Aner for Visual Studio Code

Write Aner programs and notebooks with syntax highlighting, native API signature help, a Run button for source files, shared notebook variables, and a read-only Inspector for values and training results.

Website · Documentation · Install the native runtime · Support

Version 0.1.45

Publisher: Aner (anerlang)

Extension identifier: anerlang.aner-language

License: MIT

This update adds the Aner file logo with light and dark theme support, a ▶ Run File action for saved .aner files, and a shared executable setting. If the Marketplace still shows 0.1.44, install 0.1.45 from the VSIX supplied on the Aner downloads page.

The native runtime is currently a binary-only research release for a small group of researchers. Public native source availability is planned with Aner 0.1.0. This extension is separately MIT licensed.

The extension and native runtime have independent version numbers. Use the Aner 0.0.2 runtime with this extension. Basic editing and execution also work with Aner 0.0.1; newer API help describes features provided by 0.0.2. One VSIX serves macOS, Windows and Ubuntu; install the native runtime package for the machine and processor that will execute your code. The extension does not contain the native interpreter.

Install

Install Visual Studio Code 1.85 or newer.
Install the production native runtime from Install Aner, then open a new terminal and run aner --version.
For a Marketplace installation, open VS Code's Extensions view, search for @id:anerlang.aner-language, and select Install on Aner by publisher Aner (anerlang). If you received aner-language-0.1.45.vsix directly from the Aner team, use Extensions → … → Install from VSIX… instead. Reload VS Code if prompted.
Open a trusted project and an .aner file, or run Aner: New Notebook from the Command Palette.

If you already have an older local Aner extension from another publisher, uninstall it before installing this identity so two notebook providers are not enabled together. Your source files, notebooks and native installation remain separate from the extension.

The extension uses VS Code's bundled JavaScript runtime. Researchers do not need a separate Node.js, Python or Jupyter installation. Syntax highlighting and signature help work without Aner installed; execution needs the native runtime. Trust a workspace only when you trust the code it contains.

Select the runtime

If VS Code cannot locate Aner, set Aner: Executable (aner.executable) to the executable's absolute path and run Aner: Restart Notebook Session. To locate an installed executable:

macOS or Ubuntu:

command -v aner

Windows PowerShell:

(Get-Command aner).Source

Use an explicit path when a source checkout contains a development build and you intend to run the installed production runtime. The general setting takes priority over the legacy aner.notebook.executable setting. Relative executable paths resolve from the workspace root, or the source file folder when no workspace is open. With Remote SSH or WSL, install the extension and native runtime on the system executing the program.

Run a source file

Open a saved .aner file in a trusted workspace and click ▶ Run File at the top right of its editor. You can also right-click the file in Explorer and select Aner: Run File, or use that command from the Command Palette.

The command saves pending edits and runs aner run <file> in the integrated terminal. Canceling a save cancels execution. Use Ctrl+C in that terminal to stop a program. Relative data and output paths use the workspace root; a file opened without a workspace uses its own folder.

For an explicitly selected development runtime, set aner.executable to that binary. Updating the extension does not build or replace the native interpreter.

First notebook

Run Aner: New Notebook, choose Aner — notebook, and execute:

var answer = 40
print(answer + 2)

The output is 42. Run print(answer) in a second cell to check shared variables. Aner: Restart Notebook Session clears session variables.

Prod is the default observation mode. Dev enables bounded inspection of completed cells. These buttons do not change the installed runtime, subscribe to a development channel, or alter the numerical model.

File icons

.aner files use the Aner logo in Explorer and editor tabs, with separate light and dark artwork. The built-in Seti (Visual Studio Code) file icon theme displays these language icons automatically. A custom file icon theme can override or hide them; select Preferences: File Icon Theme → Seti (Visual Studio Code) if the logo is missing. No workspace setting or global theme change is applied by this extension.

Features

A ▶ Run File button and Explorer action for saved .aner programs, with native output in the integrated terminal.
The Aner logo for .aner files, with light and dark theme artwork.
Theme-aware syntax highlighting, comments, brackets and snippets for .aner source files.
Native API signature help with parameter names, optional defaults and named arguments in source files and notebook cells.
.anernb notebooks with Aner code, Markdown, image attachments and saved outputs.
Shared-variable sessions by default, plus explicitly selected independent-program execution.
A read-only Development Inspector for typed values, arrays, units, checkpoints and training summaries after cells complete.
Offline training-report viewing with bounded input validation, escaped content and a restricted Content Security Policy.
Editor support for Aner's scientific computing, neural, data, units, contextual, parallel and model-serving APIs. The selected native runtime determines which APIs and accelerators can execute.

Signature help analyzes source; it does not execute code or inspect live variables. This is not a pause/step debugger or a full language server. Native parsing and checking remain authoritative.

Updates

Marketplace installations follow VS Code's extension update settings. Keep Auto Update enabled for Aner to receive new extension versions automatically, or use Check for Extension Updates from the Extensions view menu and apply the available update.

For a locally supplied VSIX, obtain the next reviewed file from the Aner team and use Install from VSIX… again. Versions under anerlang.aner-language update the same extension identity. Reload VS Code if prompted.

The native runtime has a separate installation and update process; updating this extension does not update Aner itself. Production remains the normal runtime choice; use a development runtime only deliberately.

See the Changelog tab for version history.

Extension source

The VSIX includes readable JavaScript, syntax grammar, snippets, editor-facing API catalogs and an editable HTML report renderer. These extension files are MIT licensed; no native C++ implementation is included.

The standalone extension source repository is not publicly hosted yet. For the standalone source archive and build or contributor instructions, contact contact@anerlang.org.

License and support

This extension's code, documentation, tests, build scripts and bundled assets are under the MIT license, supplied in LICENSE. The grant covers this extension's copy of the report renderer and API catalogs. It does not change the native Aner C++ license or other project components. Third-party notices remain applicable, and project trademarks do not imply endorsement of modified distributions; see NOTICE.

Email contact@anerlang.org with the extension version, aner --version, VS Code version, operating system and a small reproducible example. Remove credentials and confidential research data. Additional guidance is in SUPPORT.md.