Boilerplate VS Code Extension

A lightweight Visual Studio Code extension that quickly generates boilerplate code for different programming languages using simple trigger commands.

Overview

This extension is designed to speed up development by eliminating the need to manually write repetitive starter code. By typing a short trigger (such as !cpp) inside a supported file, the extension inserts a ready-to-use boilerplate template.

Features

• Instant boilerplate generation for multiple languages
• Simple trigger-based system (e.g., !cpp, !js, !py,!ts,!c and !java)
• Reduces setup time for new files
• Clean and minimal implementation for easy customization

How It Works

1. Open a file in VS Code (for example, a .cpp file).

2. Type a trigger command such as:

   !cpp
   

3. The extension replaces the trigger with the corresponding boilerplate code.

Supported Languages

• C++
• C
• JavaScript
• Python
• TypeScript
• Java

More languages can be added by extending the configuration.

Installation

From Source

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/thearkabanerjee/boiler-plate.git
   

2. Navigate into the project:

   cd (get-your-file-path-man)/boilerplate-extension
   

3. Install dependencies:

   npm install (gets you the node modules :)
   

4. Launch the extension: (incase you wanna test out)

   • Press F5 or fn + F5 for mac in VS Code to open a new Extension Development Host window

Usage

• Open any supported file type
• Type the corresponding trigger
• Press Enter or trigger completion
• Boilerplate will be inserted automatically

Project Structure

.
├── extension.js        # Main extension logic
├── package.json        # Extension configuration and metadata
├── test/               # Test files
├── .vscode/            # Debug configuration
├── .gitignore
├── README.md

Customization

To add or modify boilerplates:

1. Open extension.js
2. Add a new trigger and template mapping
3. Reload the extension

Development

To make changes:

1. Modify the source files
2. Press F5 to run the extension
3. Test changes in the new VS Code window

Future Improvements

• Support for more languages
• User-defined custom templates
• Settings-based configuration
• Snippet expansion with cursor positioning

Contributing

Contributions are welcome. You can:

• Open issues for bugs or feature requests
• Submit pull requests with improvements

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.