XGlass for VS Code

An extension that makes your editor look like glass by adjusting the window’s transparency—only when you ask it to.

Features

• Change the window transparency via commands or keyboard shortcuts.
• Configure default level and step size in Settings.
• Works on Windows (native Win32 API via in-memory C# helper) and Linux (X11/Xorg).

Requirements

Windows

• Windows 10 or later.
• PowerShell available in PATH (standard on Windows).

Linux (X11/Xorg)

• An Xorg session (Wayland is not supported).

• xprop installed:

  # Fedora
  sudo dnf install xorg-x11-utils
  # Debian/Ubuntu
  sudo apt install x11-utils
  # Arch
  sudo pacman -S xorg-xprop
  

Activation (Opt-In)

XGlass does not run automatically. It only activates when you invoke one of its commands:

Command Palette

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P)

2. Type “xglass” and select one of:

   • xglass: Enable Transparency Mode — sets default transparency (150)
   • xglass: + transparency — increase transparency (more transparent)
   • xglass: - transparency — decrease transparency (less transparent)
   • xglass: full transparency — minimum alpha (most transparent)
   • xglass: No transparency — restores full opacity

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Ctrl+Alt+Z → + transparency
• Ctrl+Alt+C → - transparency
• Ctrl+Alt+X → No transparency

You can change shortcuts in File → Preferences → Keyboard Shortcuts.

Settings

• xglass.alpha — Transparency level 1–255 (1 = most transparent, 255 = opaque).
• xglass.step — Step size used by the increase/decrease commands (default: 10).

The “Enable Transparency Mode” command uses alpha 150 by default.

How It Works

Windows (Win32 API via PowerShell + C#)

• On first use, the extension loads an in-memory C# type using PowerShell’s Add-Type.

• The C# helper uses P/Invoke into user32.dll to:

  • add WS_EX_LAYERED to the window’s extended style, and
  • call SetLayeredWindowAttributes(hwnd, 0, alpha, LWA_ALPHA).

Key calls (conceptual):

// mark window as layered
WS windowLong = User32.GetWindowLong(hWnd, GWL.EXSTYLE);
User32.SetWindowLong(hWnd, GWL.EXSTYLE, windowLong | WS.EX_LAYERED);

// apply alpha (0–255)
User32.SetLayeredWindowAttributes(hWnd, 0, alpha, LWA.ALPHA);

Why this approach? It’s the standard Windows mechanism for per-window opacity; the helper runs in-memory (no extra binaries) and targets only the current VS Code process.

Linux (X11/Xorg + xprop)

• Detects VS Code windows by process id (pgrep 'code' + _NET_WM_PID).
• Sets _NET_WM_WINDOW_OPACITY using xprop:

xprop -id <windowId> -f _NET_WM_WINDOW_OPACITY 32c \
  -set _NET_WM_WINDOW_OPACITY $(printf 0x%x $((0xffffffff * <alpha> / 255)))

Why this approach? _NET_WM_WINDOW_OPACITY is the EWMH standard for opacity on X11; xprop is the canonical tool to set it.

Note: Some window managers/compositors may ignore or override opacity settings.

Security & Privacy

• Activation model: The extension only activates on command (xglass.enable, xglass.increase, xglass.decrease, xglass.max, xglass.min). It does not auto-run at startup.
• No telemetry / data collection: No network calls, no personal data stored or transmitted.
• No elevation: Does not require admin rights. Does not modify VS Code binaries.
• Scope: Only adjusts window attributes (opacity) of the current VS Code process.
• Windows: Loads a small in-memory C# helper via PowerShell (Add-Type). No additional files are written.
• Linux: Uses xprop (X11 only). Wayland not supported.
• This extension deos not acces, modify, or interact with any process or window outside of the current VS Code instance.

Compatibility & Limitations

• Windows 10+: Supported.
• Linux (X11/Xorg): Requires xprop; Wayland is not supported.
• Certain WMs/compositors may not honor _NET_WM_WINDOW_OPACITY.
• Accessibility: high transparency can reduce contrast; consider your theme/contrast needs.

Troubleshooting

Windows

• If you hit an execution policy error, ensure PowerShell can load in-memory types for the current session.
• Ensure PowerShell is available in PATH (default on Windows).

Linux

• Confirm you’re running X11/Xorg, not Wayland.
• Ensure xprop is installed and callable from PATH.
• If nothing changes, your WM/compositor may ignore opacity—check its settings or try another compositor.

Uninstall / Reset

• Run “xglass: No transparency” to restore full opacity (255).
• Disable or uninstall the extension from the Extensions view.

Installation

• From VSIX:

  code --install-extension xglass-1.0.2.vsix
  

• Or search “XGlass” in the Extensions view and install.

License

MIT

Repository: https://github.com/xscriptordev/vscode