Introducing MonoLisa for Visual Studio Code
While Visual Studio Code supports OpenType features for its code editor well, configuring those features can be complex as it relies on understanding related CSS syntax. On top of this, additional configuration may be required. Because of this purpose, we have introduced an official MonoLisa extension for VS Code ( Open VSX ). Depending on the version you have installed, it guides you in…
Visual Studio Code now offers an official extension named MonoLisa, which simplifies the process of configuring its code editor's visual aspects. This extension guides users through the configuration process, even for those who may find it complex due to the reliance on CSS syntax understanding. Additionally, it includes color themes that users can customize according to their preferences.
Upon installation, running MonoLisa: Open Configuration from the Command Palette opens a configuration panel that utilizes installed MonoLisa fonts, displaying them in a live preview. If specific fonts are not available, bundled trial faces are used to keep the preview useful. The coding-font section of the panel allows users to adjust size, weight, and line height, with live code samples adjusting in real-time.
The extension supports full variable fonts, enabling continuous weight control, while trial builds limit the choice to regular or bold cuts. It verifies the installation's capabilities and supports customized builds by allowing users to enter a suffix from a downloaded MonoLisa build for rescan. The bundled preview fonts are not installed as system fonts, and commercial font files are not included in the extension.
MonoLisa also supports various OpenType features, including ligatures, character variants, alternate zeroes, arrows, brackets, and more. The coding-font panel exposes these features, rendering each option directly in the selector for easy selection. Additionally, a dedicated script-style control allows users to maintain upright text, italicize comments, or extend alternate script glyphs across code.
The coding configuration extends beyond the main editor, affecting the integrated terminal, debug console, source-control input, and code blocks in chat. The panel keeps the generated settings visible at the bottom, clearly indicating which parts of VS Code the current choice impacts.
MonoLisa Text, a proportional companion introduced in version 3, is configured for the rendered Markdown Preview in VS Code. While VS Code does not currently allow replacing its UI font entirely, this extension offers the best solution in this regard. The prose section of the panel includes a sample with various formatting options, allowing users to independently adjust size and line height for the prose font.
The extension comes with four themes tailored to different working environments: MonoLisa Dark with deep surface and warm accents, MonoLisa Dusk with a softer blue-dark palette, MonoLisa Dawn with a cool, low-glare light theme, and MonoLisa Light with a clean, bright background. Users can select a theme to immediately re-theme the configuration panel, providing a larger preview before application.
Each theme can also be tuned along three dimensions: soft or crisp contrast, muted or vivid color, and subtle or clear comments. A small editor preview responds to each choice, allowing users to make broad adjustments and reset at any time.
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