SKILL Runner lets you load .il files, execute selected SKILL code, work in an interactive SKILL panel, and manage Virtuoso workspaces without leaving VS Code.
Features
Run the active .il file from the editor title, CodeLens, context menu, or command palette.
Execute the current selection, or the paragraph around the cursor when there is no selection.
Open an interactive SKILL panel for repeated snippet execution.
Select, create, start, refresh, and inspect VIA workspaces from the status bar.
View running Virtuoso sessions in the VIA activity bar.
Auto-start the selected workspace before running code.
Configure DISPLAY handling for local X11, forwarded X11, or headless execution.
Use the bundled Linux via binary, or point the extension to a custom executable.
Requirements
VS Code 1.85.0 or later.
A Linux VS Code extension host.
A working Cadence Virtuoso environment on that Linux host.
Windows and macOS are supported as local desktops when VS Code is connected to a Linux remote host, such as Remote SSH, Dev Containers, or another remote extension host.
Getting Started
Open a folder or workspace on a Linux host.
Open a SKILL file with the .il extension.
Run VIA: Configure Workspace.
Select the Virtuoso workspace directory.
Choose how DISPLAY should be passed to via.
Run VIA: Start Workspace, VIA: Run Current File, or VIA: Run Selection or Paragraph.
The VIA status bar item shows the current connection state. Click it to refresh status, switch workspace, start the workspace, or open status details.
Demos
Workspace Setup
Run Paragraph
Start with VNC Display
Use a VNC-backed DISPLAY when Virtuoso needs a GUI on a remote Linux host.
Commands
Command
Description
VIA: Configure Workspace
Select the Virtuoso workspace path and configure DISPLAY handling.
VIA: Select Workspace
Switch to a current, known, or running workspace.
VIA: New Workspace
Create and select a new workspace preset.
VIA: Start Workspace
Start the selected workspace.
VIA: Refresh Connection Status
Check whether the selected workspace is running.
VIA: Show Status Details
Show workspace, instance, DISPLAY, auto-start, and recent command details.
VIA: Run Current File
Run the active .il file in the selected workspace.
VIA: Run Selection or Paragraph
Execute the current selection or inferred paragraph.
VIA: Open Interactive SKILL
Focus the interactive SKILL panel.
VIA: Run Interactive SKILL
Run the current interactive panel source.
VIA: Clear Interactive SKILL
Clear the interactive panel source.
VIA: Refresh Sessions
Refresh the VIA sessions view.
VIA: Select Session
Select a session from the sessions view.
VIA: Kill Session
Kill a selected VIA session.
Legacy command names such as VIA: Start Kernel and VIA: Configure Session remain available for compatibility.
Extension Settings
This extension contributes the following settings:
Setting
Default
Description
via.commandPath
""
Path to a custom via executable. Leave empty to use the bundled binary.
via.language
auto
Runtime UI language. auto follows the VS Code display language.
via.defaultWorkspace
""
Default Virtuoso workspace path shown during configuration.
via.defaultInstanceName
vscode
Default internal VIA instance name.
via.displayMode
inherit
How DISPLAY is passed to via: inherit, custom, or unset.
via.displayValue
""
DISPLAY value used when via.displayMode is custom.
via.environmentScript
""
Shell script sourced before running via, useful for Virtuoso, license, and other environment variables.
via.environmentScriptShell
auto
Shell used to source via.environmentScript: auto, bash, sh, zsh, csh, or tcsh. auto uses the user's default shell.
via.knownWorkspaces
[]
Optional workspace presets shown in the workspace selector.
via.autoStartWorkspace
true
Start VIA automatically before running code when the selected workspace is not running.
via.loadOnSave
false
Automatically run saved .il files.
Deprecated settings are still read for compatibility:
via.knownKernels
via.autoStartKernel
via.useDisplay
DISPLAY Modes
SKILL Runner supports three DISPLAY modes:
inherit: keep the extension host DISPLAY environment variable.
custom: set DISPLAY to via.displayValue, for example :0 or localhost:10.0.
unset: remove DISPLAY from the via command environment.
Use VIA: Configure Workspace to choose the mode from VS Code.
If via.displayMode is inherit but neither the extension host environment nor via.displayValue provides DISPLAY, SKILL Runner runs via without DISPLAY by default. Starting a workspace without DISPLAY automatically adds --nograph to via start.
Environment Script
Set via.environmentScript to a shell script that exports environment variables required by Virtuoso before via starts.
When via.environmentScriptShell is auto, SKILL Runner uses the user's default SHELL. It loads ~/.bashrc for bash, ~/.zshrc for zsh, and ~/.cshrc for csh/tcsh before sourcing via.environmentScript.
Known Issues
The extension host must run on Linux. A local Windows or macOS window needs a Linux remote host.
If the bundled via binary is not available in a development build, run npm run build or set via.commandPath.
If Virtuoso cannot connect to a display, check via.displayMode, via.displayValue, and the remote host DISPLAY environment.
Release Notes
0.0.1
Initial release of SKILL Runner for running SKILL files, selections, and interactive snippets from VS Code.
Development
Install dependencies:
npm install
Build the extension:
npm run build
Generate a .vsix package:
npm run package
Packaging downloads and bundles Linux x64 and arm64via binaries under bin/linux-x64/ and bin/linux-arm64/.
Run TypeScript checks:
npm run lint
npm run build downloads the latest Linux via release and installs it under bin/<platform>-<arch>/via before TypeScript compilation.
For offline TypeScript-only builds:
VIA_SKIP_DOWNLOAD=1 npm run build
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