Python Postfix Templates

Postfix templates for Python, including built-in function support.

Features

This extension provides postfix templates for Python in Visual Studio Code, allowing you to quickly transform expressions using concise dot-suffixes. It is adapted specifically for Python syntax and workflows.

Key Features

• For Python syntax: All logic and templates are designed for Python code.
• Python AST-based: Template suggestions and transformations are based on Python's syntax tree.
• Built-in function support: Quickly wrap expressions with Python built-in functions (e.g., .str, .len, .dict, .list, .set, .tuple, .abs, etc.) using postfix notation.
• Common Python control flow: Templates for if, ifelse, for, forrange, return, not, and more.
• Variable name inference: Suggests meaningful variable names based on the expression context.
• Custom templates: Define your own postfix templates for Python.

Template Examples

Template	Outcome Example
.if	if expr:
.ifelse	if expr:/else:
.for	for item in expr:
.forrange	for item in range(expr):
.return	return expr
.not	not expr
.str	str(expr)
.len	len(expr)
.dict	dict(expr)
.list	list(expr)
.set	set(expr)
.tuple	tuple(expr)
.abs	abs(expr)
...	...

Note: All Python built-in functions can be used as postfix templates. For example, typing mylist.len will expand to len(mylist).

Usage

1. Type an expression in your Python file.
2. Add a dot (.) and a supported template keyword (e.g., mylist.len).
3. Accept the suggestion to transform the code (e.g., len(mylist)).

Configuration

This extension contributes the following settings:

• pythonPostfixTemplates.customTemplates: Array of custom template definitions.
• pythonPostfixTemplates.customTemplates.mergeMode: determines how custom templates are shown if they share the same name with built-in template:
  • append - both built-in and custom template will be shown
  • override - only custom template will be shown (it overrides built-in one)
• pythonPostfixTemplates.inferVariableName: Enables variable name inference.
• pythonPostfixTemplates.disabledBuiltinTemplates: Disable specific built-in templates.

Custom Templates

You can define your own postfix templates for Python. Example configuration:

{
  "pythonPostfixTemplates.customTemplates": [
    {
      "name": "custom",
      "description": "Wrap with custom()",
      "body": "custom({{expr}})",
      "when": ["identifier"]
    }
  ]
}

• name: The postfix keyword.
• description: Shown in the suggestion panel.
• body: The snippet to insert. Use {{expr}} for the selected expression. It supports standard Visual Studio Code Snippet syntax.
• when: Condition can be zero or more of the following options:
  • identifier: simple identifier, ie. variableName (inside an if statement or function call arguments)
  • expression: can be either a simple expression like object.property.value or array[index] or a combination of them
  • binary-expression: a binary expression, ie. x > 3, x * 100, x and y
  • unary-expression: an unary expression, ie. not x, -x or ~x
  • function-call: a function call expression, ie. func(), object.method() and so on
  • string-literal: string literal, ie. 'a string' or "string in double quotes"
  • type: type in function/variable definition, ie. x: str

If no conditions are specified then given template will be available under all possible situations

Infer variable names

For var and for/forrange templates the extension will try to infer a better name for the variable based on the subject expression. For instance read_file() expression will result in variable named file instead of default name. Same applies to for/forrange templates, but in this case the extension is trying to figure out a singular form of the subject. Of course this can still be easily changed, it's only a suggestion.

If you have ideas for more "patterns" that could be easily handled please create an issue.

Known Issues

If you encounter issues or have suggestions for new templates, please open an issue in the repository.