Scope Gopher
A VS Code extension that makes Go declaration export status visible at a glance.
Requires the Go extension.
In Go, uppercase means exported (LoginToSystem) and lowercase means unexported (loginToSystem). Scope Gopher highlights declaration names in two equal-weight colors so you can tell the difference without scanning case.
Features
- Declaration highlighting — exported and unexported names appear in different colors.
- Inlay hints — optionally show
exported or unexported labels before declaration names.
- Powered by gopls — uses the official Go extension's document symbols, so markings stay in sync with your code.
Markings apply to declaration names only, not call sites or full signatures.
Defaults
- Highlighting: enabled
- Inlay hints: disabled
- Eligible declaration kinds: functions and methods
What gets marked
func LoginToSystem() {} // marked
func loginToSystem() {} // marked
func (s *Service) Start() {} // marked (receiver name is not)
With inlay hints enabled:
func exported LoginToSystem() {}
func unexported loginToSystem() {}
func (s *Service) exported Start() {}
Hints are virtual editor text — they never modify source files.
Requirements
Requires the official Go extension.
Markings rely on gopls document symbols. If symbols are unavailable while gopls is starting or indexing, the extension waits quietly until they are ready.
Extension Settings
| Setting |
Description |
Default |
scopeGopher.highlight.enabled |
Enable declaration highlighting |
true |
scopeGopher.highlight.exportedColor |
Color for exported names |
"#7dd3fc" |
scopeGopher.highlight.unexportedColor |
Color for unexported names |
"#fca5a5" |
scopeGopher.inlayHints.enabled |
Enable inlay hints |
false |
scopeGopher.inlayHints.exportedLabel |
Label for exported hints |
"exported" |
scopeGopher.inlayHints.unexportedLabel |
Label for unexported hints |
"unexported" |
scopeGopher.declarations.enabledKinds |
Which declaration kinds to mark |
["function", "method"] |
Supported declaration kinds
The full list of kinds gopls can expose:
[
"function",
"method",
"interfaceMethod",
"struct",
"interface",
"type",
"field",
"variable",
"constant"
]
Kinds are mapped from gopls symbol types. If gopls does not distinguish a kind distinctly, it is mapped to the nearest logical enabled kind or skipped.
What gets marked
- In scope: package-level declarations in any Go file where document symbols are available, including tests, generated files, vendor files, dirty buffers, and files outside the workspace.
- Out of scope: local variables, constants, parameters, receiver names, labels, and short declarations — anything that cannot be exported from its immediate lexical scope.
Grouped or multi-name declarations are marked per identifier when gopls provides unambiguous ranges.
Identifier support
Targets conventional ASCII Go identifiers. Simple Unicode casing is handled on a best-effort basis.
Design principle
Export status is neutral. The two highlighting colors carry equal visual weight — neither exported nor unexported is presented as preferable.
