Varanasi Countdown

Varanasi Countdown brings full hype mode into VS Code. Open Explorer and you get a custom sidebar view with a bundled GIF, a clean release countdown, and pure fan energy building up to 7 Apr 2027.

This extension is made to feel less like a utility and more like an entry scene. Open the workspace, look at Explorer, and the mood is already set.

Mass Features

• Adds a Varanasi Countdown section inside the Explorer sidebar.
• Shows the bundled varanasi.gif directly inside that custom view.
• Displays a days-only countdown to the release date.
• Refreshes the view automatically so the day count stays current while VS Code is open.

Why This Hits In Explorer

VS Code's native file tree does not support arbitrary HTML or animated GIF rendering. So this extension uses a webview-backed Explorer view, which is the correct and supported way to bring rich media into the Explorer area without breaking VS Code's model.

Simple idea, sharp presentation, no nonsense.

Setup

Install dependencies

npm install

Start the extension in development

npm run compile

Then press F5 in VS Code to launch an Extension Development Host.

Once it launches, check the Explorer sidebar for Varanasi Countdown.

Watch mode

npm run watch

Lint

npm run lint

Package build

npm run package

Under The Hood

• The Explorer contribution is declared in package.json as a webview view.
• The extension implementation lives in src/extension.ts.
• Media assets are bundled from the media folder.
• The countdown is rendered from the extension side instead of running client-side webview scripts.

Current Style

• Release date: 7 Apr 2027
• Countdown format: days only
• Placement: above the GIF in the Explorer view

Known Limits

• The GIF appears in a custom Explorer section, not inside the native file/folder tree rows.
• The README does not currently include screenshots.

Release Notes

0.0.1

• Initial release with a custom Explorer hype view
• Bundled GIF support in the sidebar
• Days-only countdown to 7 Apr 2027