Nova Language Support for VS Code
This local extension recognizes .nova files anywhere in VS Code. It provides:
- Automatic Nova language mode for every
.nova file.
- Syntax highlighting for Nova's implemented keywords, strings, numbers, comments, variables, functions, built-ins, operators, lists, dictionaries, and blocks.
- A Nova Explorer file icon through the Nova Icons file icon theme.
- A separate
icons/nova-logo.png Marketplace logo; the Explorer icon remains icons/nova-file.svg.
- The optional Nova Night color theme, tuned for the Nova TextMate scopes.
It intentionally does not add highlighting for syntax Nova does not implement (for example classes, imports, break, continue, or match).
Package and install on Windows PowerShell
From this vscode-extension directory, package it with the VS Code Extension Manager. npx downloads and runs vsce for this command only, so no global npm package is required.
cd E:\nova-lang\vscode-extension
npx --yes @vscode/vsce package --allow-missing-repository
code --install-extension .\nova-language-dex-0.1.1.vsix
If npx is unavailable, install vsce once and use the same package command:
npm install --global @vscode/vsce
vsce package --allow-missing-repository
code --install-extension .\nova-language-dex-0.1.1.vsix
Publish to the VS Code Marketplace
The extension is configured for the Marketplace publisher DexterNova. After creating a Marketplace Personal Access Token with Marketplace Manage scope, set it in PowerShell and publish from this directory:
cd E:\nova-lang\vscode-extension
$env:VSCE_PAT = "<your-marketplace-personal-access-token>"
vsce publish --pat $env:VSCE_PAT
vsce reads the DexterNova publisher from package.json; do not replace it with the local project name.
Restart VS Code or run Developer: Reload Window after installation.
Enable the included icon and color theme
VS Code lets users choose one file icon theme and one color theme globally. After installing:
- Run Preferences: File Icon Theme and choose Nova Icons.
- Optionally run Preferences: Color Theme and choose Nova Night.
The language mode itself needs no manual selection: creating or opening any hello.nova file in any project automatically selects Nova. With Nova Icons selected, that file also receives the Nova Explorer icon.
Test without installing
Open E:\nova-lang\vscode-extension in VS Code and press F5. The Extension Development Host opens with this extension loaded. Open a .nova file and confirm the status bar says Nova, syntax is highlighted, and the Explorer shows the Nova icon after selecting Nova Icons.
