Python Grid Editor for VS Code

Python Grid Editor is a visual editor for Python code that helps you understand and edit Python's indentation-based code blocks using a grid-based interface.

Installation

1. Open VS Code
2. Go to Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X)
3. Search for "Grid Coding Extension Python"
4. Click Install

Getting Started

1. Right-click on a Python file
2. Select "Open With..." and choose "Grid Coding Python"
3. Your Python code will be displayed in a grid format with indentation contexts visualized as columns
4. Split the editor to view the grid and the text editor side by side for easy editing

Features

Indentation Context Visualization

Python Grid Editor displays each level of indentation as a separate column, allowing you to visualize the block structure of your Python code. Each context column shows what block type (if, for, while, etc.) that line belongs to.

Edit and Navigation Modes

• Navigation Mode: For moving around the grid using keyboard shortcuts
• Edit Mode: For editing the content of a code line

The current mode is displayed in the status bar when the grid editor is focused.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Navigation Mode

• Arrow keys: Move between cells
• Ctrl+Arrow keys: Jump to specific cell types
• Enter: Enter edit mode for the selected code cell

Edit Mode

• Enter: Add a new line after the current line
• Escape: Exit edit mode (return to navigation)
• Tab: Increase indentation level
• Shift+Tab: Decrease indentation level

Working with Indentation

Adding Indentation (Tab)

Press Tab while in edit mode to increase the indentation level of the current line. This will add the appropriate context from the code structure.

Removing Indentation (Shift+Tab)

Press Shift+Tab while in edit mode to decrease the indentation level, removing the outermost context.