vscode-parsons README

This is the README for the extension "vscode-parsons", a Visual Studio Code extension for creating and solving parsons problems within Visual Studio Code.

Usage

To run the extension from this repository follow these steps:

• Clone this repository
• Open the repository in Visual Studio Code
• Run npm install in the terminal
• Press F5 to run the extension in a new window
• In the new window open the folder 'Example workspace' from this repository

Features

Solving Parsons problems

• 'Parson Explorer' view in the 'Explorer' tab that displays all tasks in the current workspace
• Custom editor for .parson files that displays code snippets in a tab on the right and gaps in which to place them in the code
• Support for multiple input types
  • Drag and Drop
  • Write in
  • Dropdown
• Support for multiple languages
  • Java
  • Python
• Support for tasks that combine multiple code files into one task
  • Change between files in the Parson Explorer
  • Live display of how many unfilled gaps each file contains
• Support for compiling and running code with the supplied answers in gaps

Creating Parsons problems

• Commands to create Parsons problems that can be accessed from the Command Palette (ctrl+shift+P)
  • 'Create Parsons Problem from file' converts the currently open file into a folder which contains the file plus all setup files for a Parsons problem
  • 'Create Parsons Problem from folder' converts the folder which contains the currently open file into a folder for a Parsons problem by creating missing setup files or updating existing ones based on all code files in the folder
  • 'Export Parsons Problem to file' compiles the folder which contains the currently open file into .parson and .parsondef files and saves them to the location specified in parsonconfig.json
  • 'Make a gap from the currently selected text' uses the currently marked text in a file to make a gap and save it to the file as a comment.
• Settings to make creating Parsons problems more efficient
  • Enable refreshing the Parson Explorer and Parson files for development of exercises
  • Automatically export changes to .parson files whenever a file is saved in a folder which includes a parsonconfig.json