Executable Talk

Transform your Markdown presentations into live coding demonstrations with VS Code integration.

Features

Navigate Slides: Use arrow keys to navigate between slides in a full-screen presentation view
Fragment Animations: Reveal bullet points one at a time with PowerPoint-like animations
Execute Actions: Click on action links to open files, highlight code, run terminal commands, or start debug sessions
Dynamic Content: Embed live file contents, command output, and git diffs directly in your slides
Undo/Redo: Recover from demo failures by undoing IDE changes with Cmd+Z / Ctrl+Z
Zen Mode: Presentations automatically enter distraction-free Zen Mode
Presenter View: Open speaker notes and next slide preview on a secondary panel
Workspace Trust: Actions that execute code require Workspace Trust for security

Getting Started

Create a Presentation

Create a file with the .deck.md extension:

---
title: My First Presentation
author: Your Name
---

# Welcome to Executable Talk

This is your first slide!

---

## Opening a File

Click the action link to see it in action:

[Open Main File](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:file.open?path=src/main.ts)

---

## Highlighting Code

Draw attention to specific lines:

[Highlight the function](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:editor.highlight?path=src/main.ts&lines=5-10)

---
notes: Remember to explain the architecture diagram!
---

## Running Commands

Execute terminal commands during your demo:

[Install Dependencies](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:terminal.run?command=npm%20install)

---

## Debugging

Start a debug session:

[Launch Debugger](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:debug.start?config=Launch%20Program)

Start a Presentation

Open a .deck.md file in VS Code
Press Cmd+Shift+P (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux)
Run Executable Talk: Start Presentation

Keyboard Shortcuts

Key	Action
`→` or `Space`	Next fragment or next slide
`←` or `Backspace`	Previous fragment or previous slide
`Home`	First slide
`End`	Last slide
`Cmd+Z` / `Ctrl+Z`	Undo IDE changes
`Cmd+Shift+Z` / `Ctrl+Y`	Redo IDE changes
`Escape`	Exit presentation

A floating toolbar appears in the bottom-right corner when you hover over the presentation. It provides quick access to VS Code workspace toggles:

Icon	Action
◧	Toggle Sidebar
◫	Toggle Panel
⌨	Toggle Terminal
☰	Toggle Activity Bar
⛶	Toggle Zen Mode

Commands

Command	Description
`Executable Talk: Start Presentation`	Open the current `.deck.md` file as a presentation
`Executable Talk: Stop Presentation`	Close the presentation and restore IDE state
`Executable Talk: Reset Presentation`	Reset to the first slide and clear all changes
`Executable Talk: Next Slide`	Navigate to the next slide
`Executable Talk: Previous Slide`	Navigate to the previous slide
`Executable Talk: Open Presenter View`	Show speaker notes and next slide preview

Action Reference

`file.open`

Opens a file in the editor.

[Open File](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:file.open?path=path/to/file.ts)

Parameter	Description	Required
`path`	Relative path to the file	Yes

`editor.highlight`

Highlights specific lines in a file.

[Highlight Code](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:editor.highlight?path=path/to/file.ts&lines=5-10)

Parameter	Description	Required
`path`	Relative path to the file	Yes
`lines`	Line range (e.g., `5-10` or `5`)	Yes

`terminal.run`

Runs a command in the integrated terminal. Requires Workspace Trust.

[Run Command](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:terminal.run?command=npm%20test)

Parameter	Description	Required
`command`	URL-encoded command to execute	Yes

`debug.start`

Starts a debug session. Requires Workspace Trust.

[Start Debugging](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:debug.start?config=Launch%20Program)

Parameter	Description	Required
`config`	Name of the launch configuration	Yes

`sequence`

Executes multiple actions in order.

[Demo Flow](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:sequence?actions=file.open%3Ffile%3Dsrc/main.ts,editor.highlight%3Ffile%3Dsrc/main.ts%26lines%3D1-5)

Parameter	Description	Required
`actions`	Comma-separated list of URL-encoded actions	Yes

`vscode.command`

Executes any VS Code command. Requires Workspace Trust.

[Open Settings](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:vscode.command?id=workbench.action.openSettings)

Parameter	Description	Required
`id`	VS Code command ID	Yes
`args`	URL-encoded JSON arguments	No

Examples:

[Open Settings](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:vscode.command?id=workbench.action.openSettings)

[Toggle Sidebar](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:vscode.command?id=workbench.action.toggleSidebarVisibility)

[Search Extensions](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:vscode.command?id=workbench.extensions.search&args=%22python%22)

[Focus Terminal](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:vscode.command?id=workbench.action.terminal.focus)

[Open Keyboard Shortcuts](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/action:vscode.command?id=workbench.action.openGlobalKeybindings)

Dynamic Content Rendering

Embed live content directly in your slides using render directives. These are invisible links that get replaced with actual content when the slide is displayed.

`render:file`

Embed file contents with optional line range.

[](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/render:file?path=src/main.ts&lines=1-20)

Parameter	Description	Required
`path`	Relative path to the file	Yes
`lines`	Line range (e.g., `1-20` or `5`)	No
`lang`	Language for syntax highlighting	No (auto-detected)
`format`	Output format: `code`, `quote`, or `raw`	No (default: `code`)

Examples:

# Show the first 10 lines of package.json
[](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/render:file?path=package.json&lines=1-10)

# Show a specific function with TypeScript highlighting
[](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/render:file?path=src/utils.ts&lines=25-40&lang=typescript)

`render:command`

Execute a command and embed its output. Requires Workspace Trust.

[](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/render:command?cmd=npm%20--version)

Parameter	Description	Required
`cmd`	URL-encoded command to execute	Yes
`cwd`	Working directory for the command	No
`timeout`	Timeout in milliseconds	No (default: 30000)
`format`	Output format: `code`, `json`, or `raw`	No (default: `code`)
`cached`	Cache output between renders	No (default: `true`)

Examples:

# Show npm version
[](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/render:command?cmd=npm%20--version)

# List source files
[](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/render:command?cmd=ls%20-la%20src/)

# Show git status
[](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/render:command?cmd=git%20status%20--short)

`render:diff`

Show git diffs or file comparisons.

[](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/render:diff?path=src/main.ts&before=HEAD~1)

Parameter	Description	Required
`path`	File to show git diff for	Yes*
`before`	Git ref to compare against (e.g., `HEAD~1`, `main`)	No (default: `HEAD`)
`after`	Git ref to compare to	No (default: working tree)
`left`	Left file for file-to-file diff	Yes*
`right`	Right file for file-to-file diff	Yes*
`mode`	Display mode: `unified` or `split`	No (default: `unified`)
`context`	Number of context lines	No (default: 3)

*Either path OR both left and right are required.

Examples:

# Show recent changes to a file
[](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/render:diff?path=src/main.ts&before=HEAD~3)

# Compare two files
[](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/render:diff?left=old/config.json&right=new/config.json)

# Show changes since a specific branch
[](https://github.com/ormasoftchile/executable-talk/blob/HEAD/render:diff?path=src/feature.ts&before=main)

Fragment Animations

Reveal content step-by-step using fragment markers. Add  after any element to make it appear on the next arrow key press:

## Key Features

- First point appears <!-- .fragment -->
- Then the second <!-- .fragment -->
- And finally the third! <!-- .fragment -->

Animation Types

Specify an animation style after .fragment:

- Fade in (default) <!-- .fragment fade -->
- Slide up from below <!-- .fragment slide-up -->
- Slide in from right <!-- .fragment slide-left -->
- Zoom in <!-- .fragment zoom -->
- Dimmed, then highlighted <!-- .fragment highlight -->

Animation	Effect
`fade`	Fade in (default)
`slide-up`	Slide up from below
`slide-left`	Slide in from the right
`zoom`	Zoom in from smaller
`highlight`	Visible but dimmed, then highlighted

Fragments work on list items, paragraphs, headings, and block elements. The syntax is compatible with Reveal.js.

Speaker Notes

Add speaker notes to any slide using the notes field in YAML frontmatter:

---
notes: |
  Key points to cover:
  - Explain the architecture
  - Show the demo
  - Answer questions
---

# Slide Title

Slide content goes here...

View speaker notes by running Executable Talk: Open Presenter View.

Presentation Options

Customize the presentation using the options field in the deck frontmatter:

---
title: My Presentation
author: Your Name
options:
  toolbar: true                    # Show toolbar (default: true)
  zenMode: true                    # Enter Zen Mode on start (default: true)
  showSlideNumbers: true           # Show slide numbers (default: true)
  showProgress: false              # Show progress bar (default: false)
  fontSize: medium                 # Font size: small, medium, large
  theme: dark                      # Theme: dark, light
---

The floating toolbar can be customized to show only specific buttons:

options:
  toolbar:
    - sidebar      # Toggle Sidebar
    - panel        # Toggle Panel
    - terminal     # Toggle Terminal
    - activityBar  # Toggle Activity Bar
    - zenMode      # Toggle Zen Mode

Set toolbar: false to hide it completely.

Workspace Trust

For security, actions that execute code (terminal.run and debug.start) require Workspace Trust. When opening a presentation with executable actions in an untrusted workspace:

You'll be prompted to confirm before proceeding
Actions requiring trust will show as blocked
You can still use file.open and editor.highlight actions

Requirements

VS Code 1.85.0 or higher
Workspace Trust enabled for terminal.run and debug.start actions

Extension Settings

This extension does not contribute any settings.

Known Issues

Multi-monitor presenter view requires manual command execution (no automatic detection)
Zen Mode state detection is approximate

Release Notes

See CHANGELOG.md for version history.

License

MIT

Made with ❤️ for live coding presentations

Executable Talk

Cristian Ormazabal

Executable Talk

Features

Getting Started

Create a Presentation

Start a Presentation

Keyboard Shortcuts

Floating Toolbar

Commands

Action Reference

file.open

editor.highlight

terminal.run

debug.start

sequence

vscode.command

Dynamic Content Rendering

render:file

render:command

render:diff

Fragment Animations

Animation Types

Speaker Notes

Presentation Options

Toolbar Customization

Workspace Trust

Requirements

Extension Settings

Known Issues

Release Notes

License

`file.open`

`editor.highlight`

`terminal.run`

`debug.start`

`sequence`

`vscode.command`

`render:file`

`render:command`

`render:diff`