VS Code extension

[scrptkiddo]

Hi, is it expected to create a VS Code extension?

[gpeavy]

An extension with functionality like markdown preview or Live Preview would be a nice way to enhance editing of ilograph docs.

[billy-pilger]

I'd like to know more about your use-case before jumping in. Ilograph has 2 panels (3 when editing), so simply embedding it wholesale into VS Code would result in a more-cramped version of Ilograph Desktop. Is there a use-case that I am overlooking?

[gpeavy]

My thought would be to not include the editing panel and use the standard file editing functionality from VSCode. This would allow integration of version control and other VS Code functionalities and extensions. This would be an option similar to Desktop but would also be able to leverage the expanse of the VS Code ecosystems.

[scrptkiddo]

Any plans to be revealed?

[billy-pilger]

I think it would be possible technically, I'm just trying to decide if the juice is worth the squeeze. In effect it would just be Ilograph Desktop in VS Code; you'd want to have it render (and be interactive) and also have a language server that provides context-aware autocomplete for editors. The benefit ("juice") is then really not having to alt-tab to Ilograph Desktop.

Now if there were functionalities and extensions in VS Code that would be especially helpful when creating diagrams, that is potentially a big benefit. Did you have any in mind (@gpeavy)?

[gpeavy]

In addition to version control via git, I think the main advantage is getting the benefits of all the GenAI tools that have been written for VS Code. There are probably a number of workflows that you can follow outside of the IDE, but the IDE does provide an integrated view.

[scrptkiddo]

I think the juice is essentially be able not to jump somewhere outside the main working tool (IDE), as well as inbuilt diff inspection (version control area @gpeavy mentioned).

As a nice reference options these could be mentioned:

1. https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=likec4.likec4-vscode
2. https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=jebbs.plantuml
3. https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=dbdiagram.dbdiagram-vscode

[gpeavy]

These are all good examples of diagram as code tools that have been embedded in VS Code extensions. I believe ilograph's dynamic diagraming provides capabilities greater than these tools.