Geometry Viewer for VS Code

Visualize geospatial data directly in VS Code with an interactive, feature-rich map interface. Geometry Viewer transforms how developers, GIS specialists, and data scientists work with geographic data by providing seamless visualization capabilities right inside your editor.

Key Features

📍 Multi-Format Support

Instantly visualize various geospatial data formats directly in your editor:

• GeoJSON and TopoJSON files
• Shapefiles (.shp with associated .dbf and .shx)
• GPS Exchange Format (.gpx) including waypoints, routes, and tracks
• Keyhole Markup Language (.kml, .kmz)
• Well-Known Text (WKT) format
• Geography Markup Language (GML)
• CSV files containing coordinate data
• Simple coordinate pairs (lat, lon)

🗺️ Comprehensive Base Maps

Switch between multiple base maps to suit your data visualization needs:

• OpenStreetMap - Standard street map view
• OpenTopoMap - Topographic visualization
• Satellite - High-resolution satellite imagery
• Terrain - Detailed terrain representation
• Dark & Light themes - For different working preferences

📋 Advanced Layer Management

• Each file is loaded as a separate layer with unique coloring
• Toggle layers on/off with intuitive switches
• Manage multiple datasets simultaneously
• Automatic color assignment for visual distinction between datasets
• Custom color picker: Click on a layer's color to open a color palette and customize the layer appearance

📏 Measurement Tools

• Calculate distances between points
• Measure areas of regions
• Get precise geographic measurements for your data

🔄 VS Code Integration

• Theme-aware interface that matches your editor theme
• Integrated into VS Code's sidebar and commands
• Quick access controls for all major functions

How To Use

1. Opening Geometric Data

There are multiple ways to visualize your data:

For Files in the Explorer:

• Right-click on any supported file (.json, .geojson, .shp, .gpx, .kml, etc.)
• Select "View Geometry File" from the context menu

For Data in Your Editor:

• Select coordinates or GeoJSON text in your editor
• Right-click and select "View Geometry" from the context menu
• Or use the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P) and search for "View Geometry"

2. Working with Layers

The extension provides an intuitive layer management panel:

• Toggling Layers: Use the toggle switches to show/hide individual layers
• Base Map Selection: Choose from various base maps using the radio buttons
• Layer Panel: Access all layer controls from the panel in the top right corner

3. Measuring Tools

Access measurement tools from the toolbar:

• Click the measurement icon
• Select "Measure Distance" or "Measure Area"
• Click points on the map to create your measurement

4. Navigating the Map

• Zoom: Use the scroll wheel or the zoom controls
• Pan: Click and drag to move around the map
• Status Bar: View precise coordinates and zoom level in the status bar

Supported Data Types & Examples

GeoJSON

{
  "type": "Feature",
  "geometry": {
    "type": "Point",
    "coordinates": [125.6, 10.1]
  },
  "properties": {
    "name": "Example Point"
  }
}

Simple Coordinates

41.0082, 28.9784  // Istanbul coordinates (lat, lon)

Shapefile

Right-click on .shp files in your workspace to visualize them directly.

GPX

Visualize tracks, routes and waypoints from GPS devices.

KML/KMZ

Google Earth/Maps formats with support for placemarks, polygons, and paths.

Tips and Tricks

1. Quick Layer Toggle: Click directly on the layer name to focus on it
2. Multiple Files: Load multiple files to compare different datasets
3. Coordinate System: All visualizations use the WGS84 coordinate system (standard lat/lon)
4. Large Files: The extension optimizes performance even for larger datasets

Requirements

• VS Code version 1.82.0 or higher
• No additional dependencies needed - everything is bundled with the extension

Extension Settings

This extension contributes the following settings:

• geometry-viewer.defaultBasemap: Set your preferred default base map
• geometry-viewer.autoFitBounds: Automatically fit map to data bounds when loading new layers

Known Issues and Limitations

• Very large shapefiles (>100MB) may experience performance issues
• Some complex KML styling options may not be fully supported

Privacy & Data

This extension processes all data locally within VS Code. No geographic data is sent to external servers.

Release Notes

See the CHANGELOG.md for detailed release notes.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Check out the GitHub repository to contribute.

Enjoy visualizing your geographic data directly in VS Code!