Asymptote Workshop
Build, preview, and export Asymptote (.asy) vector graphics directly from VS Code.
Features
- Build — Compile
.asy files with asy CLI (Ctrl+Alt+B, or save with auto-build)
- Live Preview — Side-panel SVG preview with pan, zoom, rotate, and fit (Ctrl+Alt+V)
- Animation Support — Auto-detect
import animation; and preview frame sequences
- Export — Export to PDF, SVG, PNG, or EPS via context menu or command palette
- Build Recipes — Switch between SVG, PDF, PNG, and 3D render presets
- Problems Panel — Clickable error links pointing to file + line + column
- Outline View — Document symbols (imports, structs, functions, variables)
- Hover Docs — Inline documentation for built-in functions and colors
- Lint on Save — Optional syntax checking without output (Ctrl+Alt+L)
- Snippets — 12 Asymptote snippets for common patterns
- Autocomplete — Function names, module names, and color names
- Status Bar — Current recipe + build status (click to build or change recipe)
- Kill Build — Cancel a running build if it's stuck or taking too long
- Install Asymptote — Auto-detect platform and install
asy via apt, dnf, brew, winget, etc.
Requirements
- Asymptote (
asy CLI) installed and on PATH. Test with asy --version.
- If missing, use the Install Asymptote command (Linux/macOS/Windows package managers supported).
- VS Code ^1.85.0
- ImageMagick (optional) — for GIF creation from animation frames
Commands
| Command |
Keybinding |
Description |
Asymptote Workshop: Build |
Ctrl+Alt+B |
Build current file |
Asymptote Workshop: Preview SVG |
Ctrl+Alt+V |
Preview current SVG |
Asymptote Workshop: Build with recipe... |
— |
Choose output format/3D preset |
Asymptote Workshop: Build animation |
— |
Build animation (PNG frames) |
Asymptote Workshop: Lint |
Ctrl+Alt+L |
Syntax check without output |
Asymptote Workshop: Export as PDF/SVG/PNG/EPS |
— |
Export in chosen format |
Asymptote Workshop: Install Asymptote |
— |
Install asy via system package manager |
Asymptote Workshop: Kill current build |
— |
Cancel a running build |
Asymptote Workshop: Clean auxiliary files |
— |
Remove logs and temp files |
Asymptote Workshop: View build log |
— |
Show the build output channel |
Asymptote Workshop: Toggle auto build on save |
— |
Toggle automatic builds |
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
asy-workshop.command |
asy |
Path to Asymptote executable |
asy-workshop.autoBuildOnSave |
true |
Build automatically on save |
asy-workshop.autoOpenPreview |
true |
Open preview on successful build |
asy-workshop.outputFormat |
svg |
Default output format |
asy-workshop.buildArgs |
[] |
Extra CLI args for asy |
asy-workshop.previewScale |
1 |
Default preview zoom |
asy-workshop.showBuildLog |
false |
Show output channel on build |
asy-workshop.lintOnSave |
false |
Lint on save |
Keyboard Shortcuts
- Ctrl+Alt+B — Build
- Ctrl+Alt+V — Preview
- Ctrl+Alt+L — Lint
How to Cite
If you use Asymptote Workshop in your research or projects:
@software{alish_asymptote_workshop_2026,
author = {Alish, 0x},
title = {Asymptote Workshop — VS Code extension for Asymptote vector graphics},
version = {0.1.0},
year = {2026},
url = {https://github.com/Alish-0x/Asymptote-Workshop}
}
Or cite the CITATION.cff file directly — GitHub renders it automatically on the repo homepage.
License
MIT
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