ParseLens
Preview JSON, JSONC, JSON5, and Python repr-like diagnostics as canonical JSON from the editor context menu.
Usage
- Select text, or leave the cursor in a document to parse the whole document.
- Right-click in the editor.
- Choose
ParseLens: Parse Preview.
- Pick
Preview as JSON, Preview as JSONC, Preview as JSON5, or Preview as Python repr.
- Review the result in the read-only JSON preview editor opened beside the current editor.
The extension never modifies the source document and does not create dirty untitled files. The preview uses VS Code's normal JSON editor features, including syntax highlighting and folding. JSONC and JSON5 previews are lossy: comments and JSON5 source syntax are converted into canonical JSON.
Local VSIX
From this directory:
npm install
npm run package
code --install-extension parselens-vscode.vsix --force
Copy parselens-vscode.vsix to another PC and install it from VS Code with Extensions: Install from VSIX..., or run the same code --install-extension command there.
For VS Code Insiders:
npm run package
npm run install:local:insiders
If the command only shows "Activating Extensions..." and no ParseLens output channel appears, close the old Extension Development Host or reload the target VS Code window. VS Code can keep running an older extension host after rebuilding the extension.
