HowMany VS Code Extension

Intelligent code analysis with complexity metrics and quality scores

A VS Code extension that integrates with the HowMany code analysis tool to provide real-time insights into your codebase.

Screenshots

What It Does

• Status Bar Integration: Shows live metrics (lines of code, file count, or quality score) in your VS Code status bar

• Interactive Reports: Generate detailed analysis reports with quality metrics, complexity scores, and language breakdowns

• Quality Assessment: Evaluate code maintainability, documentation coverage, and technical debt

• Multi-Language Support: Analyze 25+ programming languages with intelligent file detection

Why Use It

• Immediate Feedback: See code metrics without leaving your editor
• Quality Awareness: Track code health and identify areas needing attention
• Project Understanding: Quickly assess unfamiliar codebases
• Technical Debt: Quantify maintainability issues before they become problems
• Team Alignment: Share consistent quality metrics across development teams

Installation

1. Install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace
2. Install the HowMany CLI:

   # Using Homebrew (macOS/Linux)
   brew install howmany
   
   # Using Cargo
   cargo install howmany

Usage

• Status Bar: Click the HowMany indicator for quick actions
• Command Palette: Search "HowMany" for available commands
• Context Menu: Right-click folders or files for analysis options

Configuration

Key settings in VS Code preferences:

{
  "howmany.statusBar.display": "smart",
  "howmany.statusBar.format": "abbreviated",
  "howmany.autoAnalyze": true,
  "howmany.binaryPath": "howmany"
}

Requirements

• VS Code 1.85.0 or higher
• HowMany CLI installed and accessible in PATH
• Node.js 18+ (for development)

Integration

This extension interfaces directly with the HowMany Rust binary, providing:

• Type-safe communication between TypeScript and Rust
• Efficient JSON-based data exchange
• Automatic error handling and recovery
• Caching for improved performance

Related Tools

• HowMany Core - The main CLI tool
• HowMany GitHub Action - CI/CD integration

License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.