This extension for Visual Studio Code allows users to view metadata of PNG, JPG, JPEG, and WebP images directly within the editor. With a simple command, you can inspect the embedded metadata of any image file in your workspace (and beyond via command palette). It was originally created for easily inspecting ComfyUI images' metadata from within VS Code.
Features
- Cross-Platform Support - Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux with automatic ExifTool detection
- Multiple Image Formats - Supports JPG, JPEG, PNG, and WebP images
- ComfyUI Workflow Support - Perfect for inspecting ComfyUI generated images and their embedded workflows
- Prettified JSON Metadata - JSON strings in metadata are displayed in a prettified format for better readability
- Smart Error Handling - Clear error messages and fallback mechanisms for different platforms
- Comprehensive Logging - Debug and informational messages logged to VS Code Output console
Installation
From VS Code Marketplace (Recommended)
- Open VS Code
- Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X)
- Search for "Image Metadata Inspector"
- Click Install
From VSIX File
- Download the
.vsix file from the latest release
- In VS Code, go to Extensions > ... > Install from VSIX...
- Select the downloaded file
Usage
Right-click on an image file in Explorer:
- Right-click on any supported image file and select "Inspect Image Metadata"
Right-click on an open image tab:
- Right-click on the title bar of an open image preview and select "Inspect Image Metadata"
Command Palette:
- Press
Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P on macOS)
- Type "Inspect Image Metadata" and select it
- Choose an image file from the dialog
- Windows: ✅ Fully supported with bundled ExifTool executable
- macOS: ⚠️ Improved support with native ExifTool fallback (install with:
brew install exiftool)
- Linux: ⚠️ Improved support with native ExifTool fallback (install via package manager)
The extension automatically detects your platform and uses the best available method. Note: macOS and Linux support has been significantly improved but needs community testing. Please report any issues via GitHub Issues.
Viewing Output Logs
To view detailed logs and troubleshoot issues:
- Open the Output panel:
View > Output or Ctrl+Shift+U
- Select "Image Metadata Extension" from the dropdown
- View initialization and operation logs
System Requirements
- Visual Studio Code version 1.87.0 or higher
- For macOS/Linux: ExifTool installed system-wide (optional, but recommended)
Supported File Types
.jpg - JPEG images.jpeg - JPEG images.png - PNG images.webp - WebP images
Perfect for ComfyUI Users
This extension was originally designed for ComfyUI users who want to:
- Inspect workflow metadata embedded in generated images
- View generation parameters and settings
- Debug workflow configurations
- Extract prompt information from images
Known Issues
- Workflow JSON extraction to separate files doesn't create working ComfyUI workflows (planned feature)
- Some ExifTool features may require native installation on macOS/Linux
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please see our GitHub repository for:
- Reporting Issues: Use GitHub Issues for bug reports and feature requests
- Contributing Code: Fork, create a feature branch, and submit a pull request
- Documentation: Help improve documentation and examples
Development Setup
git clone https://github.com/Gerkinfeltser/image-metadata-display.git
cd image-metadata-display
npm install
npm run compile
Then press F5 in VS Code to test the extension.
Acknowledgments
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE.txt file for details.
Changelog
For detailed release notes, please see the CHANGELOG.md file.
