CodeBlueprint
Export your entire project structure and source code into a single structured .txt file — optimized for documentation, archiving, auditing, or large language model input.
Overview
CodeBlueprint is a Visual Studio Code extension that:
- Exports full project structure
- Includes source code contents
- Applies configurable size limits
- Optionally encodes binary files
- Allows manual file/folder selection
- Produces a deterministic, structured plain-text output
The result is a single text file representing your entire workspace.
Features
Output is written in a clearly defined structure:
CODEBLUEPRINT v1
ROOT:/absolute/path/to/workspace
TIME:2026-02-19T12:00:00.000Z
MODE:safe
LIMITS:maxFileBytes=300000,maxTotalChars=2500000
EXCLUDE_DIRS:node_modules,.git,...
NOTES:
- Directory exclusion is name-based
- .gitignore is NOT respected
- Selection UI may further filter files
- Binary files: SKIPPED
TREE
src/index.ts
package.json
...
ENDTREE
================================================================================
FILE:src/index.ts
<file content>
ENDFILE
2. Export Modes
When exporting, you must choose one of:
Safe (recommended)
- Uses configuration defaults
- Applies file size limits
- Applies total output limit
- Skips binary files (default behavior)
Unlimited
- No per-file limit
- No total character limit
- May produce extremely large output
Custom
You can define:
- Maximum total characters (0 = unlimited)
- Maximum file size in bytes (0 = unlimited)
- Whether to include binary files (Base64 encoded)
3. File Selection UI
The extension provides a custom Explorer view:
Explorer → CodeBlueprint Export
- Only top-level entries are shown
- Checkbox selection is recursive
- Checking/unchecking a folder affects all children
- Selection state applies during export
You can:
- Export project
- Check/Uncheck All
4. Binary File Handling
Binary files are detected heuristically (null-byte detection).
Behavior:
| Setting |
Result |
| includeBinaryFiles = false |
File skipped |
| includeBinaryFiles = true |
Base64 encoded |
| Over file size limit |
Marked as truncated or skipped |
Binary markers in output:
[BINARY FILE SKIPPED]
or
[BINARY FILE — BASE64 ENCODED]
5. Size Limits
Two independent limits:
maxFileBytes
- Default: 300000 bytes
- Applies per file
- If exceeded, file is truncated (head + tail with
...)
maxTotalChars
- Default: 2500000 characters
- Applies to entire export
- If exceeded, export stops with:
OUTPUT TRUNCATED: MAX_TOTAL_CHARS REACHED
Set either to 0 to disable.
6. Directory Exclusion
Configured via:
codeblueprint.excludeDirs
Default excluded directories:
- node_modules
- .git
- .next
- dist
- build
- out
- coverage
Important:
- Exclusion is name-based only
.gitignore is NOT respected
Commands
CodeBlueprint: Export Project
Command ID:
codeblueprint.export
Exports current workspace.
CodeBlueprint: Check/Uncheck All
Command ID:
codeblueprint.toggleAll
Toggles selection state of all top-level entries.
Configuration
Available in VS Code Settings under:
CodeBlueprint
Properties
codeblueprint.maxFileBytes
- Type: number
- Default: 300000
- Description: Maximum bytes per file. Set to 0 to disable.
codeblueprint.maxTotalChars
- Type: number
- Default: 2500000
- Description: Maximum total characters. Set to 0 to disable.
codeblueprint.includeBinaryFiles
- Type: boolean
- Default: false
- Description: Include binary files (Base64 encoded).
codeblueprint.excludeDirs
- Type: string[]
- Default:
["node_modules", ".git", ".next", "dist", "build", "out", "coverage"]
- Description: Directory names to exclude from export.
Behavior Notes
- Only the first workspace folder is exported (if multiple are open)
- Symbolic links are skipped
- Unreadable directories/files are silently skipped
- Output file must be
.txt
- Existing files require overwrite confirmation
- Export supports cancellation via VS Code progress UI
Intended Use Cases
- LLM project ingestion
- Code audits
- Snapshot archiving
- Code review exports
- Compliance documentation
- Project migration packaging
Version
Current format version:
CODEBLUEPRINT v1
