"Hey, check out lines 42 to 58... or was it 48 to 62?" 🤔
Never again. RangeLink gives you src/auth.ts#L42C10-L58C25 — precise, portable, and just works across editors, tools, and teams.
Why RangeLink?
For AI-Assisted Development
Using claude-code or ChatGPT for development? RangeLink eliminates the context-sharing friction:
- Select code → Generate link (
Cmd+R Cmd+L)
- Bind to integrated terminal → Link appears in claude-code instantly (within VSCode/Cursor)
- AI reads precise context → No manual copy/paste, no lost focus
- AI responds with links → Click to jump directly to code (Cmd+Click in terminal)
Compete with Cursor's built-in AI by making external AI assistants feel integrated. You get:
- ⚡ Zero-friction AI context — Bind to your integrated terminal (within VSCode/Cursor). Links appear instantly, no copy/paste.
- 🎯 Choice of AI model — Claude, GPT, Gemini, anything. Not locked into Cursor's AI.
- 📐 Full control over context — Precise line ranges and column selections, not full files.
- 🔗 Cross-file context — Generate links from multiple files, paste all in one prompt. Built-in claude-code: single selection, current file only.
- 🌐 Universal compatibility — Works across editors (VSCode, Cursor, Sublime) and in any text-based tool.
Perfect For
- 🤖 AI assistants — claude-code, Copilot with exact context + clickable navigation
- 💬 Code reviews — "The bug is in
api/routes.ts#L215C8-L223C45" (click to view)
- 👥 Team collaboration — Universal format everyone can use and navigate
Quick Start
Installation
- Open VSCode or Cursor
- Go to Extensions (
Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
- Search for "RangeLink"
- Click Install
Basic Usage
- Select text in the editor (non-empty selection required)
- Press
Cmd+R Cmd+L (Mac) or Ctrl+R Ctrl+L (Windows/Linux)
- Link copied to clipboard!
Example output:
src/utils/parser.ts#L42C10-L58C25
Note: R then L - the letters stand for Range Link.
Features
🖱️ Terminal Link Navigation
Click RangeLinks in your terminal to jump directly to code — the killer feature for AI-assisted workflows.
Any RangeLink in the terminal becomes clickable — whether from claude-code responses, your own links you're validating before sending, or references shared by teammates:
- Cmd+Click (Mac) or Ctrl+Click (Windows/Linux) to navigate
- Instant file opening with precise cursor positioning
- Works with all formats: single-line, ranges, columns, rectangular selections
- Smart path resolution: workspace-relative and absolute paths supported
Example: AI suggests checking src/auth.ts#L42C10-L58C25 → Click → VSCode opens file at exact selection.
- Single line:
src/file.ts#L42
- Line ranges:
src/file.ts#L10-L25
- Column precision:
src/file.ts#L42C6-L42C15
- Rectangular selections:
src/file.ts##L10C5-L20C10 (double hash)
🔀 Terminal Binding
Auto-send generated links to your integrated terminal where claude-code can see them instantly. Zero copy/paste friction.
⚙️ Custom Delimiters
Personalize delimiters to match your workflow or organizational standards. Full validation ensures configurations always work.
📦 Portable Links (BYOD)
Share code references with teammates who use different delimiter configurations. Portable links embed metadata so they work everywhere — no coordination needed.
Commands
All commands are available via keyboard shortcuts, Command Palette, and right-click context menu:
| Command |
Shortcut (Mac) |
Shortcut (Win/Linux) |
Description |
| Copy Range Link |
Cmd+R Cmd+L |
Ctrl+R Ctrl+L |
Create relative path link |
| Copy Range Link (Absolute) |
Cmd+R Cmd+Shift+L |
Ctrl+R Ctrl+Shift+L |
Create absolute path link |
| Copy Portable Link |
Cmd+R Cmd+P |
Ctrl+R Ctrl+P |
Create BYOD portable link |
| Copy Portable Link (Absolute) |
Cmd+R Cmd+Shift+P |
Ctrl+R Ctrl+Shift+P |
Create absolute BYOD link |
| Bind to Terminal |
— |
— |
Auto-send links to integrated terminal for AI workflows |
| Unbind Terminal |
— |
— |
Stop auto-sending links to terminal |
| Show Version Info |
— |
— |
Display version and build info |
Customizing Shortcuts: Press Cmd+K Cmd+S (Mac) or Ctrl+K Ctrl+S (Win/Linux) to open Keyboard Shortcuts, then search for "RangeLink".
RangeLink generates local file paths with GitHub-inspired range notation.
💡 Pro Tip: All these formats are clickable in the terminal! Cmd+Click any RangeLink to navigate — whether it's from claude-code responses, your own references you're validating, or links shared by teammates.
| Selection Type |
Format |
Example |
| Single line |
path#L<line> |
src/file.ts#L42 |
| Multiple lines |
path#L<start>-L<end> |
src/file.ts#L10-L25 |
| With column precision |
path#L<line>C<col>-L<line>C<col> |
src/file.ts#L42C6-L42C15 |
| Rectangular selection |
path##L<start>C<col>-L<end>C<col> |
src/file.ts##L10C5-L20C10 |
Rectangular Selection
When you use VSCode's column selection (Alt+drag or Shift+Alt+Arrow keys), RangeLink detects this and uses a double hash (##) to indicate rectangular mode:
- Normal multi-line:
path#L10C5-L20C10 (traditional selection)
- Rectangular mode:
path##L10C5-L20C10 (rectangular selection)
Portable Links (BYOD)
Share links with anyone, regardless of their delimiter settings.
Portable RangeLinks embed delimiter metadata so they work everywhere:
path#L10C5-L20C10~#~L~-~C~
The ~ separator marks embedded delimiters that override recipient's local settings. No coordination needed — links just work.
Configuration
Customize delimiters in VSCode settings (Preferences > Settings > search "rangelink"):
{
"rangelink.delimiterLine": "L",
"rangelink.delimiterPosition": "C",
"rangelink.delimiterHash": "#",
"rangelink.delimiterRange": "-"
}
Validation Rules:
- Delimiters cannot contain digits
- Delimiters cannot be empty
- All delimiters must be unique
- Reserved characters (
~, |, /, \, :, ,, @) cannot be used
Invalid configurations will fall back to defaults with a warning in the output channel (Cmd+Shift+U / Ctrl+Shift+U, select "RangeLink"). See DEVELOPMENT.md for details.
Full configuration guide →
What's Next
RangeLink is under active development. See the full roadmap for planned features and other editor integrations.
Requirements
- VSCode or Cursor version 1.49.0 or higher
Known Issues
If you find a bug, please report it.
When filing a bug report, please include:
- Extension version: Command Palette → "RangeLink: Show Version Info"
- IDE: VSCode or Cursor (with version number)
- Operating system: e.g., macOS 14.0, Windows 11, Ubuntu 22.04
- Extension logs: Open Output panel (
Cmd+Shift+U / Ctrl+Shift+U), select "RangeLink", copy relevant logs. More details →
Links
About
RangeLink is a monorepo project with:
- rangelink-vscode-extension - This VSCode extension (you are here)
- rangelink-core-ts - Pure TypeScript core library (platform-agnostic)
- More plugins coming - Neovim, Sublime Text, and more
The extension is a thin wrapper around the core library, ensuring consistent behavior across all editor integrations.
Want to Learn More?
Curious about how RangeLink came to be or want to contribute?
License
MIT - see LICENSE file for details.
Made with ❤️ for developers who love precision
