A VS Code extension that enables a laser-pointer mode for presenters, allowing them to highlight code lines and areas by converting the mouse pointer into a laser pointer.
Installation
Launch VS Code Quick Open (Ctrl+P), paste the following command, and press enter.
Presentation Mode (Laser Pointer) for Visual Studio Code
CodePointer brings the familiar PowerPoint-style laser pointer experience directly into VS Code.
Perfect for live demos, trainings, workshops, and code walkthroughs.
Why CodePointer?
When presenting code on screen shares, the default mouse cursor often:
Gets lost in dark themes
Distracts the audience
Breaks the flow of explanation
CodePointer solves this by turning your cursor into a high-visibility laser pointer, making it easy to guide attention to the exact line or logic you're discussing.
Features
Laser Pointer Mode
Convert your mouse into a glowing laser pointer inside VS Code.
Presentation-Friendly Highlighting
Clearly point to lines — move your cursor to highlight one line, or select multiple lines to highlight them all.
Spotlight / Dim Mode
Dims all lines except the highlighted ones, creating a focus spotlight effect. Toggle with Ctrl+Shift+D.
Preset Color Picker
Choose from 8 built-in colors (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Orange, White) or enter a custom R,G,B value.
Configurable Trail Duration
Control how long highlights stay visible (200ms–10000ms) via codePointer.trailDuration in Settings.
Zoom to Line
Instantly scroll the current line to the center of the viewport with Ctrl+Shift+;.
Dark Theme Optimized
Designed to stand out on popular dark themes.
Lightweight & Zero Lag
No performance impact during live coding or debugging.
Presenter Ready
Ideal for:
Technical demos
GitHub Copilot trainings
Workshops & bootcamps
Conference talks
YouTube / Twitch live coding
How to Use
Install
Search for Code Pointer (Laser Pointer) in the VS Code Marketplace.
Toggle Laser Pointer
The Code Pointer: OFF button appears in the status bar automatically.
Click it or press Ctrl+Shift+L (Cmd+Shift+L on Mac) to activate.
Or use the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P) and run:
Code Pointer: Toggle Laser Pointer
Move your cursor through code — the current line lights up.
Select multiple lines — all selected lines are highlighted together.
Toggle Spotlight with Ctrl+Shift+D to dim everything except the highlighted lines.
Change color via Command Palette → Code Pointer: Set Pointer Color.
Present with Confidence
Point, guide, and explain—without distractions.
Who Is This For?
Trainers & instructors
Developers doing live demos
Tech leads & architects
Pre-sales engineers
Content creators & streamers
If you share your VS Code screen—this extension is for you.
Commands
Command
Shortcut
Description
Code Pointer: Toggle Laser Pointer
Ctrl+Shift+L
Enable or disable laser pointer mode
Code Pointer: Set Pointer Color
—
Pick a preset or custom color
Code Pointer: Toggle Spotlight / Dim Mode
Ctrl+Shift+D
Dim all lines except highlighted
Code Pointer: Zoom to Current Line
Ctrl+Shift+;
Scroll current line to center
Configuration
Setting
Default
Description
codePointer.pointerColor
255,0,0
Laser pointer color as R,G,B
codePointer.trailDuration
3000
How long (ms) the highlight stays visible
Future versions may include:
Laser color customization
Pointer size adjustment
many more...
Screenshots
How it works
Known Limitations
Designed for presentation use, not permanent annotations
Laser pointer is visible only during active sessions
Feedback & Contributions
Found this useful?
Rate the extension on the VS Code Marketplace
Add issues or feature requests on the marketplace page
