SpecTrace for VS Code

SpecTrace for VS Code is a web extension for working inside a repository that stores canonical SpecTrace artifacts.

The current preview focuses on two high-value surfaces:

• A repository explorer that groups SpecTrace artifacts by category and domain.
• A local-only custom editor for specification JSON files, with a manager-inspired requirement register, persistent inspector, and focused typed editing.

Current Preview

This extension is still in preview while its editing and repository-management surfaces continue to mature.

Features

Repository explorer

• Adds a dedicated SpecTrace activity bar container.
• Groups artifacts into:
  • Specifications
  • Architectural Views
  • Work Items
  • Verification Documents
• Expands specification files into individual requirement nodes.
• Opens specification JSON files in the custom editor.
• Reveals a specific requirement directly from the tree.

Local requirements workspace

• Opens specs/requirements/**/*.json files in a custom editor.
• Uses the shared @incursa/ui-kit surface rather than ad hoc HTML.
• Starts in a browse-first requirement register with a persistent selected-requirement inspector.
• Provides Overview and Reading views without adding view state to canonical JSON.
• Supports search plus All, Issues, Missing, Partial, and Covered filters.
• Provides typed canonical coverage controls and repeatable trace-reference editors.
• Preserves requirement, coverage, trace, and x_... extension fields during local round trips.
• Opens a requirement into a focused editing screen while keeping the standard JSON editor available.
• Supports previous and next requirement navigation while staying in the detail screen.
• Places document details before the long requirements surface.
• Stacks the inspector at narrow editor widths without horizontal page scrolling.
• Persists browse and edit state in the webview during reloads.
• Continues to use VS Code save, dirty, undo/redo, revert, backup, validation, and external-conflict behavior.

Screenshots

Requirement index

Filtered requirement browse view

Focused requirement detail

Workspace Expectations

The extension assumes a SpecTrace-style repository layout. The current explorer and custom editor are built around paths like:

specs/
  requirements/<domain>/*.json
  architecture/<domain>/*.md
  work-items/<domain>/*.md
  verification/<domain>/*.md

Development

Install dependencies:

npm install

Run the main verification pass:

npm test

Run only the browser smoke coverage for the custom editor UI:

npm run test:webview

Run the extension in a browser-hosted development session:

npm run run-in-browser

Preview Status

• The extension is still marked as preview while the surface matures.

Release Notes

See CHANGELOG.md.

License And Brand Assets

The extension code and documentation are licensed under Apache-2.0. The SpecTrace name and the files listed in BRAND-ASSET-LICENSE.md are separate brand assets governed by that policy and TRADEMARKS.md; they are not licensed under Apache-2.0.