Conso Language Support & Helper (VS Code Extension)

Official VS Code extension for the Conso programming language by Converso Empire.

This extension adds first-class support for .conso files: syntax highlighting, snippets, language server integration, commands to run and format programs, explorer badges, and runtime installation helpers.

Repository: https://github.com/Converso-Empire/conso

What is Conso?

Conso is a pragmatic, human-friendly programming language created by Converso Empire. A Conso program typically lives inside an explicit block and uses readable keywords for control flow and domain modeling.

Core language ideas:

• Structured program blocks with start conso ... end conso.
• Readable keywords for control flow: conso if, conso else-if, conso else, conso while, return, print.
• Domain modeling primitives: entity, oracle, fn (function).
• Familiar comments: // line and /* block */.
• Strings, numbers, and braces behave like modern languages.

Example:

start conso
  conso print "Hello from Converso Empire!";

  entity User {
    // properties...
  }

  fn greet(name) -> void {
    conso print "Hi, " + name;
  }

  conso if (true) {
    conso print "Condition is true";
  } conso else {
    conso print "Condition is false";
  }

  conso while (false) {
    // loop body
  }
end conso

Features

• Syntax highlighting for keywords, comments, strings, numbers, and braces (TextMate grammar).
• IntelliSense via Language Server Protocol (LSP) client.
• Snippets for common Conso constructs.
• Commands:
  • Conso: Install Runtime
  • Conso: Getting Started
  • Run Conso File
  • Conso: Format Document
• Explorer decorations: a "CO" badge on .conso files.
• Language configuration: comments, bracket pairs, auto-closing and surrounding pairs.

Installation

1. From VSIX:

   • Download or build conso-language-1.0.0.vsix.
   • In VS Code, open the Command Palette and run “Extensions: Install from VSIX…”, then select the VSIX file.
   • Alternatively, use the CLI:
     • Windows/macOS/Linux:

       code --install-extension conso-language-1.0.0.vsix
       

2. From the Marketplace (when published):

   • Search for “Conso Language Support & Helper” and install.

Getting Started

1. Create a file hello.conso.
2. Start with the snippet “startconso” to scaffold the program block.
3. Type print to insert a print statement.
4. Save the file.
5. Run the file using “Run Conso File” from:
   • The editor title toolbar button (visible on .conso files).
   • The Command Palette: “Run Conso File”.
   • The terminal command that the extension sends automatically.

Commands and how to use them

• Conso: Install Runtime

  • Ensures the Conso CLI is available on your machine.
  • If the CLI is missing, you can install globally:

    npm i -g @converso-empire/conso
    

  • Or run via npx without global install:

    npx -y @converso-empire/conso path/to/file.conso
    

• Conso: Getting Started

  • Opens a friendly webview with basic guidance and next steps.

• Run Conso File

  • Saves the current .conso file and runs it in an integrated terminal.
  • If conso CLI is found, the extension runs:

    conso "path/to/file.conso"
    

  • Otherwise it falls back to:

    npx -y @converso-empire/conso "path/to/file.conso"
    

• Conso: Format Document

  • Requests formatting edits from the language server or available formatter provider for Conso.
  • Applies edits to the current document or the resource selected in Explorer.

Snippets

• Block scaffold: prefix startconso
• Print: prefix print
• If-Else: prefix if
• Else-If chain: prefix elseif
• While loop: prefix while
• Function: prefix fn
• Entity: prefix entity
• Oracle: prefix oracle

Language configuration

• Line comments: //
• Block comments: /* ... */
• Brackets: {}, [], ()
• Auto-closing pairs: {}, [], (), " ", ' '
• Surrounding pairs: same as above

Explorer badge

• .conso files show a “CO” badge in the Explorer tree to help you visually identify Conso sources quickly.

Settings

• conso.install.globalByDefault (boolean, default: false)
  • If true, the extension will suggest global installation by default:

    npm i -g @converso-empire/conso
    

Troubleshooting

• “Open a Conso file first” warning

  • Make sure you have an active editor open with a .conso file selected.

• “Not a Conso file” warning

  • The command was triggered outside a .conso file; switch to a .conso document.

• Conso CLI not found

  • Install globally: npm i -g @converso-empire/conso
  • Or rely on the extension’s npx fallback when running files.

Roadmap

• Additional IntelliSense: hover docs, completion, signature help.
• Rich formatting and code actions.
• Debugging integration.

License

MIT © Converso Empire

Acknowledgements

Built with the VS Code Extension API and Language Server Protocol.