pyxend

pyxend is a Python-based framework and CLI tool for building Visual Studio Code extensions entirely in Python. It allows to define VS code extension commands using simple Python decorators and handle VS Code actions like modifying editor content, showing modals, and running terminal commands.

⚡️ No JavaScript required for extension logic — write VS Code extensions in pure Python.

Warning

This project is freezed/archived due i have no time. Maybe will continue work in summer.

⚠️ Note: Preview was recorded when the project was called pyvscode. Now project renamed to pyxend.

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✨ Features

• 🧠 Simple Python API for defining commands
• ⚙️ CLI tool to scaffold, sync, build, and publish extensions
• 🧩 Template-based generation of extension.js and package.json
• 🔁 Context-aware Python execution with editor data (selected text, cursor, file)
• 📦 Easy packaging using vsce

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📦 Installation

pip install pyxend

Or using git repository:

git clone https://github.com/codeflane/pyxend
cd pyxend
pip install -e .

Make sure Node.js and vsce are installed:

npm install -g vsce

🚀 Getting Started

1. Create a new extension

pyxend init "My Extension Name" myextension

2. Add logic in Python

Edit main.py:

from pyxend import Extension, ModalType

ext = Extension()

@ext.command('hello')
def say_hello(ctx):
    ext.show_modal("Hello from Python!", type=ModalType.INFO)

ext.run()

3. Sync the metadata

pyxend sync

4. Build and install the extension

pyxend build
code --install-extension your-extension.vsix

📚 CLI Options

All CLI commands accept a --target (or -t) option to specify the working directory (defaults to current folder).

Init

pyxend init "Display Name" extension_name

Init new project.

Arguments:

• Display Name: extension display name (that showing in extension hub)
• Extension Name: extension name (defaults to display name)

Creates:

• main.py (logic)
• extension.js (bridge)
• package.json (extension metadata)
• .vscodeignore

Sync

pyxend sync

Sync Python decorators in main.py with extension.js and package.json

Metadata

pyxend metadata -v 0.0.1 -e 1.70.0 -d desc -t title -n name -g git

Update package.json metadata

Options:

Option	Description
--engine / -e	VS Code engine version
--description / -d	Description of your extension
--git / -g	GitHub repo URL
--name / -n	Display name
--version / -v	Extension version

License

pyxend license author

Create LICENSE file (now only MIT support). License is required for creating extensions

🧩 Extension API

The core API is exposed via the Extension class.

Command decorator

Decorator to register a command that can be invoked from VS Code.

Arguments:

• name - The command name (e.g., "sayHello").
• title - Title to display in the Command Palette. Defaults to name

Context:

When the command is invoked, it receives a context dictionary with useful metadata:

{
  "selected_text": "Hello", // Currently selected text
  "language": "python", // Opened file language
  "cursor_pos": {"line": 3, "character": 15}, // Current cursor position
  "file_path": "D:/projects/example.py", // Opened file path
  "all_text": "Hello World", // File content
  "cursor_word": "Hello", // the word under the cursor
  "lines": 3, // Lines count in file
  "file_size": 12, // File size in bytes
  "opened_files": ["D:/projects/example.py", "D:/test.txt"], // Currently opened files
  "is_saved": false, //Is file saved
  "workspace": "D:/projects" //Opened workspace folder
}

Example:

@ext.command("sayHello", title="Say Hello")
def say_hello(context):
    ext.show_modal(f"Hi! You selected: {context['selected_text']}")

---

Event decorator

Decorator to register an event that can be invoked from VS Code.

Arguments:

• event - Event type (Event enum).

Context:

Context same as Command decorator. See pyxend -> Extension API -> Command decorator -> Context

Example:

@ext.command("sayHello", title="Say Hello")
def say_hello(context):
    ext.show_modal(f"Hi! You selected: {context['selected_text']}")

---

Show modal

Show modal popup

Arguments:

• message - The message to display.
• type - Must be one of the ModalType values:
  • ModalType.INFO - modal with an blue informational (i) icon (default)
  • ModalType.WARNING - modal with an yellow warning /!\ icon
  • ModalType.ERROR - modal with an red error (x) icon

Example:

ext.show_modal("This is an error", type=ModalType.ERROR) #Show error modal with text "This is an error"

---

Replace selected text

Replace the currently selected text in the editor. (deprecated)

Arguments:

• text - The text that will replace the current selection.

Example:

ext.replace_selected_text("Replaced content.") #Replace currently selected text to "Replace content."

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Insert text

Insert new text.

Arguments:

• text - The text to insert.

• preset - Position preset. Must be one of the InsertTextPreset values:

  • InsertTextPreset.START - Insert text at the start of file
  • InsertTextPreset.CURSOR - Insert text after cursor position
  • InsertTextPreset.CUSTOM - Insert text at custom position (use line and character to provide it) (default)
  • InsertTextPreset.END - Insert text at the end of file

• line - Line number to insert text. Requires only when preset is CUSTOM

• character - Character number to insert text. Requires only when preset is CUSTOM

Example:

ext.insert_text("Inserted text.", preset=InsertTextPreset.CURSOR) #Insert text "Inserted text." after cursor position

---

Replace text

Replace text.

Arguments:

• text - The text to replace.

• preset - Position preset. Must be one of the ReplaceTextPreset values:

  • ReplaceTextPreset.SELECTED - Replace selected text
  • ReplaceTextPreset.CUSTOM - Replace text at custom position (use start_line, start_character, end_line and end_character to provide it) (default)
  • ReplaceTextPreset.ALL - Replace whole file

• start_line - Start line number to replace text. Requires only when preset is CUSTOM

• start_character - Start character number to replace text. Requires only when preset is CUSTOM

• end_line - End line number to replace text. Requires only when preset is CUSTOM

• end_character - End character number to replace text. Requires only when preset is CUSTOM

Example:

ext.replace_text("Replaceed text.", preset=InsertTextPreset.ALL) #Replace all file text to "Replaced text."

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Open file

Open a file in the editor by its path.

Arguments:

• path - Full path to the file.

Example:

ext.open_file("D:/projects/example.py") #open "D:/projects/example.py" in editor

---

Set cursor position

Move the editor’s cursor to the specified position.

Arguments:

• line - Line number.
• character - Character number.

Example:

ext.set_cursor_pos(5, 10) #move cursor to line 5, character 10

---

Save file

Save the current file.

Example:

ext.save_file() #save current file

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Replace all text

Replace the entire content of the file. (deprecated)

Arguments:

• text - The new content for the whole file.

Example:

ext.replace_all_text("print('Hello, World!')\n") #replace all file text to "print('Hello, World!')"

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Run terminal command

Execute a command in a new or existing terminal.

Arguments:

• command - The terminal command to execute.
• name (optional) - Name of the terminal instance. Default is "pyxend terminal"

Example:

ext.run_terminal_command("echo 'Hello World'") #create new terminal and echo "Hello World"

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Delete selected text

Delete currently selected text

Example

ext.delete_selected_text() #delete selected text

---

Delete file

Delete currently opened file (Do not recommend to use)

Example

ext.delete_file() #delete file

---

Status message

Show status message in a bottom of screen.

Arguments:

• message - The message to show.
• timeout (optional) - How long message will show in ms. Defaults to 3000ms (3s)

Example:

ext.status_message("Hello from pyxend", 1000) #show status message "Hello from pyxend" for 1 second

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⚠️ Important Notes about Command Execution

• All actions (ext.show_modal, ext.insert_text, etc.) are collected into a list during Python execution and returned as a single JSON batch to VS Code.
• This means VS Code does not execute Python actions one-by-one. It only runs Python once, receives all the actions at once, and then executes them sequentially in JavaScript.
• Any delay (time.sleep) or conditional logic in Python will happen before any action is performed in the editor.

Example:

ext.show_modal("First")
time.sleep(1)
ext.show_modal("Second")

This will result in both modals appearing immediately, one after the other — not with a delay between them.

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🚧 Future Plans

We are planning to add streaming or asynchronous action execution in a future version (v1.0 or v2.0) so that:

actions like ext.show_modal() can be executed live, one at a time, and delays or dynamic logic will reflect in real-time in the editor.

We already have some ideas on how to implement this — stay tuned!

🧠 How it Works

pyxend bridges VS Code and Python. When a command is executed:

1. VS Code (JavaScript)

   • Collects the file context (selected text, full code, cursor, file path, etc.)
   • Launches the Python script (main.py) and passes the command name and context as JSON.

2. Python (pyxend)

   • Receives the command and context.
   • Executes the matching @ext.command(...) function.
   • Generates actions list from executed commands.
   • Return actions list to the JS.

3. VS Code (JavaScript)

   • Parses the returned actions.
   • Executes them one by one using the VS Code API (editing text, opening files, setting cursor position, etc.)

This allows Python to control editor behavior dynamically.

🔧 How to Integrate a New Custom Action

To add a new custom action that isn’t supported yet:

1. Define it in Python

Append an action manually:

ext.actions.append({
    "action": "highlight_range",
    "line_start": 5,
    "line_end": 8
})

2. Extend the extension.js

Open extension.js and add a new case to handle it:

case "highlight_range":
  if (!editor) return;
  const start = new vscode.Position(action.line_start, 0);
  const end = new vscode.Position(action.line_end, 0);
  const decorationType = vscode.window.createTextEditorDecorationType({
    backgroundColor: "rgba(255,255,0,0.2)"
  });
  editor.setDecorations(decorationType, [new vscode.Range(start, end)]);
  break;

This allows pyxend to be fully extensible.

Note: after syncing (pyxend sync), all JS will overwrite. It will be fixed in future versions.

📄 Changelog

See full change log in CHANGELOG.md

0.3.0 (Latest)

Added events and 2 new actions

0.2.0

Added 2 new actions and reworked replace/insert text methods

0.1.2

Added 3 new values in context, renamed manifest → metadata

0.1.1

Fixed packaging bug, improved error modals, typo fixes

⭐ Contributing

Thank you for checking out pyxend! If you find it useful, please consider:

• ⭐ Starring the GitHub repository — it really helps the project grow.
• 🛠 Opening an issue or PR with your suggestions or improvements.
• 📢 Sharing the project with fellow Python developers who want to build VS Code extensions without touching JavaScript.

Let’s make Python-powered VS Code extensions mainstream!