Quick start

Prerequisites

• Node.js ≥ 18 (the project targets node 18 for the extension bundle).
• bun or npm. Examples use bun; npm works everywhere too.
• VS Code to launch the Extension Development Host.

Install (optional)

You can run the CLI without installing it via bunx @vsceasy/cli … (or npx @vsceasy/cli …). To get the shorter vsceasy command everywhere, install the binary globally:

bun add -g @vsceasy/cli   # or: npm i -g @vsceasy/cli

# use globally
vsceasy --version

The rest of this guide uses the global vsceasy form. Without a global install, prefix any vsceasy <cmd> with bunx @vsceasy/cli <cmd>.

1. Scaffold

bunx @vsceasy/cli create my-extension
# or, if installed globally: vsceasy create my-extension
cd my-extension

After scaffolding, create offers to initialize a git repository and install dependencies (defaults to yes on both). Accept the install prompt and you can skip bun install yourself.

Or fully scripted — --git / --install skip the prompts:

bunx @vsceasy/cli create \
  --name my-extension \
  --displayName "My Extension" \
  --description "Does cool things" \
  --publisher my-publisher \
  --ui react \
  --preset full \
  --git \
  --install

--preset full includes a sample panel + RPC. --preset minimal gives an empty extension.

2. Run it

bun run dev

This runs gen then builds the extension (esbuild) and webviews (vite) in watch mode. Press F5 in VS Code to launch the Extension Development Host with the bundled launch config.

Tip

First launch with no folder open is fine — the mini-ORM falls back to global storage so activation never fails.

3. Add a feature

# a webview panel with a ready-made form UI + RPC
vsceasy panel add --name signup --template form

# a palette command
vsceasy command add --name sayHello --title "Say Hello"

After a generator runs it executes bun run gen to wire the registry and contributes. If that didn’t run automatically, run it yourself:

bun run gen

4. Try the data stack

vsceasy db init
vsceasy model add --name user --fields "id:string!,name:string,email?:string@,active:boolean"
vsceasy crud add --model user --menu new:admin

You now have a list panel, a form panel, a service, and an activity-bar menu — all typed end to end. Reload the window and open the admin menu.

Prefer to be guided?

vsceasy wizard

The wizard detects whether you’re inside a project and walks you through creating one or adding features.