"],
  "activationEvents": ["onCommand:extension.helloWorld"],
  "main": "./out/extension.js",
  "contributes": {
    "commands": [{
      "command": "extension.helloWorld",
      "title": "Hello World"
    }]
  }
}

Extension Entry Point

import * as vscode from 'vscode';

export function activate(context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
    console.log('Extension "my-extension" is now active!');

    const disposable = vscode.commands.registerCommand('extension.helloWorld', () => {
        vscode.window.showInformationMessage('Hello World!');
    });

    context.subscriptions.push(disposable);
}

export function deactivate() {}

Common Patterns

Command Registration

const commands = [
    vscode.commands.registerCommand('extension.doSomething', () => {
        // Implementation
    }),
    vscode.commands.registerCommand('extension.doSomethingElse', () => {
        // Another command
    })
];

context.subscriptions.push(...commands);

Status Bar Integration

const statusBarItem = vscode.window.createStatusBarItem(
    vscode.StatusBarAlignment.Right,
    100
);
statusBarItem.text = '$(gear) My Extension';
statusBarItem.tooltip = 'My Extension Status';
statusBarItem.command = 'extension.toggleFeature';
statusBarItem.show();

context.subscriptions.push(statusBarItem);

Webview Development

Basic Webview

export function createWebviewPanel(context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
    const panel = vscode.window.createWebviewPanel(
        'myWebview',
        'My Webview',
        vscode.ViewColumn.One,
        {
            enableScripts: true,
            retainContextWhenHidden: true
        }
    );

    panel.webview.html = getWebviewContent(context.extensionUri);

    panel.webview.onDidReceiveMessage(
        message => {
            switch (message.command) {
                case 'alert':
                    vscode.window.showInformationMessage(message.text);
                    return;
            }
        },
        undefined,
        context.subscriptions
    );

    return panel;
}

Tree View Provider

export class TreeDataProvider implements vscode.TreeDataProvider<TreeItem> {
    private _onDidChangeTreeData: vscode.EventEmitter<TreeItem | undefined | null | void> = new vscode.EventEmitter<TreeItem | undefined | null | void>();
    readonly onDidChangeTreeData: vscode.Event<TreeItem | undefined | null | void> = this._onDidChangeTreeData.event;

    private treeItems: TreeItem[] = [];

    refresh(): void {
        this._onDidChangeTreeData.fire();
    }

    getTreeItem(element: TreeItem): vscode.TreeItem {
        return element;
    }

    getChildren(element?: TreeItem): Thenable<TreeItem[]> {
        if (!element) {
            return Promise.resolve(this.treeItems);
        }
        return Promise.resolve([]);
    }
}

Language Features

Code Completion

export class CompletionItemProvider implements vscode.CompletionItemProvider {
    provideCompletionItems(
        document: vscode.TextDocument,
        position: vscode.Position,
        token: vscode.CancellationToken,
        context: vscode.CompletionContext
    ): vscode.CompletionItem[] {
        return [
            new vscode.CompletionItem('console.log', vscode.CompletionItemKind.Method),
            new vscode.CompletionItem('console.error', vscode.CompletionItemKind.Method)
        ];
    }
}

vscode.languages.registerCompletionItemProvider(
    'javascript',
    new CompletionItemProvider(),
    '.'
);

Configuration

Reading Settings

const config = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration('myExtension');
const enabled = config.get<boolean>('enabled', true);
const apiKey = config.get<string>('apiKey', '');

Configuration Schema (package.json)

{
  "contributes": {
    "configuration": {
      "title": "My Extension",
      "properties": {
        "myExtension.enabled": {
          "type": "boolean",
          "default": true,
          "description": "Enable/disable the extension"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Testing

Unit Tests

import * as assert from 'assert';
import * as vscode from 'vscode';

suite('Extension Test Suite', () => {
    test('Extension should be present', () => {
        assert.ok(vscode.extensions.getExtension('publisher.my-extension'));
    });

    test('Should register commands', async () => {
        const commands = await vscode.commands.getCommands();
        assert.ok(commands.includes('extension.helloWorld'));
    });
});

Publishing

# Install vsce
npm install -g @vscode/vsce

# Create publisher
vsce create-publisher your-publisher-name

# Package and publish
vsce package
vsce publish

📚 Official Resources

Primary API Documentation (Authoritative)

Complete VS Code API: @source/vscode-docs/api/ - FIRST REFERENCE

Core References:

• Extension API: @source/vscode-docs/api/references/vscode-api.md
• Extension Manifest: @source/vscode-docs/api/references/extension-manifest.md
• Contribution Points: @source/vscode-docs/api/references/contribution-points.md

Development Guides:

• Getting Started: @source/vscode-docs/api/get-started/
• Extension Guides: @source/vscode-docs/api/extension-guides/
• UX Guidelines: @source/vscode-docs/api/ux-guidelines/

Code Examples

Core Features (@source/vscode-extension-samples/):

• command-sample/ - Command registration
• tree-view-sample/ - Custom tree views
• completions-sample/ - Code completion
• webview-sample/ - Custom UI panels
• custom-editor-sample/ - Custom file editors

Quick Reference

Essential APIs

• vscode.commands.registerCommand() - Register commands
• vscode.window.createWebviewPanel() - Create webviews
• vscode.window.createTreeView() - Create tree views
• vscode.languages.registerCompletionItemProvider() - Add completions
• vscode.workspace.getConfiguration() - Read settings
• vscode.window.createStatusBarItem() - Status bar items

Common Contribution Points

• contributes.commands - Register commands
• contributes.views - Add view containers
• contributes.configuration - Add settings
• contributes.languages - Define new languages
• contributes.themes - Custom themes

Essential Commands

npx --package yo --package generator-code -- yo code
npm run compile          # Compile TypeScript
npm run watch           # Watch for changes
npm test                # Run tests
npm run package         # Package extension
vsce publish            # Publish to marketplace

Troubleshooting

Common Issues:

• Extension not loading: Check engines.vscode version
• Commands not registering: Verify command IDs match in package.json
• Activation issues: Check activationEvents

Debug Techniques:

• Use console.log() (Developer Tools console)
• Help > Toggle Developer Tools
• View > Output > Extension Host

See references/ADVANCED.md for advanced topics like file system providers, terminal integration, and performance optimization. See references/EXAMPLES.md for complete extension templates and detailed implementation examples.