Scorpion Engine extension for Visual Studio Code

Scorpion Engine is an extension to support Scorpion Engine codeblock2 language for the Amiga, MegaDrive, Neo Geo, Sega Pico.

Visit the Scorpion Engine MANUAL pages to discover more about Scorpion Engine codeblock2. This extension comes with a full package of help files for most of the functions that Scorpion codeblock2 offers.

Demo

None yet

Why make this?

Well, since earok decided to reamp the way we do code in Scorpion Engine (from now on called SE), I thought that I could actually then do an extension of the new Codeblock2 system. And since I have done VS Code extension for other language(s) before, I knew where to start. :D SE has become a very stable Game maker tool for various systems. And I must say that I love SE already!

So here it is, for you to use. Hope you like this extension.

Scorpion Engine VSCode Extension

Version 1.0 – Initial Release

This extension provides support for Scorpion Engine scripting inside VSCode. Features included in v1.0:

🎨 Syntax & Colors

• Full syntax highlighting for:
  • Keywords
  • Functions
  • Variables, Constants, Aliases
  • Arrays, Hardware Registers, Lookup Tables
• Type/Subtype display for variables (e.g., Variable word, Array word)

📝 Autocomplete / IntelliSense

• Autocomplete for all known variables and functions
• Shows details including type and subtype (Variable word, Array word, etc.)
• Autocomplete for Scorpion Engine keywords

👆 Hover Info

• Hover over functions/commands to display markdown documentation
• Fallbacks for multi-word commands, direct filename lookup, and after = on the line

🔧 AutoFix & Helpers

• Automatic correction for common typos and shorthand (e.g., amiga_all → [amiga_all])
• Fuzzy matching using Levenshtein distance for near matches
• Manual space-trigger for function parameter hints
• Signature Help — shows Scorpion Engine function syntax and parameters as you type

📜 Signature Help

• Parameter hints when typing known functions
• Triggers automatically after typing space or via F12 / peek

🚀 Commands

• scorpionengine.createDoc: generate markdown documentation template for functions or commands

Version 1.1 / 1.2 – Upcoming Features (Preview)

Planned improvements for future releases:

• Improved function/variable peek support with mini-IDE view
• Extended support for internal project variables (via Alias)
• Enhanced documentation linking for multi-module projects
• Additional auto-completion for internal Actor setup variables
• Minor UX improvements, bug fixes, and performance enhancements

Note: All hover and autocomplete functionality respects variable type/subtype. Hover documentation is generated dynamically and falls back to smart searches when direct docs are not found.

Need to know

This extension is able to read / write .codeblock2 code and nothing more, or less. :) This does NOT work on the previous .codeblock 1 system. It must be a .codeblock2 file.

This extension is probably not 100% done, and there may be lots of functionality that is missing, or missing parts of the documntation. This extension is a project of "work in progress". And will be updated when I find things that is missing. Or you as the user finds things you want to be included or fixed.

Requirements

• Windows/Linux/Mac.. Well, what ever system that is supported by VSCode.
• Scorpion Engine (Experimental, 2025 version)
• VSCode
• Amiga Emulator/Amiga hardware and variouse of other systems you can test on.

Now what?

Well, start coding and have fun. How? Well. Lets get moving.

When setting up your codeblocks, open VS Code and use open folder in file menu. Now, start making new files with the file extension *.codeblock2 , for instance player.codeblock2 .. And start coding.

Tips

If you are like me that thinks long functions name is taking to long, then there are shortcuts. Lets say you want to type the function: ProjectileType, sure, you could start typing project.. But there is an easier way by typing just on or two letters after each CAPITAL character, like this: PrTy and ProjectileType will be in the list of possible functions.

Theme

Scorpion Engine extension comes with it's own Theme (dark theme), you can find it under your palette themes as "scorpionengine" - It's adviseable to use it with this extension. Or the syntax coloring will look like crap. hehe

Who am I and how to reach me?

I'm Docster, a retro coder, mainly coding games for the C64 and Amiga. I do also code utilities and what ever I need for my projects. If you like to checkout my itch page, you are welcome to do so. You can find me (Docster) on Discord or itch.io, under any of the following Discord servers/itch account:

Discord servers:

Amiga Code - Photon Of Scoopex, Amiga coding and fun

Retro32UK - Amiga and other platform coding (home of TTE)

OldskoolCoder - C64/Amiga and other platforms coding

Phaze101 - C64/Amiga and other platforms coding

itch.io:

Docster's Hideout

Thanks and credits

Thanks to Eric "earok" Hogan for creating the Scorpion Game Engine.

Greetings to everybody I know from the C64 and Amiga scene