VS Code Extension Development Introduction

advanced | 55 min read | 2025.12.16

What You’ll Learn in This Tutorial

✓ Creating extension project
✓ Registering commands
✓ Language support
✓ WebView
✓ Publishing

Step 1: Create Project

npm install -g yo generator-code
yo code

# Select:
# - New Extension (TypeScript)
# - Extension name: my-extension
# - Identifier: my-extension

Step 2: Project Structure

my-extension/
├── src/
│   └── extension.ts
├── package.json
├── tsconfig.json
└── .vscode/
    └── launch.json

Step 3: Basic Extension

// src/extension.ts
import * as vscode from 'vscode';

export function activate(context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
  // Register command
  const disposable = vscode.commands.registerCommand(
    'my-extension.helloWorld',
    () => {
      vscode.window.showInformationMessage('Hello World!');
    }
  );

  context.subscriptions.push(disposable);
}

export function deactivate() {}

Step 4: package.json Configuration

{
  "name": "my-extension",
  "displayName": "My Extension",
  "version": "0.0.1",
  "engines": { "vscode": "^1.85.0" },
  "activationEvents": [],
  "main": "./out/extension.js",
  "contributes": {
    "commands": [
      {
        "command": "my-extension.helloWorld",
        "title": "Hello World"
      }
    ],
    "keybindings": [
      {
        "command": "my-extension.helloWorld",
        "key": "ctrl+shift+h"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Step 5: Editor Operations

vscode.commands.registerCommand('my-extension.insertDate', () => {
  const editor = vscode.window.activeTextEditor;
  if (!editor) return;

  const date = new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0];

  editor.edit((editBuilder) => {
    editBuilder.insert(editor.selection.active, date);
  });
});

Step 6: File Operations

// Read file
const uri = vscode.Uri.file('/path/to/file');
const content = await vscode.workspace.fs.readFile(uri);

// Write file
await vscode.workspace.fs.writeFile(uri, Buffer.from('content'));

// Search workspace files
const files = await vscode.workspace.findFiles('**/*.ts');

Step 7: WebView

vscode.commands.registerCommand('my-extension.openPanel', () => {
  const panel = vscode.window.createWebviewPanel(
    'myPanel',
    'My Panel',
    vscode.ViewColumn.One,
    { enableScripts: true }
  );

  panel.webview.html = `
    <!DOCTYPE html>
    <html>
    <body>
      <h1>Hello WebView</h1>
      <button id="btn">Click me</button>
      <script>
        const vscode = acquireVsCodeApi();
        document.getElementById('btn').onclick = () => {
          vscode.postMessage({ type: 'click' });
        };
      </script>
    </body>
    </html>
  `;

  panel.webview.onDidReceiveMessage((message) => {
    if (message.type === 'click') {
      vscode.window.showInformationMessage('Button clicked!');
    }
  });
});

Step 8: Debug and Publish

# Debug
# Press F5 to launch Extension Development Host

# Build
npm run compile

# Package
npm install -g vsce
vsce package

# Publish
vsce publish

Summary

Customize your editor with VS Code extensions. Add powerful features with commands, language support, and WebView.

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