CodeSwing is a VS Code extension that provides an interactive, in-editor environment for building and exploring web applications. It aims to replicate the experience of online playgrounds like CodePen directly within a user's personalized VS Code setup, supporting various languages, frameworks, and live previews without manual compilation or bundling.

How It Works

CodeSwing creates isolated "swings" which are essentially self-contained web development environments. It leverages VS Code's editor capabilities to provide a seamless workflow, allowing users to write HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (or TypeScript, Pug, SCSS, Less, JSX, TSX) and see instant live previews. The extension manages the compilation and bundling process behind the scenes, simplifying the development loop for frontend snippets and components. It also supports integrating with other VS Code extensions for features like managing swings as Gists or real-time collaboration.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Install the CodeSwing extension from the VS Code Marketplace.
• Run the CodeSwing: New Swing... command and select a template.
• Edit files to see live preview updates.
• Optional: CodeSwing: Save Current Swing As... to save to a directory.
• Supports HTML, Pug, Markdown, CSS, SCSS/Sass, Less, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Vue, Svelte.
• Links: Getting Started, Swing Tutorials

Highlighted Details

• Live preview of web applications directly within VS Code.
• Supports component-based development with React, Vue, and Svelte.
• Integrates with GistPad for managing swings as GitHub Gists.
• Can export swings to CodePen for sharing.
• Supports multi-step tutorials and interactive challenges.

Maintenance & Community

• Actively maintained by lostintangent.
• Integrates with CodeTour for creating walkthroughs and Live Share for real-time collaboration (limited to workspace swings).

Licensing & Compatibility

• MIT License.
• Compatible with commercial use and closed-source linking.

Limitations & Caveats

• Playing audio and video formats is not supported due to VS Code's lack of ffmpeg.
• Sass @import or @use statements may not work in non-file-based swings.
• Live Share collaboration is currently limited to workspace swings, not temporary or GistPad-based swings.