ConsolePulse

Display JavaScript console.log output inline next to your code - no debugging required!

✨ Features

• Real-time execution: Runs your code automatically on save
• Inline console output: See console.log values directly in your editor
• No debugging needed: Works without starting a debug session
• Async/await support: Works with promises, API calls, setTimeout
• Error display: Runtime errors shown inline where they occur
• Support for console.log, console.error, console.warn
• Timeout protection: Prevents infinite loops (30s limit)
• Syntax error detection: Shows clear error messages
• JSON formatting: Pretty prints objects and arrays

🚀 Quick Start

1. Install the extension
2. Open any JavaScript file
3. Add console.log statements
4. Save the file (Ctrl+S or Cmd+S)
5. See output inline!

Example

// Synchronous code
let x = 5;
console.log("Value:", x);  // Value: 5

// Arrays and objects
let arr = [1, 2, 3];
console.log(arr);  // [1,2,3]

let obj = { name: "John", age: 30 };
console.log(obj);  // {"name":"John","age":30}

// Async/await with API calls
async function fetchData() {
    const response = await fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/todos/1');
    const data = await response.json();
    console.log(data);  // Shows API response!
}
fetchData();

// Promises
Promise.resolve("Hello")
    .then(msg => {
        console.log(msg);  // Hello
    });

// setTimeout
setTimeout(() => {
    console.log("Delayed message");  // Delayed message
}, 1000);

📋 Requirements

System Requirements

• VS Code: Version 1.74.0 or higher
• Node.js: Must be installed and available in PATH
  • Check: Run node --version in terminal
  • Download: https://nodejs.org/

Supported Languages

• JavaScript (.js)
• TypeScript (.ts)

⚙️ Extension Settings

Configure in VS Code settings (Ctrl+,):

{
  // Enable/disable the extension
  "consolePulse.enabled": true,
  
  // Auto-run on file save
  "consolePulse.runOnSave": true,
  
  // Display style: "after" or "hover"
  "consolePulse.decorationStyle": "after"
}

Added setting:

{
  // Maximum execution time for instrumented code in milliseconds
  "consolePulse.timeout": 30000
}

🎮 Commands

Access via Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P):

• ConsolePulse: Run File - Manually execute current file
• ConsolePulse: Clear Output - Remove all inline decorations

🔧 How It Works

1. Extension instruments your code to track console calls
2. Executes code in a background Node.js process
3. Captures output with line number information
4. Displays results inline as decorations

⚠️ Limitations

• Node.js environment only: Not for browser-specific code (DOM, window, etc.)
• Execution timeout: Code stops after 30 seconds
• Network required: API calls need internet connection

🐛 Troubleshooting

Output not appearing?

• ✅ Check Node.js is installed: node --version
• ✅ Save the file (Ctrl+S)
• ✅ Check consolePulse.enabled is true
• ✅ Check file extension is .js or .ts
• ✅ Wait for async operations to complete (up to 30s)

Syntax errors?

• Extension will show error message
• Check your code for syntax issues
• Fix errors and save again

API calls not working?

• Check internet connection
• Verify API endpoint is accessible
• Check for CORS issues (Node.js doesn't have CORS)
• Wait up to 30 seconds for response

Infinite loop?

• Code execution stops after 30 seconds
• Error message will appear
• Fix the loop and save again

📝 License

MIT