Linesmith

A VS Code / Cursor / Windsurf extension that types code into the active editor on cue — clean playback, no autocomplete fights. Built so recording tutorials stops being a typo-and-retake loop.

Install

Usage

.linesmith script files

Scripts are plain text with --- on its own line separating chunks. Edit them in a normal VS Code tab:

import { useState } from 'react';

---

function Counter() {
  const [n, setN] = useState(0);
  return <button onClick={() => setN(n + 1)}>{n}</button>;
}

---

export default Counter;

Three chunks, played one at a time.

The recording flow

1. Open your .linesmith script in one tab
2. Click into the code file you want to type into — that becomes the target
3. Run Linesmith: Open Panel (command palette)
4. Hit Play Next (or ctrl+alt+l / cmd+alt+l) to type the next chunk

The target editor is whichever non-.linesmith tab you last clicked into. The panel shows it in the header so it's never ambiguous.

Clipboard fast path

For one-off blocks: copy code anywhere, focus the target editor, hit ctrl+alt+shift+l (or cmd+alt+shift+l). Types the clipboard contents at the cursor.

Commands

Settings

How it works

Linesmith uses the VS Code Extension API directly (TextEditor.edit()) rather than injecting keystrokes. That sidesteps autocomplete, bracket auto-close, snippets, and formatOnType — and works in remote sessions (SSH, WSL, Codespaces) where keystroke injection often can't reach.

Roadmap

• v0.1 (this release) — typing engine, .linesmith files, panel, clipboard hotkey, language contribution
• v0.2 — cursor choreography: per-chunk @directive frontmatter (@cursor end-of-line, @speed 60)
• v0.3 — pause-on-marker ({{pause}} tokens that wait for a keyboard cue)
• v0.4 — typo-and-correction simulation
• v0.5 — multi-file scripts
• v1.0 — record-and-replay

License

MIT