DXL (VS Code Extension)

This extension provides:

• DXL syntax highlighting for .dxl files
• A lightweight syntax checker that reports issues in the Problems panel
• Command: DXL: Check Syntax
• Quick fixes for some diagnostics
• Outline symbols (functions) + basic Go to Definition
• Find All References + Rename Symbol (within the same file)
• Keyword/type/snippet completion

What “Compile” means here

DXL is typically executed inside IBM Rational DOORS (it is not usually compiled like C/C++). This extension performs fast, local checks such as:

• Unterminated strings
• Unterminated block comments
• Mismatched/unclosed brackets: (), {}, []

These checks catch common mistakes early but won’t validate DOORS-specific semantics.

Settings

• dxl.diagnostics.onSave (default: true): run checks on save
• dxl.diagnostics.onType (default: true): run checks as you type (debounced)
• dxl.diagnostics.debounceMs (default: 300): debounce delay for on-type checks
• dxl.diagnostics.maxFileSizeKb (default: 512): skip on-type checks for large files (0 = no limit)
• dxl.diagnostics.rules.missingSemicolon (default: true): enable the missing semicolon rule
• dxl.output.showOnIssues (default: true): show Output when issues found via command
• dxl.notifications.enabled (default: true): show toast notifications for command results
• dxl.completion.builtins.enabled (default: true): include built-in API names in completion
• dxl.completion.builtins.maxItems (default: 200): cap built-in completion results (0 = no limit)
• dxl.semanticHighlighting.enabled (default: true): semantic highlight builtins/types/constants + pragma names
• dxl.semanticHighlighting.maxFileSizeKb (default: 512): skip semantic highlighting for large files (0 = no limit)
• dxl.hover.enabled (default: true): enable hover tooltips for built-in symbols and pragma names
• dxl.format.enabled (default: true): enable the built-in formatter (indentation + whitespace)
• dxl.format.maxFileSizeKb (default: 1024): skip formatting for large files (0 = no limit)
• dxl.format.trimTrailingWhitespace (default: true): trim trailing whitespace
• dxl.format.insertFinalNewline (default: true): ensure file ends with a newline
• dxl.format.normalizeSpacing (default: true): normalize whitespace in code (keywords/commas/operators)

Built-in completion includes a large list of API names derived from the DXL Reference Manual’s index/outline, plus a small set of type/category and constant-like symbols.

Status bar

The status bar shows DXL Lint: On/Off. Click it or run DXL: Toggle Diagnostics.

Development

• npm install
• npm run compile
• Run Extension Host (Debug → "Run Extension" or "Run Extension (No Other Extensions)")

Package (local .vsix)

• npm install
• npm run package

This produces a .vsix file in the workspace root that you can install via:

• Extensions view → ... menu → Install from VSIX...