IDE Integration

Two IDE extensions support DSM development with syntax highlighting, validation, and code completion.

IDE	Extension	Strengths
VS Code	ds-dsm	Lightweight, snippets, problem matcher
JetBrains	DSM Language	Full IDE: completion, navigation, refactoring

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VS Code Extension

VS Code with DSM syntax highlighting and problem matcher.

Installation

The VS Code extension is published on the VS Code Marketplace.

1. Open Visual Studio Code

2. Open the Extensions view: Cmd+Shift+X (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+X (Windows/Linux)

3. Search for DSM Syntax Highlighter (publisher: DigitalSubstrate)

4. Click Install

Alternatively, install from the command line:

code --install-extension DigitalSubstrate.ds-dsm

Source repository: github.com/digital-substrate/dsm-vscode.

Syntax Highlighting

The extension highlights:

• Keywords (namespace, concept, struct, attachment)

• Types (string, int64, vector<T>)

• UUIDs, comments, docstrings

Snippets

Type a prefix and press Tab to expand:

Structures:

Prefix	Expansion
namespace	Namespace with UUID placeholder
concept	concept Name;
struct	Structure template
enum	Enumeration template
attachment	attachment<Concept, Struct> name;
function_pool	Function pool with UUID
attachment_function_pool	Attachment function pool

Types:

Prefix	Expansion
key	key<T>
optional	optional<T>
vec	vec<T, size>
map	map<K, V>
set	set<T>

Advanced:

Prefix	Expansion
isa	concept Derived is a Base;
opt-key	optional<key<Concept>> fieldKey;
mutable	Mutable function with docstring

Build Task Configuration

Create .vscode/tasks.json to enable syntax checking on build:

{
  "version": "2.0.0",
  "tasks": [
    {
      "label": "Check DSM Syntax",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "python",
      "args": [
        "../tools/dsm_util.py",
        "check",
        "${file}"
      ],
      "presentation": {
        "reveal": "never",
        "revealProblems": "onProblem"
      },
      "problemMatcher": "$dsm",
      "group": {
        "kind": "build",
        "isDefault": true
      }
    }
  ]
}

Using the Build Task

• Press Cmd+Shift+B (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+B (Windows/Linux)

• Errors appear in the Problems panel with click-to-navigate

Optional: Theme Customization

Dracula Theme (Recommended)

1. Open Command Palette

2. Run: Browse Color Theme in MarketPlace

3. Select: Dracula

Token Customization

Add to your settings.json:

{
  "editor.tokenColorCustomizations": {
    "textMateRules": [
      {
        "scope": "variable.key.dsm",
        "settings": {
          "fontStyle": "underline"
        }
      },
      {
        "scope": "constant.uuid.dsm",
        "settings": {
          "fontStyle": "underline"
        }
      },
      {
        "scope": "constant.enum.dsm",
        "settings": {
          "fontStyle": "italic"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

This customization:

• Underlines key types

• Underlines UUIDs

• Italicizes enum cases

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JetBrains Plugin

For IntelliJ IDEA, CLion, PyCharm, and other JetBrains IDEs.

JetBrains plugin showing syntax highlighting, code completion, Structure view, and DSM Validation panel.

Installation

The JetBrains plugin is published on the JetBrains Marketplace.

1. Open your JetBrains IDE (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, CLion, etc.)

2. Go to: Settings/Preferences > Plugins > Marketplace

3. Search for DSM (publisher: Digital Substrate)

4. Click Install

5. Restart the IDE when prompted

Source repository: github.com/digital-substrate/dsm-jetbrains.

Key Features for DSM Development

Context-Aware Completion:

The plugin suggests different types based on cursor position:

• Inside attachment<▸> → suggests concepts and clubs only

• Inside attachment<Graph, ▸> → suggests all types (structs, primitives)

• Inside key<▸> → suggests concepts only (not structs)

Navigation:

Action	macOS	Windows/Linux
Go to Definition	Cmd+Click	Ctrl+Click
Find Usages	Alt+F7	Alt+F7
Go to Symbol	Cmd+Alt+O	Ctrl+Alt+N

Validation:

Action	Shortcut
Validate DSM	Ctrl+Alt+V
Next Error	Alt+F2
Previous Error	Alt+Shift+F2

Refactoring:

• Rename (Shift+F6): Renames across all files

• Reformat (Cmd+Alt+L / Ctrl+Alt+L): Consistent formatting

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Development Workflow

The typical DSM development cycle:

Write DSM  →  Validate  →  Fix Errors  →  Generate Code
   │            │             │              │
   ▼            ▼             ▼              ▼
 IDE        Cmd+Shift+B    Click error    generate.py
 Snippets   or Ctrl+Alt+V  to navigate    or dsm_util.py

Project Structure

my_project/
├── definitions/
│   ├── Model.dsm
│   └── Pools.dsm
├── src/generated/      # Kibo output (C++)
├── python/mymodel/     # Kibo output (Python)
└── generate.py         # Code generation script

What’s Next

• Wheels - Creating Python wheels

• Templates - Understanding templated features