White Language VSCode Extension

Official Visual Studio Code language support for White Language (.wl).

White Language is a modern, strongly-typed programming language featuring an LLVM backend and Automatic Reference Counting (ARC). This extension provides a fully-fledged Language Server Protocol (LSP) implementation, transforming VSCode into a powerful, industrial-grade IDE for White Language development.

Designed specifically to support the White Language Stage 1 self-hosting compiler, this extension offers deep code comprehension and a seamless developer experience.

Key Features

• Semantic Syntax Highlighting: Goes beyond basic regular expressions. The extension thoroughly understands your AST, providing precise colors for multi-level indirection, generic functions, structs, and cross-file namespaces.
• Intelligent Code Completion: Context-aware suggestions. Type . to reveal struct fields, member functions, or imported module exports.
• Real-time Diagnostics: Catch errors while you type. Includes strict type checking, division-by-zero detection, unreachable code fading, and variable assignment validation.
• Hover Information: Simply hover your cursor over any variable, function, or struct to reveal its complete type signature and declaration details.
• Signature Help: Never forget a function parameter again. Typing ( automatically triggers an inline overlay detailing the expected arguments and their types.
• Document Outline: Easily navigate through massive codebases (like WhitelangCompiler.wl) via the native VSCode outline panel, complete with custom icons for structs, functions, and extern interfaces.
• One-Click Run: Features a convenient ▶ button in the editor title bar. Click it to automatically invoke the compiler and execute the resulting binary within the integrated terminal.

Requirements

To enable the full suite of IDE features (LSP, diagnostics, and formatting), ensure your environment meets the following criteria:

• White Language Compiler: Version 0.1 or higher must be installed.
• System PATH: The compiler binary (wlc or wlc.exe) should be accessible via your system's PATH environment variable.
• VS Code Version: Visual Studio Code v1.75.0 or newer is recommended for optimal semantic highlighting performance.

Quick Start

1. Install the extension in Visual Studio Code.
2. Open any .wl file.
3. Ensure the White Language Compiler (wlc / wlc.exe) is accessible in your system's PATH. (Tip: Try running wlc --version in your terminal to verify).
4. Start writing code or click the Run button in the top-right corner to compile and execute your program instantly.

Snippets Included

The extension comes bundled with standard snippets to accelerate your workflow. Simply type the prefix and press Tab:

• func — Generates a function declaration template.
• struct — Generates a struct initialization block.
• if / while / for — Generates standard control flow structures.

Building from Source

If you want to modify the extension or build it locally, follow these steps:

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/pangbai520/White-Language-Extension.git
cd White-Language-Extension

2. Install the necessary dependencies:

npm install

3. Compile the language server and extension:

npm run langium:generate
npm run build

4. Press F5 in VSCode. This will open a new Extension Development Host window with the White Language extension loaded and ready for debugging.

Packaging

To generate a .vsix file for manual installation:

cd White-Language-Extension/packages/extension
npm run package