Coding Live - Lightning-Fast Real-Time Code Collaboration

A powerful VSCode extension for real-time code collaboration without cloud dependencies

Overview

Coding Live is an advanced VSCode extension that enables multiple developers to code together in real-time with sub-millisecond latency. All collaboration happens locally on your network with zero cloud dependencies, enterprise-grade security, and lightning-fast performance.

Key Features:

• Ultra-fast real-time synchronization (< 1ms latency)
• Smart cursor tracking with color-coded user indicators
• Integrated chat and activity feed
• Terminal sharing with granular permissions
• Collaborative debugging with shared breakpoints
• Code review with inline comments
• Automatic backup system with snapshots
• AES-256-GCM encryption for all communications
• Performance monitoring and metrics

Quick Start

Installation

1. Install Coding Live from the VSCode Marketplace
2. Open the Coding Live panel in the activity bar
3. Click "Create Room" to start a collaboration session
4. Share the room ID with your teammates
5. Start coding together at lightning speed!

Creating a Room

``` Command: Coding Live: Create Room ```

Enter your name and optional password to create a new collaboration room. Share the generated room ID with your teammates.

Joining a Room

``` Command: Coding Live: Join Room ```

Enter the room ID and your name to join an existing collaboration session. If the room is password-protected, you'll need to enter the password.

Leaving a Room

``` Command: Coding Live: Leave Room ```

Disconnect from the current collaboration session.

Features

Real-Time Code Synchronization

• Instant file synchronization across all collaborators
• Intelligent debouncing to optimize network usage
• Conflict resolution for simultaneous edits
• File caching for improved performance

Cursor Tracking

• See exactly where teammates are editing
• Color-coded cursor positions with user names
• Real-time presence indicators
• Selection highlighting

Chat & Activity

• Built-in chat panel for team communication
• Real-time activity feed showing all changes
• User join/leave notifications
• Message history

Terminal Sharing

• Share your terminal with collaborators
• Read-only mode for observers
• Full control mode for collaborators
• Real-time terminal output

Collaborative Debugging

• Shared breakpoints across all team members
• Shared watch expressions
• Synchronized call stacks
• Visual breakpoint indicators

Code Review

• Inline code comments
• Comment resolution tracking
• Visual comment indicators
• Threaded discussions

Automatic Backups

• Automatic snapshots every 5 minutes
• Manual snapshot creation with descriptions
• One-click restoration
• Version history management
• Intelligent cleanup (keeps last 20 snapshots)

Performance Monitoring

• Real-time latency tracking
• Memory and CPU usage monitoring
• Active connection metrics
• Message queue monitoring

Architecture

Frontend

• VSCode WebviewViewProvider for UI
• Real-time editor decorations
• Modern HTML/CSS interface
• Responsive design

Backend

• Node.js WebSocket server
• Room management system
• File synchronization engine
• AES-256-GCM encryption

Technologies

• TypeScript
• VSCode API
• WebSocket
• Node.js & Express
• Crypto (Node.js built-in)

Security

Coding Live prioritizes security and privacy:

• Encryption: AES-256-GCM encryption for all communications
• Local-Only: All data stays on your local network
• Password Protection: Optional room password protection
• Rate Limiting: Brute force protection for room joins
• No Cloud: Zero external dependencies or cloud services
• Error Handling: Comprehensive logging without exposing sensitive data

Performance

Coding Live is optimized for speed:

• Sub-millisecond Sync: < 1ms synchronization latency
• Optimized Debouncing: 100ms cursor updates, 300ms file changes
• File Caching: 1-minute TTL for frequently accessed files
• Message Batching: Intelligent message queue batching
• Memory Efficient: Minimal memory footprint with automatic cleanup

Development

Prerequisites

• Node.js 16+
• VSCode 1.85.0+
• TypeScript 5+

Setup

```bash

Install dependencies

npm install

Compile TypeScript

npm run compile

Watch for changes

npm run watch

Run linter

npm run lint

Run tests

npm run test ```

Project Structure

``` src/ ├── extension.ts # Extension entry point ├── server/ │ ├── websocketServer.ts # WebSocket server │ ├── roomManager.ts # Room management │ ├── fileSync.ts # File synchronization │ └── encryption.ts # Encryption utilities ├── features/ │ ├── codeSyncManager.ts # Code synchronization │ ├── debuggingManager.ts # Collaborative debugging │ ├── codeReviewManager.ts # Code review features │ ├── performanceMonitor.ts # Performance tracking │ └── errorHandler.ts # Error handling ├── managers/ │ └── collaborationManager.ts # Main collaboration logic ├── ui/ │ ├── sidebarProvider.ts # Sidebar UI │ ├── chatProvider.ts # Chat UI │ ├── activityProvider.ts # Activity feed UI │ ├── terminalProvider.ts # Terminal UI │ └── backupProvider.ts # Backup UI └── types/ └── index.ts # TypeScript types ```

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

• Ensure both machines are on the same network
• Check firewall settings
• Verify the room ID is correct
• Try creating a new room

Sync Issues

• Check file permissions
• Ensure sufficient disk space
• Verify network connectivity
• Check error logs in the Coding Live output channel

Performance Issues

• Close unnecessary files
• Reduce the number of active collaborators
• Check system resources (CPU, memory)
• Review performance metrics in the extension

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please see CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.

Changelog

See CHANGELOG.md for a detailed list of changes.

License

MIT License - See LICENSE file for details

Support

For issues, feature requests, or questions:

• Open an issue on GitHub
• Check the documentation
• Review the troubleshooting section

Coding Live - Lightning-fast collaboration for developers. Built with TypeScript and VSCode API.