Benefit over existing code outline extensions?

[st-schneider]

I was just asking myself, what benefits have your implementation over the already existing ones like?

https://github.com/patrys/vscode-code-outline

[oleg-shilo]

I haven't tested that extension. The extension home page does not contain any screenshot so I didn't identify it as belonging to the same category.

Anyway I just tested it now and indeed it is a good extension that brings very similar functionality as Code Map. Right now I can pick only a two differences:

• vscode-code-outline uses nested tree view for presentation and CodeMap a flat tree view with indentation to indicate the nesting level. I have implemented both flat and nested approach but since VSCode still has the problem with uncontrollable TreeViewNode state change on clicking I opted to the more predictable flat tree view. But when VSCode team addresses the problem (TreeDataProvider: allow selecting a TreeItem without affecting its collapsibleState microsoft/vscode#34130) I will enable the true nesting and add node icons.

• vscode-code-outline has a more comprehensive parsing algorithm. CodeMap has adequate but very simplistic TS parsing algorithm implemented at this stage.

However the major distinction point is that CodeMap is a port of the Sublime CodeMap plugin, which is rather a code mapping infrastructure then a one off specific syntax product.

Thus CodeMap comes with:

• A few built-in dedicated mappers (syntax specific algorithms): TS, Python, C#.
• An universal RegEx-based mapper that can be configured (settings file) to handle new languages
• Users can implement (with TS) their own dedicated mappers (e.g. for ini file syntax) and extend CodeMap with new syntax support.

In a few days I will be releasing Python mapper. Then it will be turn for Roslyn-based C# mapper, and after that custom mappers and eventually the universal mapper support.

Thus if you are only interested in TypeScript then probably you can stick with vscode-code-outline. Otherwise, keep an eye on CodeMap.

[st-schneider]

Thanks for the elaborate answer. This was very informative.