https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy-vscode
VS Code extension for Canopy — IntelliSense, diagnostics, and go-to-definition for Claude Code / GitHub Copilot skill files.
https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy-vscode
ai canopy claude claude-code copilot intellisense language-server skill vscode-extension
Last synced: 30 days ago
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VS Code extension for Canopy — IntelliSense, diagnostics, and go-to-definition for Claude Code / GitHub Copilot skill files.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy-vscode
- Owner: kostiantyn-matsebora
- License: mit
- Created: 2026-04-17T16:12:51.000Z (about 2 months ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2026-04-24T15:23:04.000Z (about 2 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-04-24T17:20:36.240Z (about 2 months ago)
- Topics: ai, canopy, claude, claude-code, copilot, intellisense, language-server, skill, vscode-extension
- Language: TypeScript
- Homepage:
- Size: 1.78 MB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Changelog: CHANGELOG.md
- Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Canopy Skills for VS Code
> Write Claude Code / GitHub Copilot skills as executable code, not prose.
[](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=canopy-ai.canopy-skills)
[](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=canopy-ai.canopy-skills)
[](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=canopy-ai.canopy-skills&ssr=false#review-details)
[](https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy-vscode/releases/latest)
[](https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy-vscode/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
[](https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy/releases)
[](LICENSE)
[](https://agentskills.io)
[](https://code.claude.com/docs/en/skills)
[](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/agent-skills)
IntelliSense, semantic diagnostics, and go-to-definition for [Canopy](https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy) skills — the declarative, tree-structured execution framework for AI agents. Tracks framework **v0.22.0**.
> **Available on the VS Code Marketplace** under the [`canopy-ai`](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/publishers/canopy-ai) publisher — search for **Canopy Skills** in the Extensions panel, or install via `code --install-extension canopy-ai.canopy-skills`. Pre-Marketplace `.vsix` artifacts are still attached to each [GitHub Release](https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy-vscode/releases/latest) for offline installs.
## What is Canopy?
**Canopy** is a framework for writing AI skills as structured, executable code rather than freeform prose. Instead of describing what an AI agent should do in plain text, you define skills as a tree of named operations with explicit control flow, inputs, and outputs — then run them through Claude Code or GitHub Copilot.
A Canopy skill looks like this:
```markdown
---
name: review-pr
description: Review a pull request for correctness and style
---
## Tree
* FETCH_PR << PR_URL
* IF << changes_are_large >>
* SPLIT_INTO_SECTIONS
* ELSE
* REVIEW_IN_ONE_PASS
* SHOW_PLAN >> review_summary
```
Key ideas:
- **Skills** (`SKILL.md`) define behavior as a tree of operation calls.
- **Ops** (`ops.md`) define reusable named operations local to a skill or shared across skills.
- **Framework primitives** (`IF`, `ELSE_IF`, `ELSE`, `SWITCH`, `CASE`, `DEFAULT`, `FOR_EACH`, `BREAK`, `END`, `ASK`, `SHOW_PLAN`, `VERIFY_EXPECTED`, `EXPLORE`) are built-in control-flow + interaction + execution ops provided by the framework.
- **Resources** (constants, policies, templates, schemas, verify checklists, command scripts, references) are supporting files co-located with each skill.
- Skills install at one of three roots — `.agents/skills/` (cross-client, `gh skill 2.91+` default), `.claude/skills/` (Claude Code), or `.github/skills/` (Copilot). canopy-runtime resolves `` automatically.
Canopy turns AI instructions into something you can read, review, version-control, lint, and refactor — like real code.
## Installation
The extension is distributed as a `.vsix` on GitHub Releases until the Marketplace listing is live.
1. Download the latest `canopy-skills-.vsix` from the [Releases page](https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy-vscode/releases/latest).
2. Install from the command line:
```bash
code --install-extension canopy-skills-.vsix
```
Or in VS Code: **Extensions** panel → **…** menu → **Install from VSIX…** → pick the file.
## Quick Start
Open your project, then run these from the Command Palette (`Ctrl+Shift+P` / `Cmd+Shift+P`):
1. **`Canopy Install: Install...`**
- Pick an install method: script / `gh skill` / Claude Code plugin
- Pick a target: Claude Code, Copilot, Both, or **Cross-client** (`.agents/skills/`)
- Installs the three framework skills. The marker block self-writes on first agent load — install scripts also write it eagerly.
2. **Create your first skill** (requires `claude` or `gh copilot` on `PATH`)
- **`Canopy Skill: Create Skill`** — describe it in plain English; the agent scaffolds and validates
- **`Canopy Template: New Skill`** — drop a blank `SKILL.md` + `ops.md` and hand-author
3. **Edit the generated `SKILL.md`** — these activate automatically:
- Autocomplete for primitives and custom ops
- Hover docs on every `ALL_CAPS` identifier
- `F12` go-to-definition
- Real-time diagnostics with Quick Fixes
4. **Run the skill** from your AI agent
- Claude Code auto-discovers `.claude/skills/`
- Copilot loads `.github/skills/`
- Iterate with `Canopy Skill: Modify / Validate / Improve Skill`
## What this extension does
Turns Canopy skill files into a first-class editor experience: live semantic validation with Quick Fixes, autocomplete for every primitive and custom op, inline hover docs, and go-to-definition across the skill → project → framework op lookup chain. Tracks the framework's evolving feature surface — subagent dispatch markers (v0.20+), per-skill `metadata.canopy-features` slice manifest with drift detection (v0.21+), and universal op contracts with static type-flow analysis through the binding graph (v0.22+). Ships scaffolding commands for every resource type plus direct integration with the Canopy AI agent via `claude` or `gh copilot suggest`.
## In action
### Autocomplete for primitives and custom ops
Type a tree-node prefix and get completions for every `IF`, `ELSE`, `ASK`, `SHOW_PLAN`, `VERIFY_EXPECTED`, and any custom op defined in the current skill, the project, or the framework.
### Semantic diagnostics with Quick Fixes
Real-time validation catches primitive signature violations, missing frontmatter, wrong `<<`/`>>` usage, and broken resource references — before you run the skill.
### Inline documentation for every primitive
Hover any `ALL_CAPS` identifier to see its signature, description, and how it flows with `<<` / `>>` — no context switching to the framework docs.
## Commands
All commands are accessible via the Command Palette (`Ctrl+Shift+P` / `Cmd+Shift+P`). Commands are grouped into three categories that sort alphabetically in the palette to give you a natural workflow order: **Canopy Install** → **Canopy Skill** → **Canopy Template**.
### Install (`Canopy Install` category)
Install the Canopy framework into your project. Each command shows a Quick Pick of the three skills (canopy, canopy-runtime, canopy-debug) — all checked by default.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Install...** | Unified entry point; presents a Quick Pick of the three install methods with availability badges based on which CLIs (`git`, `gh skill`, `claude`) are on PATH |
| **Install (via install script)** | Clone canopy and run `install.sh` / `install.ps1`. Picks target (Claude / Copilot / Both / Cross-client `.agents/skills/`); writes the canopy-runtime ambient marker block during install (shell-context, no agent to defer to). Requires `git`. |
| **Install as Agent Skill (gh skill)** | `gh skill install` per checked skill. Picks target (Claude Code / Copilot / Cross-client; cross-client uses `--dir .agents/skills`). Writes the marker block proactively too. Marker block also self-writes via canopy-runtime's Activation on first agent load. Requires `gh` ≥ 2.90.0. |
| **Install as Claude Code Plugin** | Copies the three `/plugin` slash commands (marketplace add + install + activate) to clipboard for paste in a Claude Code session. Plugin install bundles all three skills. The `activate` step is a safety net — canopy-runtime self-activates on first agent load. |
### ✨ Skill — describe it, let AI write it (`Canopy Skill` category)
**Start here.** No deep framework knowledge required — describe what you want in plain English and the Canopy AI agent writes, validates, and refines the skill for you. Auto-detects the installed AI target (Claude Code under `.claude/` or GitHub Copilot under `.github/`) and invokes `claude ""` or `gh copilot suggest ""`.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Create Skill** | Describe a skill; the agent writes it end-to-end |
| **Modify Skill** | Pick a skill and describe the change |
| **Scaffold Skill** | Provide a name; the agent creates the blank structure |
| **Convert to Canopy** | Converts a plain-markdown skill to Canopy tree format |
| **Validate Skill** | Checks a skill against all framework rules |
| **Improve Skill** | Aligns a skill with the latest framework conventions |
| **Advise** | Ask the agent a design question about Canopy |
| **Refactor Skills** | Extracts shared ops and resources across multiple skills |
| **Convert to Regular Skill** | Converts a Canopy skill back to plain markdown |
| **Help** | Lists all available agent operations |
### Scaffold — manual authoring (`Canopy Template` category)
For authors who know the framework and prefer to hand-write skills and resources. Each command drops a correctly-structured blank file at the right path — you fill in the content.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| **New Skill** | Creates `SKILL.md` + `ops.md` for a new skill |
| **New Verify File** | Scaffolds a `verify/` checklist |
| **New Template** | Scaffolds a `templates/` file (`.md`, `.yaml`, or `.yaml.gotmpl`) |
| **New Constants File** | Scaffolds a `constants/` lookup file |
| **New Policy File** | Scaffolds a `policies/` rule file |
| **New Commands File** | Scaffolds a `commands/` script (`.ps1` or `.sh`) |
| **New Schema** | Scaffolds a `schemas/` file |
## Features
### Syntax highlighting
Five language IDs cover all Canopy file types:
| Language | Files | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| `canopy` | `SKILL.md`, `ops.md`, `references/ops.md`, `references/ops/*.md` | Tree notation, `IF`/`ELSE`/`SWITCH`/`CASE`/`DEFAULT`/`FOR_EACH`/`BREAK`/`END`, `ASK`/`SHOW_PLAN`/`VERIFY_EXPECTED`/`EXPLORE`, `<<`/`>>`, op names, binding expressions |
| `canopy-verify` | `assets/verify/*.md`, `verify/*.md`, `assets/checklists/*.md`, `checklists/*.md` | Checkbox items |
| `canopy-template` | `assets/templates/*.md`, `templates/*.md`, `assets/templates/*.yaml`, `templates/*.yaml` | `` placeholders |
| `canopy-resource` | `assets/constants/*.md`, `constants/*.md`, `assets/policies/*.md`, `policies/*.md`, `assets/schemas/*.md`, `schemas/*.md`, `references/*.md` | Tables, numbered rules |
| `canopy-commands` | `scripts/*.ps1`, `scripts/*.sh`, `commands/*.ps1`, `commands/*.sh` (legacy) | `# === Section Name ===` headers |
All patterns cover all three skills roots: `.agents/` (cross-client), `.claude/` (Claude Code), and `.github/` (Copilot). The agentskills.io standard layout (`assets/`, `scripts/`, `references/`) and the legacy flat layout (category dirs at the skill root) are both recognised.
### IntelliSense
Completions in `SKILL.md` and `ops.md`:
| Completion | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Op names | Ops from the current skill, project-level ops, and framework primitives; inserts the correct tree-node prefix (`* ` / `├── `) automatically |
| Primitives | All framework built-ins with descriptions |
| Frontmatter | `name`, `description`, `compatibility`, `license`, `metadata`, `allowed-tools` at root (agentskills.io spec); `argument-hint`, `user-invocable` inside `metadata` |
| Category resources | ``Read `category/path` `` directives for `constants/`, `policies/`, `templates/`, `schemas/`, `checklists/`, `verify/`, `references/` |
### Hover documentation
Hovering over a framework primitive or a custom op shows its description, expected `<<` input and `>>` output, and a usage example.
### Go-to-definition
Press `F12` (or right-click → Go to Definition) on any `ALL_CAPS` identifier. The extension resolves through:
1. Current skill's `ops.md`
2. Consumer-defined cross-skill ops (if any)
3. Framework primitives (statically defined in the extension; canonical source is canopy's `skills/canopy-runtime/references/ops.md` index plus per-feature slice files under `skills/canopy-runtime/references/ops/.md`)
### Semantic diagnostics
Real-time squiggles for:
| Check | Catches |
|---|---|
| Frontmatter | Missing `name` or `description`, empty values, unknown keys, `argument-hint`/`user-invocable` at root (must live in `metadata`) |
| Compatibility shape | Block-form / inline-flow maps flagged with migration hint (`compatibility` must be a free-text string per agentskills.io spec); >500 char values flagged; canopy-runtime mention hint on `## Tree` skills |
| Tree syntax | `>>` before `<<`, empty operator slots |
| Primitive signatures | `IF`/`ELSE_IF` without `<<`; `ASK` without `\|` options; `SHOW_PLAN` without `>>`; `VERIFY_EXPECTED` wrong path prefix; `ELSE`/`BREAK` with spurious operators; `EXPLORE` without `>>` |
| Resource references | ``Read `category/path` `` uses a recognised category and the file exists on disk; `VERIFY_EXPECTED` target file existence |
| Unknown ops | Configurable severity for `ALL_CAPS` names not found in any registry |
| Op conformance hints | Tree node's `<<`/`>>` usage doesn't match the op's declared signature |
| Subagent dispatch (v0.20+) | Bidirectional bold-vs-marker drift between op definition and call sites; missing `Output contract:` schema files; strict-input-contract violations (`context.` not in signature) |
| Universal contract markers (v0.22+) | Bare `> **Input contract:** \`...\`` / `> **Output contract:** \`...\`` blockquote paths must exist on disk; schema top-level `properties` must cover the op's `<<` / `>>` named fields |
| Binding-graph type flow (v0.22+) | When an op carries an `Output contract`, downstream consumers binding `<< ctx.` are checked — warns when `` is not declared in the producer's output schema |
| Canopy-features manifest (v0.21+) | `metadata.canopy-features` declares-but-unused / used-but-undeclared drift; `core` listed (implicit-always-loaded); unrecognized slice values |
| Canopy-contracts manifest (v0.22+) | `metadata.canopy-contracts` value other than `strict`; `strict` declared on a skill with no contract-bearing ops |
## Requirements
- VS Code 1.85 or later
- For **Install (via install script)**: `git` in PATH
- For **Install as Agent Skill (gh skill)**: `gh` CLI v2.90.0+ in PATH (the `skill` subcommand)
- For **Canopy Skill** commands targeting Claude: `claude` CLI in PATH (each command surfaces an "open download" link if missing)
## Settings
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `canopy.frameworkUrl` | `https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy` | Framework repo URL used by install commands |
| `canopy.validate.enabled` | `true` | Enable/disable all real-time validation |
| `canopy.validate.unknownOps` | `"warning"` | Severity for unresolved op names: `error`, `warning`, `hint`, `none` |
| `canopy.validate.opConformance` | `true` | Show hints when `<<`/`>>` usage doesn't match the op's declared signature |
## Building from source
```bash
npm install
npm run compile # one-shot TypeScript compile
npm run watch # watch mode
npm run package # produces canopy-skills-.vsix
```
Press `F5` in VS Code to open an Extension Development Host with the extension loaded.
## Links
- [Canopy framework](https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy)
- [Extension source](https://github.com/kostiantyn-matsebora/claude-canopy-vscode)
- [Changelog](CHANGELOG.md)