Model, version, and validate semantic architecture graphs — right inside VSCode or Cursor.
Nodalis is an agnostic "meta-modeler": the rules live in .def.json definition files, the graph is rendered with React Flow, and an MCP server lets AI assistants propose changes transactionally. This extension bundles the whole runtime — install it and go, no repo clone, no build, no Node install.
Features
Graph in a webview — Nodalis: Open renders your architecture graph (React Flow) with a strict CSP.
One-click runtime — Nodalis: Start Runtime boots the bundled core (Fastify HTTP API) under the editor's own Node; a status-bar item shows Live.
Versioning — a Versions view in the activity bar: snapshot the current graph, browse versions, and restore any of them (restore is persisted to disk).
Live definition diagnostics — save a definitions/**/*.def.json and rule errors show up in the Problems panel, mapped to the exact line, validated against the Zod schema. A clean save refreshes the open graph instantly.
MCP wiring — Nodalis: Configure MCP registers the bundled MCP server globally for VSCode, Cursor and Claude Code (user-level config), so AI tools can drive the graph in every project — configure once.
Zero-config first run — the Nodalis activity-bar view has Start and Open buttons in its header (and a welcome panel while stopped). On a Nodalis workspace (one with .nodalis/ or definitions/), first open also auto-configures MCP, starts the runtime, and opens the panel once — toggle with nodalis.autoBootstrap.
Getting started
Install the extension (Marketplace, Open VSX, or a .vsix from the releases).
Reload the window if prompted.
Open any folder as a workspace.
Command Palette (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+P):
Nodalis: Start Runtime — status bar goes Live.
Nodalis: Open — the graph renders.
Definitions come from a definitions/ folder in your workspace when present; otherwise the extension's bundled default rule set is used.
Commands
Command
Description
Nodalis: Open
Open the graph webview
Nodalis: Start Runtime / Stop Runtime
Boot / stop the bundled core
Nodalis: Configure MCP
Register the MCP server for VSCode, Cursor & Claude Code
Nodalis: Create Snapshot
Snapshot the current graph
Nodalis: Refresh Versions / Restore Version
Manage versions
Settings
Setting
Default
Description
nodalis.autostart
false
Start the runtime automatically when a workspace opens
nodalis.autoBootstrap
true
On first open of a Nodalis workspace, auto-configure MCP, start the runtime, and open the panel (once per workspace)
Requirements
VSCode ≥ 1.80 or a recent Cursor. No separate Node.js install needed.
