Req and Roll Highlighter

Transform your Reqnroll/SpecFlow development experience with Req and Roll Highlighter - the ultimate VS Code extension for Gherkin feature files and C# step definitions.

✨ What Makes Req and Roll Special

Req and Roll isn't just another syntax highlighter. It's a comprehensive development tool that bridges the gap between your feature specifications and step implementations, making BDD development faster, more reliable, and enjoyable.

🚀 Key Features

🎨 Intelligent Syntax Highlighting

Smart Keyword Recognition: Gherkin keywords (Feature, Scenario, Given, When, Then) are beautifully color-coded
Parameter Detection: Automatically highlights captured parameters from your C# regex patterns
Outline Variables: Distinct highlighting for <placeholder> tokens in Scenario Outlines

Go-to-Definition: F12 or right-click to jump directly from feature steps to C# methods
Smart Matching: Intelligent algorithm finds the most specific step definition when multiple matches exist
Real-time Updates: Changes to step definitions are reflected instantly in your feature files

⚡ Performance Optimized

Prefix Indexing: Lightning-fast step matching even in large codebases
Version Caching: Instant file switching with smart caching
Debounced Updates: Smooth typing experience without lag

🎯 Perfect For

Reqnroll Teams: Full compatibility with Reqnroll attributes and patterns
SpecFlow Projects: Complete support for SpecFlow step definitions
BDD Practitioners: Enhanced workflow for behavior-driven development
Test Automation Engineers: Streamlined feature file management

🛠️ Supported Step Patterns

[Given("I have (.*) items in my cart")]
[When("I proceed to checkout")]
[Then("I should see a total of (.*)")]
[And("the order should be confirmed")]

// Cucumber Expressions
[Given("I have {int} items")]
[When("I select {string} option")]
[Then("the result should be {float}")]

Pattern Types Supported:

Regex Capture Groups: (.*), (\d+), ([^"]*)
Cucumber Expressions: {int}, {string}, {float}, {word}, {}
Multiple Attributes: Same method with different patterns

🎨 Color Scheme

Element	Color	Description
Feature, Scenario	🟣 Purple	Main structural keywords
Given, When, Then	🔵 Blue	Step keywords
Parameters	🟠 Orange	Captured regex groups
Placeholders	🩷 Pink	Scenario outline variables

⚙️ Configuration

No configuration required! Req and Roll works out of the box by:

Automatically discovering C# step files in **/Steps/**/*.cs
Monitoring file changes for real-time updates
Building intelligent indexes for fast navigation

Optional Settings

{
  "files.associations": { "*.feature": "feature" }
}

🔥 Advanced Features

Multi-Parameter Support

Handle complex steps with multiple parameters seamlessly:

When I search for "laptops" in category "electronics" with price range "500-1000"

Scenario Outline Intelligence

Smart highlighting that distinguishes between regex captures and outline placeholders:

Scenario Outline: Purchase validation
  Given I have <quantity> items worth <amount>
  When I apply discount code "<code>"
  Then my total should be <final_amount>

Performance Monitoring

Built-in debouncing prevents lag during rapid typing
Efficient caching system for large feature files
Optimized regex compilation for step matching

🚦 Getting Started

Install Req and Roll Highlighter from VS Code marketplace
Open any .feature file in your Reqnroll/SpecFlow project
Enjoy immediate syntax highlighting and navigation features
Press F12 on any step to jump to its C# definition

🤝 Compatibility

VS Code: 1.74.0 or higher
Languages: C# step definitions
Frameworks: Reqnroll, SpecFlow
File Types: .feature, .cs

📈 Changelog

v0.0.4 - Latest

Enhanced Cucumber Expression support
Improved regex parsing for complex patterns
Fixed edge cases with verbatim strings
Performance optimizations for large projects

💬 Support

Found a bug or have a feature request? We'd love to hear from you!

Req and Roll Highlighter - Making BDD development a breeze! 🌟

Built with ❤️ for the Reqnroll and SpecFlow community

ReqnRoll Highlighter

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