Neutron

Neutron is a lightweight, object-oriented toy programming language designed for learning and experimentation.
This VS Code extension provides full syntax highlighting, including keywords, variables, constants, strings, numbers, function definitions and calls, object method calls, and use imports.

Features

• Syntax Highlighting
  • Keywords (var, if, class, fun, this, etc.) in bluish-grey
  • Variables in light blue
  • Constants (true, false, null, ALL_CAPS) in deep blue
  • Strings in orange/yellow
  • Numbers in cyan/purple
  • Scientific notation numbers (1.23e-4, 6E10, .5)
  • Function definitions (fun greet()) in blue
  • Function calls (say(), counter.increment()) in bright yellow
  • Object method calls only highlight the method, not the object
  • use imports: use keyword in blue, module names in green
  • Optional type annotations in var declarations: var int x = 42; with types highlighted
  • Pattern matching keywords: match, case, default and the => arrow operator
  • Lambda function parameters in inline fun(...) { ... }
  • Built-in module names highlighted in use statements: sys, json, math, convert, time, http
  • File imports via using 'file.nt';

Example: match

var day = 3;
match (day) {
    case 1 => say("Monday");
    case 2 => say("Tuesday");
    case 3 => say("Wednesday");
    default => say("Other day");
}

Example: lambdas and imports

use sys;
use json;

using 'utils.nt';

var add = fun(a, b) { return a + b; };
say(add(2, 3));

• Supports object-oriented constructs

  • Classes, methods, this keyword, multiple instances

• Lightweight and easy to install

• Run Neutron files

  • Click the "Run Neutron" CodeLens at the top of .nt files, or run the command "Neutron: Run Current File".
  • The extension runs: neutron {file_name} in a dedicated terminal named "Neutron".
  • Configure the runtime path via setting neutron.runtimePath if neutron is not on your PATH.
  • Shortcut: Press Ctrl+Alt+R (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Alt+R (macOS) to run the current file.

Requirements

For syntax highlighting, no additional requirements are needed.

To execute scripts, ensure the Neutron runtime is installed and available as neutron on your PATH, or set neutron.runtimePath to the full path of the executable.

Extension Settings

This extension does not currently add any configurable settings.

Known Issues

• No code completion, linting, or debugging support yet — purely syntax highlighting.
• Multi-line use statements with comments in between may not highlight perfectly.

Release Notes

1.0.0

• Initial release of Neutron syntax highlighting extension for VS Code.
• Supports keywords, variables, constants, strings, numbers, functions, method calls, and use imports.

1.0.1

• Fixed method call highlighting: only the method name is highlighted, not the object.

Working with Markdown

You can author your README using Visual Studio Code. Useful shortcuts:

• Split the editor (Ctrl+\ on Windows/Linux, Cmd+\ on macOS)
• Toggle preview (Shift+Ctrl+V or Shift+Cmd+V)
• Press Ctrl+Space to see Markdown snippet suggestions

For more information

• Visual Studio Code Markdown Support
• Markdown Syntax Reference

Enjoy coding in Neutron!