Create Extensions for VS Code- Part 2
Tags: vscode, typescript, tutorial, javascript
Published: 2019-06-24 10:25:30

---
title: Create Extensions for VS Code- Part 2
published: true
description: Create Extensions for VS Code
tags: vscode,typescript,tutorial,javascript
cover_image: https://thepracticaldev.s3.amazonaws.com/i/w9d7sqstv4lwl0cqs49l.png
canonical_url: https://thamaraiselvam.com/create-extensions-for-vs-code-part-2-cjxa87y7t001mvzs11rgng6th
series: Create Extensions for VS Code
---

## Introduction
This is the second part of the **Create Extension for VS Code** series. You can also read the first part in  [My Dev Blog](https://thamaraiselvam.com/create-extensions-for-vs-code-part-1-cjx5r238f000t65s1ag0fdn8e) , or in  [dev.to](https://dev.to/thamaraiselvam/create-extensions-for-vs-code-part-1-10o0) :

In the first part, we learned how to create a simple **Hello World Extension** and the basic understanding file structure of extension.

In Part 2, We will go a little deeper and learn the most common extension feature  such as

- Creating Menus
- Creating Settings (Configurations)
- Defining Keyboard Shortcuts (KeyBinding)

Come on Let's dive into it.

![dive](https://media.giphy.com/media/NqZn5kPN8VVrW/giphy.gif)

### Creating Menus
Creating menus for the extension is pretty simple. The menu consists of three properties such as 

- `command` - The command (action) which gets executed on the click
- `title` - Display name for the menu
- `category` - Just groupings for the menus.

Define menus in ***package.json -> contributes -> commands***

#### Snippet

```
"commands": [
    {
        "command": "extension.helloWorld",
        "title": "Say Hello World",
        "category": "Demo"
    }
]
```
#### Demo

![menu.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1561366700516/a4OspZpaN.gif)


### Creating Settings (Configurations)
The setting has the following properties.
- `properties -> Key` - An unique key which will be used to set/get values.
- `type`  - Data Type for the setting.
- `default`  - It will be set as the default value on the plugin activation.
- `description`  - This note will be shown under the setting.

Define settings in  ***package.json -> contributes  -> configuration***

#### Snippet
```
"configuration": {
    "title": "Hello World configuration",
    "properties": {
        "hello-world.customMessage": {
            "type": "string",
            "default": "Hello World",
            "description": "This message will be show on menu click"
        }
    }
}
```

#### Get current Value

We can get the current value of settings in `Extension.ts` with the help of `vscode.workspace`  object and unique key (`hello-world.customMessage`) which is mentioned on **package.json**.

```
const msg = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration().get('hello-world.customMessage');
```

#### Demo

![setting.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1561368986348/G4-tWm4Mt.gif)

### Defining Keyboard Shortcuts (KeyBinding)

We can trigger an action of our extension on specific keyboard shortcuts which is known as keybinding.

It has two properties they are,

- Command - Action needs to be triggered
- Key - Combination of keys

Define keybinding in  ***package.json -> contributes  -> keybindings***

#### Snippet
`helloWorld` action will be executed on the keybinding of **Ctrl+Shift+A  + Ctrl+Shift+Z**
```
"keybindings": [
    {
        "command": "extension.helloWorld",
        "key": "Ctrl+Shift+A Ctrl+Shift+Z"
    },
]
```

#### Demo

![keybinding.PNG](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1561370165271/z9VK52En0.png)


We have learned the most common extension features !!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

![dance1](https://media.giphy.com/media/7SfAXqgRgh0li/giphy.gif) 


In the next part, We will see how to build and publish our extension on  [Visual Studio Marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/vscode) 

Thanks for reading!

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![feedback](https://media.giphy.com/media/13mQQzQF7fUD3q/giphy.gif)