VS Code local workspace extensions

This repository demonstrates the use of local workspace extensions in VS Code. Local workspace extensions are a VS Code feature since v1.89 which adds support for running extensions from source code when they are placed in the .vscode directory's extensions subdirectory.

VS Code 1.89 release notes: Local workspace extensions

This is in contrast to running extensions off VSIX files or installing them from the Visual Studio Marketplace for VS Code.

The benefit of this approach is that extensions never even need to be packaged, much less published, removing a big pain-point from the process of authoring extensions for personal or team use.

Here the local workspace extension is put in the my-extension subdirectory of the above mentioned directory. I've followed the Your First Extension guide to set up this simple extension. I've not opted to use JavaScript since I do not wish to introduce a build step of any sort, I might explore this later. For this reason I took inspiration from the helloworld-minimal-sample extension sample as it contains the minimal amount of setup required.

The extension needs to be installed once by going to Extensions > Recommended and installing from there. Once installed, it will self-update based on the source code after each VS Code startup.

Extension Anatomy is another excellent resource for learning about VS Code extension development.

Note that until Support dynamic import under NodeJS and the related Enable consuming of ES modules in extensions are resolved, the extension cannot use ESM import/export syntax.

Note that the Developer: Reload Window commands needds to be used to reload the extension and make code changes take effect. The Extensions: Check for Extension Updates nor Extensions: Refresh commands will do the trick.

Use the Output pane in VS Code to check for extension host errors with loading your extension if you're facing any.

Extension samples

My extension

I added the simplest possible extension that could be authored. See .vscode/extensions/my-extension/extension.js and uncomment the live in activate, then restart VS Code to see the extension come alive and display the information popup.

Atlassian Jira ticket code linker

Linkifiers Atlassian Jira ticket codes in MarkDown documents. E.g.: TICKET-1.

This is a resurrection of https:/TomasHubelbauer/vscode-markdown-jira-links, but in the form of a local workspace extension!

This extension contributes configuration to set up the ticket codes and the corresponding URLs. Use @ext:TomasHubelbauer.atlassian-jira-ticket-code-linker to filter the extension settings in the VS Code settings editor or use settings.json either at the user level or the workspace level:

{
  "atlassianJiraTicketCodeLinker": [
    {
      "code": "TICKET",
      "url": "https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/"
    }
  ]
}