This extension provides syntax highlighting and structure support for the Journal writing format. It is designed for a user who keeps a structured journal using a consistent indentation and formatting style.
Features
Syntax highlighting based on journal structure:
0 tabs:
Datestamp header in the format yyyymmdd-w,
where w is the ISO weekday (1 = Monday … 7 = Sunday).
1 tab:
Either a hhmm 24-hour timestamp or a one-word topic header.
2 tabs:
A ten-word “headline” beginning with a special character (emoji, →, etc).
3 tabs:
A hundred-word expansion passage of text.
Any other kind of text receives default highlighting.
Text surrounded by *asterisks* is italicised.
Optional experimental viewer for zero-gap italics (not recommended for editing).
Usage
Create a file with the .journal extension.
Start writing entries using the structured indentation rules above.
The extension will automatically apply highlighting to each level.
Example:
20251001-3
Project
→ Afternoon reflection on the progress of my project with analysis
Today I had some time to think carefully about where my project is going and how the structure of my work has been evolving over the past few weeks. The new elements I’ve added are useful, but they also highlight some weaknesses in the earlier sections. It’s encouraging to notice improvements while also being honest about flaws. I’m hoping that by tracking progress this way, I can stay accountable to myself and see both the highlights and the gaps more clearly as the journal develops further over time. I do not expect that most people will want to use it.
1018
This is a sample of the alternate journal style — so, it can be either topic-based or time-based.
It's very much a work in progress.
Feedback & Questions
If you have questions about using this extension (not just bug reports), you can contact me directly:
