Lara Claude RTL Patcher

Lara Claude RTL Patcher is a production-focused VS Code extension that patches installed Claude Code for VS Code webview assets to improve Arabic/RTL mixed-text readability while preserving Claude’s native code rendering.

Why This Exists

Arabic + English mixed content is a real daily workflow for many developers, founders, and teams across MENA. Default rendering can make sentence flow, list markers, and mixed-direction text harder to read.

This extension applies targeted RTL/BiDi fixes for natural reading flow without taking over Claude’s full visual system.

Demo

Core Guarantees

• Keeps Claude code rendering native (pre, code, kbd, samp are not restyled by this patch).
• Improves mixed Arabic/English direction behavior in normal text content.
• Stabilizes user message direction behavior for Arabic and mixed messages.
• Improves RTL list marker alignment and list readability.
• Creates reversible per-file backups before patching.

What It Patches

The patcher scans the installed Claude extension and applies patch blocks to compatible webview files:

• .css
• .html / .htm
• .js

It inserts clearly delimited patch blocks and can safely revert them later.

What It Intentionally Does Not Do

• It does not replace Claude UI/branding.
• It does not force custom syntax highlighting.
• It does not rewrite source code blocks.
• It does not collect telemetry or send your content anywhere.

Features

• Automatic Claude extension target detection.
• Runtime RTL/BiDi adjustments for non-code text.
• User message direction handling tuned for Arabic + mixed text.
• Heading/list direction consistency improvements.
• Safe backup strategy: <file>.lara-claude-rtl-patcher.bak.
• One-click commands to apply, revert, and check status.

Commands

• Lara Claude RTL Patcher: Apply Patch
• Lara Claude RTL Patcher: Revert Patch
• Lara Claude RTL Patcher: Show Patch Status

Quick Start

1. Install

Use VSIX (local/manual):

code --install-extension lara-claude-rtl-patcher-1.1.8.vsix --force

If code command is missing, install it from VS Code:

• Command Palette → Shell Command: Install 'code' command in PATH

2. Apply Patch

• Open Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P)
• Run: Lara Claude RTL Patcher: Apply Patch

3. Reload VS Code

After patching, do a full VS Code restart for best stability.

Safety & Recovery

• Before editing a target file, the extension writes a backup file next to it.
• Revert Patch restores from backup when available.
• Patch markers are deterministic, so updates can replace older patch blocks cleanly.

Compatibility Notes

• Claude extension updates may overwrite patched files.
• Re-run Apply Patch after updating Claude Code for VS Code.
• If behavior seems stale, restart VS Code fully (not only Reload Window).

Arabic Language Respect Statement

This project is built with explicit care for Arabic-speaking users and RTL-first reading comfort.

We treat Arabic UX as a first-class engineering problem, not an afterthought.

Commitments:

• Respect mixed Arabic/English writing patterns used in real technical conversations.
• Preserve readability in headings, lists, and user-authored messages.
• Avoid destructive transformations of code and developer content.
• Keep behavior practical, reversible, and transparent.

About The Author

• Name: EmadRashad
• GitHub: https://github.com/emadrashad
• Email: emadtab97@gmail.com
• Location: Egypt

Local Development

npm install
npm run build

Run Extension Host in VS Code with F5, then execute commands from Command Palette.

Build VSIX

npm run package

Publish to Visual Studio Marketplace

1. Create / use your publisher in Azure DevOps Marketplace.
2. Generate PAT with Marketplace manage scope.
3. Login once:

npx @vscode/vsce login <publisher-id>

4. Publish:

npm run publish:marketplace

Troubleshooting

Patch applied but UI did not change

• Fully quit VS Code and reopen.
• Re-run Apply Patch.
• Check status via Show Patch Status.

Claude updated and fixes disappeared

• Re-run Apply Patch (updates can overwrite patched files).

Need clean rollback

• Run Lara Claude RTL Patcher: Revert Patch.
• Restart VS Code.

Privacy

This extension works locally on installed extension files. It does not transmit chat content or project files to external services.

License

MIT — see LICENSE

If this extension helped your Arabic/RTL workflow, star the project and share it with your team.