XLIDE gives Excel VBA projects a modern VS Code workspace.

Add one or more .xlsm, .xlsb, or .xlam workbooks to your VS Code project and XLIDE detects them automatically. Navigate each workbook's VBA project in the XLIDE tree, open modules directly from the workbook, edit with workbook-aware IntelliSense, and save changes back to the workbook with normal VS Code save behavior. When you want a file-based workflow, use the full local disk push/pull workflow for the selected workbook: preview detailed side-by-side diffs, export workbook modules to .bas and .cls files, commit them to your favorite version control platform, and import reviewed files back into that workbook.

For new programmers, XLIDE makes the VBA language easier to approach. It shows useful completion lists, explains symbols, highlights likely mistakes, and keeps the workbook's project structure visible while you learn how Excel automation fits together.

For experienced VBA developers, XLIDE brings serious engineering workflows to existing workbooks: project-wide symbol navigation, rename and reference tools, full static analysis, live diagnostics, workbook-level analysis reports, module-qualified IntelliSense, import/export diff previews, source-control friendly .bas/.cls sync, explicit workbook settings, performance diagnostics, and workbook unit tests that can execute through Excel when you need runtime confidence.

For everyone, XLIDE opens a new agentic AI surface for Excel. Compatible AI assistants can inspect the real workbook, read and write VBA modules, analyze code, run tests, inspect worksheet data, and sync modules with files through explicit XLIDE tools. That means AI help can work with the workbook itself, not just copied snippets or stale exports, making Excel automation more reviewable, testable, and collaborative.

Install XLIDE from the Visual Studio Marketplace

1. Make VBA easier to learn and maintain VBA is powerful, but its rules, project structure, and Excel object model can feel hidden. XLIDE makes them visible with workbook navigation, IntelliSense, hover explanations, signature help, semantic coloring, and immediate feedback while you type.

2. Catch VBA mistakes earlier XLIDE shows live red and yellow squiggles for many high-confidence VBA problems: missing block closers, duplicate names, undeclared variables, invalid parameter/property shapes, array misuse, bad Set usage, common #If pitfalls, and more.

3. Get IntelliSense that understands your workbook Completion and tooltips know about your modules, classes, functions, constants, enums, user-defined types, XML documentation comments, and a broad set of Excel object-model members.

4. Edit workbook VBA in a real code editor Work with workbook modules in VS Code using normal editor habits: tabs, search, save, rename, Go to Definition, Find All References, hover, signature help, formatting-friendly indentation, and semantic coloring.

5. Keep workbook code reviewable Export modules to .bas and .cls files, preview exactly what will change, and use source control workflows without guessing what is inside a binary workbook.

6. Import and export safely XLIDE previews create, update, overwrite, and delete actions before applying them. Workbook-specific settings live beside the workbook so each project can keep its own sync rules.

7. Analyze the whole workbook Run workbook-wide analysis and review findings in a dedicated report instead of hunting through modules one by one.

8. Run macros and workbook tests when Excel is available On Windows with Microsoft Excel installed, XLIDE can run macros and @xlide-test workbook tests through explicit Excel automation.

9. Give AI assistants real workbook context XLIDE exposes tools for workbook discovery, VBA reads/writes, analysis, tests, sheet/cell access, formulas, and module sync so agents can work from the actual workbook instead of stale exported files.

XLIDE is useful if you:

• Are learning VBA for a class, internship, first automation project, or career change.
• Use Excel heavily and want to start programming without losing sight of the workbook.
• Are a student, analyst, accountant, engineer, researcher, or operations user turning repeated spreadsheet work into reusable automation.
• Own business-critical Excel workbooks with VBA.
• Maintain shared macros for finance, operations, reporting, engineering, or internal tools.
• Want better visibility into old VBA projects before changing them.
• Need to review workbook code with teammates.
• Prefer VS Code editing, search, navigation, and source control.
• Want AI help that can inspect the workbook directly.

Excel remains where the workbook runs. XLIDE adds a better workspace around the VBA project.

1. Install the extension: XLIDE on the Visual Studio Marketplace

2. Install Python 3.10 or newer if you do not already have it: Download Python

3. Open a folder in VS Code that contains an .xlsm, .xlsb, or .xlam workbook.

4. Open the XLIDE view in the Activity Bar. If setup is incomplete, use the sidebar buttons to choose Python and install the required Python libraries.

5. Expand your workbook, open a module, and start editing. Press Ctrl+S to save code back to the workbook.

Start here for a guided first-hour walkthrough: Getting started with XLIDE

Open a workbook in the XLIDE tree, choose a module, edit it in VS Code, and save. XLIDE writes the module back to the workbook.

Live diagnostics appear as you type. For a bigger pass, run XLIDE: Analyze Workbook from the workbook menu and review the analysis report.

Guide: Analysis and ignores

Use Export Modules to Folder to create or update .bas and .cls files. Use Import Modules from Folder to bring reviewed files back into the selected workbook. XLIDE shows a workbook-scoped preview before applying changes.

Guide: Import and export

Mark VBA procedures as workbook tests, then run them from XLIDE. Test execution requires Microsoft Excel on Windows.

Guide: Testing VBA workbooks

XLIDE gives compatible VS Code AI agents tools to inspect and edit workbook VBA, run analysis, export modules, and read worksheet data with explicit workbook context.

Guide: Automation and CI

• Workbook and module tree for .xlsm, .xlsb, and .xlam files.
• Writable VBA editors backed by the workbook.
• VBA syntax highlighting and semantic coloring.
• IntelliSense for workbook symbols, VBA language features, and Excel host objects.
• Hover, signature help, Go to Definition, Find All References, and Rename Symbol.
• Smart Enter and block snippets for common VBA structures.
• Live diagnostics and workbook-wide analysis.
• Workbook-specific analysis tracking and rule controls.
• Previewable module import/export.
• Macro and workbook-test execution on Windows with Excel.
• Support bundle and diagnostics commands for troubleshooting.
• Optional performance snapshot command for debugging slow workflows.

Required for normal browsing, editing, analysis, import, and export:

• Visual Studio Code 1.95 or newer.
• Python 3.10 or newer.
• Python packages installed by XLIDE setup: pyOpenVBA and openpyxl.

Required only for running VBA code from XLIDE:

• Windows.
• Microsoft Excel.
• Workbook macro settings that allow the code to run.

Reading, editing, analyzing, importing, and exporting workbook VBA do not require Excel automation.

Setup and recovery guide: Safety, trust, and support

Open the Command Palette and type XLIDE to find these commands:

• XLIDE reads and writes VBA modules through the workbook file. Keep normal backups for important workbooks, especially before large sync operations.
• Running macros or tests uses Excel automation and is Windows-only.
• UserForm designer files are not edited directly. XLIDE can work with the VBA code-behind where supported.
• Live Share guests can view and edit modules the host has already opened, but only the host can browse the XLIDE workbook tree.
• Exported .bas and .cls files are useful for review and source control, but the workbook remains the source of truth unless you explicitly import files back into it.

Repository: https://github.com/WilliamSmithEdward/xlide_vscode

git clone https://github.com/WilliamSmithEdward/xlide_vscode.git
cd xlide_vscode

npm install
npm run compile

python -m venv .venv
.venv\Scripts\activate
pip install -r python/requirements.txt

Press F5 in VS Code to launch an Extension Development Host.

Useful development commands:

Architecture reference: XLIDE architecture

Roadmaps:

• Version 2.1.0 completed red-squiggle closeout
• Version 2.2.0 static-analysis completeness roadmap
• Version 3.0.0 deferred product/backlog roadmap

XLIDE is open-source software. If it saves you time or helps your team keep VBA workbooks maintainable, support helps keep the project moving.

• GitHub Sponsors
• PayPal
• Cash App