Open any regex in your code in RegexPilot — a visual regex builder for macOS — to visualise, test, and edit it. Edits made in the desktop app sync back into your source file.
CodeLens above every detected regex with two actions:
Open in RegexPilot — preview-only; opens the regex in a fresh canvas.
Edit in RegexPilot — opens with file context; edits in the desktop app sync back to the source file via WebSocket.
Hover preview — quick popup showing the pattern + flags + a deep-link button.
Live highlight — subtle background tint on every detected regex literal.
Requirements
RegexPilot desktop app — macOS-only for v1. Get it at regexpilot.app.
VS Code 1.85+.
The extension itself can be installed on Linux / Windows VS Code, but the deep-link handler (regexpilot://) is registered by the macOS desktop app, so the Open in RegexPilot / Edit in RegexPilot actions will surface a "macOS-only" message on other platforms.
Configuration
Setting
Default
Description
regexpilot.showCodeLens
true
Show CodeLens actions above regex literals
regexpilot.highlightRegex
true
Highlight regex literals with a subtle background color
regexpilot.autoConnect
true
Auto-connect to the desktop app's WebSocket bridge for 2-way sync
regexpilot.websocketPort
9274
Port for WebSocket communication with the desktop app
Privacy
The extension reads regex literals from your open editor and launches the desktop app via the regexpilot:// URL scheme. It does not execute or transmit any workspace content. The optional WebSocket bridge connects only to 127.0.0.1 (loopback) — never the network.
Status bar
When connected to the desktop app, the status bar shows a RegexPilot indicator. Click it to manually connect / disconnect. Output → "RegexPilot" channel logs every WebSocket frame for debugging.
