Creating your first VS Code extension

Creating a Visual Studio Code (VS Code) extension involves a few key steps, including setting up a project, writing the extension, and publishing it.

Here's a step by step guide to create a "Hello Word" extension on MacOS.

// generates a scaffold for the extension
npx --package yo --package generator-code -- yo code

// open a new window with the extension
Inside the code editor, open src/extension.ts and press F5

// run the Hello World command
Run the "Hello World" command from the Command Palette (⇧⌘P) in the new window

// modify the command
Change the message in extension.ts
Run Developer: Reload Window command from the Command Palette (⇧⌘P) in the new window
Run the "Hello World" command


// add a new command
Update the package.json file with the new command called "build"
Run Developer: Reload Window in the new window
Run the "build" command