Code in XML
Add syntax highlighting to embedded code blocks inside XML files. Supported languages are:
<groovy><java><javascript><python><ruby><sql> | MyBatis tags (<select> / <insert> / <update> / <delete>)<bash> | <shell> | <sh>
🌸 Japanese note
XMLファイルに記述した上記言語に対し各言語のハイライトをします。ハイライトは対象言語の拡張を追加してください。
I initially created this extension to help my team work with XML DSL files containing embedded Groovy code snippets for Apache Camel. Since it proved useful, I expanded it to support other languages like JS, SQL, and MyBatis mapper tags like <select>, <insert>, and so on.
Here are sample XML DSL file images before and after applying this extension's syntax highlighting:
I hope this syntax highlighting helps you read code more easily and quickly:
✨ Features
- ✅ Syntax highlighting for embedded code blocks inside XML
- ✅ Supports both CDATA and inline content
- ✅ The surrounding XML remains fully highlighted
- ✅ Native support for MyBatis mapper tags (
<select>, <insert>, <update>, <delete>)
- ✅ Supports multiple SQL dialects (Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL)
📋 Required Extensions
For full syntax highlighting, install language extensions based on the languages you use (for example):
Optional XML support:
💡 Usage Examples
Language Blocks
Java Block
<java>
public class Greeter {
public String greet(String name) {
return "Hello, " + name + "!";
}
}
</java>
Python Block
<python>
def greet(name):
return f"Hello, {name}!"
items = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
for item in items:
print(item)
</python>
JavaScript with CDATA
<javascript><![CDATA[
function sayHi(name) {
return `Hi, ${name}!`;
}
console.log(sayHi("Smith"));
]]></javascript>
Groovy Block
<groovy>
println "Hello from Groovy!"
def items = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
items.each { println it }
</groovy>
<language language="sql">
SELECT * FROM products WHERE status = 'active'
</language>
Shell Script Block
<bash><![CDATA[
#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail
echo "start job"
for file in /data/in/*.csv; do
echo "processing: $file"
done
]]></bash>
Whole XML
Apache Camel XML DSL
<route>
<from uri="direct:start"/>
<process>
<script language="python">
message.body = message.body.upper()
</script>
</process>
<to uri="direct:end"/>
</route>
MyBatis Mapper XML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE mapper PUBLIC "-//mybatis.org//DTD Config 3.0//EN"
"http://mybatis.org/dtd/mybatis-3-mapper.dtd">
<mapper namespace="com.example.repository.UserRepository">
<select id="getUserById" parameterType="int">
SELECT id, name, email
FROM users
WHERE id = #{id}
</select>
<insert id="insertUser" parameterType="com.example.model.User"><![CDATA[
INSERT INTO users (name, email, created_date)
VALUES (#{name}, #{email}, SYSDATE)
]]></insert>
<update id="updateUserEmail" parameterType="map"><![CDATA[
UPDATE users
SET email = #{email},
modified_date = NOW()
WHERE id = #{id}
]]></update>
<delete id="deleteUser" parameterType="int">
DELETE FROM users WHERE id = #{id}
</delete>
</mapper>
📂 File Types
This extension targets .xml files.
🚀 Installation
Install via Code in XML on the Visual Studio Code Marketplace
or
Manually install from .vsix:
code --install-extension vscode-code-in-xml-1.0.0.vsix
📝 Notes
- This extension provides syntax highlighting for embedded code by delegating language recognition to VS Code built-in grammars and installed language extensions
- SQL support is particularly useful for MyBatis XML mappers, which often contain complex SQL with comments and special syntax
- The extension works with both inline code and CDATA sections
- Supported SQL dialects include Oracle, MySQL, and PostgreSQL (through the installed SQL extension)
- VS Code built-in JavaScript grammar is used automatically (for
source.js highlight)
If you use Apache Camel or Spring Integration with Java, add the necessary libraries to your project. See:
📝 Known Issues
- In very nested XML structures, some themes may ignore embedded scopes
- In embedded code, words such as
name and status in SQL may be highlighted as keywords by your installed language extension when they match reserved words.
📌 Release Notes
v1.0.0 - June 11, 2026
- Added SQL highlighting support for XML-embedded SQL blocks.
- Added MyBatis mapper tag support:
<select>, <insert>, <update>, and <delete>.
- Added SQL language attribute support:
<language language="sql">.
- Added shell script tag support:
<bash>, <shell>, and <sh>.
- Added shell language attribute support:
<language language="bash|shell|sh">.
- Added test resources for Java, Python, MyBatis SQL, and shell script patterns.
- Updated README and extension metadata for official release.
- Changed the icon colors from gray/white to black/white/orange.
v0.0.2
- Added support for
<python> blocks inside XML.
- Changed the extension icon from auto-generated by Microsoft Copilot to one made by myself.
- Revised README by myself from auto-generated by Microsoft Copilot.
v0.0.1
- Initial support for
<groovy> and <javascript> blocks inside XML
- CDATA and non-CDATA modes supported
🛠️ License
This project is licensed under the MIT License.
Copyright (c) 2025-2026 okkeng.
🙌 Credits
This extension delegates embedded-language highlighting to VS Code and installed language extensions.
It does not bundle or redistribute third-party grammars.
- Visual Studio Code built-in language support
- User-installed language extensions (for Groovy, Python, Ruby, SQL, and others)
