Monster Language for VS Code

Basic VS Code support for the Monster programming language, .mnst source files, and Monster.toml project manifests.

This extension is developed alongside the main Monster compiler project:

• Compiler: https://github.com/BitIntx/monster-lang
• Extension: https://github.com/BitIntx/monster-vscode

Install

From the VS Code Marketplace:

• https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=monster-lang.monster-language

Or from the command line:

code --install-extension monster-lang.monster-language

What You Get

• .mnst and Monster.toml file associations
• syntax highlighting for current Monster syntax, including const, defer, struct, enum, payload enums, match, sizeof, pointers, slices, imports, and print_ln_*
• syntax highlighting for Monster.toml project manifest sections and build options
• hover help for Monster keywords, primitive types, builtins, and manifest keys
• autocomplete suggestions for Monster keywords, builtins, primitive types, std imports/helpers, and Monster.toml keys
• command palette actions for checking, running, building, and cleaning Monster files
• save-time diagnostics from mst check in the Problems panel
• line comments and bracket rules
• starter snippets for main, mainargs, hello, import, extern, const, let, letmut, lettyped, defer, struct, enum, match, if, and while
• Monster file icon support for themes that do not define one already

Quick Start

Create a Monster project:

mst init hello-monster
cd hello-monster
mst run

fn main() -> i32 {
    print_ln_str("Hello, World!");
    return 0;
}

[package]
name = "hello-monster"
entry = "src/main.mnst"

[build]
profile = "release"
opt-level = 2
cpu = "generic"

Open a .mnst file or Monster.toml file and VS Code will automatically switch to the matching Monster language mode.

Current Scope

Today this extension focuses on the basics:

• syntax coloring
• hover help
• autocomplete
• mst check diagnostics
• command palette actions
• snippets
• file association for .mnst and Monster.toml
• icon support

Not included yet:

• language server features
• formatting
• go-to-definition or semantic tokens

Commands

The extension can call the mst compiler from VS Code:

• Monster: Check Current File
• Monster: Run Current File
• Monster: Build Current File
• Monster: Clean Artifacts

By default, .mnst files are checked on save and diagnostics are shown in the Problems panel. If your compiler is not on PATH, set monster.compilerPath in VS Code settings.

Local Development

Open this repository in VS Code and press F5 to launch an Extension Development Host.

You can also copy or symlink this folder into your local VS Code extensions directory:

• Linux/macOS: ~/.vscode/extensions/monster-language
• Windows: %USERPROFILE%\\.vscode\\extensions\\monster-language

Packaging

From the repository root:

npm run package

This creates a .vsix file that you can install locally in VS Code or upload to the Marketplace.