VSCode Keep Sorted Extension 0.0.1

5 minute read

VSCode Keep Sorted Extension 0.0.1 Released

I recently released lightweight VS Code extension that automatically keeps sorted blocks in your code organized using Google’s Keep Sorted formatter, seeing a gap in an available extension that handles code blocks generically and with options to modify behavior.

The extension has pretty comprehensive code coverage, diagnostics and error handling to create a more reliable extension.

It is a language agnostic sorting tool, working in any programming language or file type that provides:

🔍 Automatic Detection: Recognizes // keep-sorted start and // keep-sorted end blocks in any file type
💡 Quick Fix Actions: To sort just the block, the entire file or the entire workspace.
✨ Autocomplete for Options: Get intelligent suggestions for keep-sorted options when typing on a keep-sorted start line
📊 Real-time Diagnostics
- Shows warnings with squiggly underlines for unsorted content
- Logging integration with VSCode with severity levels for general information and debugging
⚡ Performance Optimized
- Uses native binaries for fast sorting operations for x86, ARM, Darwin and Windows
- No outside libraries required to be brought into the development environment (i.e. Go compiler).
🎛️ Flexible Configuration: File exclusion patterns, enable/disable toggle, and optional file logging

See http://github.com/awalsh128/vscode-keep-sorted/README.md for the complete documentation of the extension.

Examples

Basic Sorting

JavaScript/TypeScript Imports

// keep-sorted start
import { Component } from "@angular/core";
import { HttpClient } from "@angular/common/http";
import { Observable } from "rxjs";
import fs from "fs";
import path from "path";
// keep-sorted end

Python Imports

# keep-sorted start
import json
import os
import sys
from datetime import datetime
from typing import List, Dict
# keep-sorted end

Case-Insensitive Sorting

Use case=no to sort without considering case:

// keep-sorted start case=no
import { ComponentA } from "./components";
import { utilityB } from "./utils";
import { ServiceC } from "./services";
import { helperD } from "./helpers";
// keep-sorted end

Numeric Sorting

Use numeric=yes to sort numbers by their numeric value instead of lexically:

# keep-sorted start numeric=yes
item_1 = "first"
item_5 = "fifth"
item_10 = "tenth"
item_50 = "fiftieth"
item_100 = "hundredth"
# keep-sorted end

Block Sorting

Use block=yes to sort complex multi-line blocks like structs or objects:

// keep-sorted start block=yes
const widgets = [
  {
    name: "alpha",
    value: 100,
  },
  {
    name: "beta",
    value: 200,
  },
  {
    name: "delta",
    value: 150,
  },
];
// keep-sorted end

Prefix Ordering

Use prefix_order to control the order of specific prefixes:

// keep-sorted start prefix_order=INIT_,,FINAL_
INIT_DATABASE, INIT_LOGGING, PROCESS_DATA, VALIDATE_INPUT, FINAL_CLEANUP, FINAL_SHUTDOWN;
// keep-sorted end

Ignore Prefixes

Use ignore_prefixes to ignore certain prefixes when sorting:

// keep-sorted start ignore_prefixes=const,let,var
const apple = 1;
let banana = 2;
var cherry = 3;
const date = 4;
// keep-sorted end

Custom Grouping

Use group_prefixes to keep related lines together:

<!-- keep-sorted start group_prefixes=and,with -->

hamburger with lettuce and tomatoes peanut butter and jelly spaghetti with meatballs

<!-- keep-sorted end -->

Newline Separated

Use newline_separated=yes to add blank lines between sorted items:

# keep-sorted start newline_separated=yes
def calculate_total():
    pass

def process_data():
    pass

def validate_input():
    pass
# keep-sorted end

Skip Lines

Use skip_lines=N to skip header lines (useful for tables):

<!-- keep-sorted start skip_lines=2 -->

| Name  | Value |
| ----- | ----- |
| Alpha | 100   |
| Beta  | 200   |
| Delta | 150   |
| Gamma | 175   |

<!-- keep-sorted end -->

Sticky Comments

Comments stick with the line below them by default:

# keep-sorted start
# Configuration for production
PROD_URL = "https://prod.example.com"
# Configuration for staging
STAGING_URL = "https://staging.example.com"
# Configuration for development
DEV_URL = "http://localhost:3000"
# keep-sorted end

Regular Expression Sorting

Use by_regex to sort based on specific patterns:

// keep-sorted start by_regex=\w+;
String bar;
Object baz;
List<String> foo;
// keep-sorted end

Remove Duplicates

Duplicates are removed by default, but you can disable it:

# keep-sorted start remove_duplicates=no
- apple
- apple
- banana
- banana
- cherry
# keep-sorted end

Usage

IMPORTANT: See google/keep-sorted#options for complete documentation on all the options that are available.

Setting Up Keep Sorted Blocks

Add keep-sorted markers around the content you want to keep sorted:

// keep-sorted start
import { zebra } from "./animals";
import { apple } from "./fruits";
import { car } from "./vehicles";
// keep-sorted end

The extension will detect when these blocks are not properly sorted and provide automatic fixes.

Sorting Methods

1. Quick Fixes (Lightbulb)

When the extension detects unsorted content:

A warning squiggle appears under the unsorted block
Click the lightbulb 💡 icon or press Ctrl+. / Cmd+.
Choose from available actions:
- “Sort all lines in block (keep-sorted)” - Sorts just the selected block
- “Sort all lines in file (keep-sorted)” - Sorts all keep-sorted blocks in the file

2. Command Palette

Use Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P and search for:

“Keep Sorted: Fix Current File” - Sort all keep-sorted blocks in the active file
“Keep Sorted: Fix Entire Workspace” - Sort all keep-sorted blocks across all workspace files

3. Problems Panel

Open the Problems panel (Ctrl+Shift+M / Cmd+Shift+M)
Look for keep-sorted warnings
Use “Quick Fix” or “Fix All” options directly from the panel

Supported File Types

Keep Sorted works with any file type and is language agnostic. Common use cases include:

import statements,
lists,
top level file types and classes, and
many more.

Troubleshooting

Extension Not Working?

Check Extension Status
- Ensure the extension is enabled in VS Code
- Verify keep-sorted.enabled is set to true in settings
No Diagnostics Appearing?
- Make sure your blocks use the correct syntax: // keep-sorted start and // keep-sorted end
- Check if files are excluded via keep-sorted.exclude patterns
- Verify the file is saved (diagnostics appear after save)
Commands Not Available?
- Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P) and search for “Keep Sorted”
- If commands don’t appear, try reloading VS Code (Developer: Reload Window)
- Verify the extension is activated (check status bar or Extensions view)
Performance Issues?
- Add problematic file patterns to keep-sorted.exclude
- Check VS Code’s Output panel (select “Keep Sorted” from dropdown) for error messages
Viewing Extension Logs
- Open the Output panel: View → Output or Ctrl+Shift+U / Cmd+Shift+U
- Select “Keep Sorted” from the dropdown menu
- Logs show extension activity, errors, and diagnostic information
- For persistent logs, configure keep-sorted.logFilepath in settings

Fixes Are Malformed

This is usually due to the underlying Google keep-sorted command itself and have an incorrect block setup.

An example where the block isn’t inside the list.

# keep-sorted start
items = [
  'zebra',
  'alpha',
  'delta',
  'beta',
]
# keep-sorted end

Breaks the syntax because non-alphanumeric characters have precedence in the sort order.

# keep-sorted start
],
items = [
  'zebra',
  'alpha',
  'delta',
  'beta'
# keep-sorted end

The command is working correctly but the declaration is incorrect. The correct block setup should be.

items = [
  # keep-sorted start
  'zebra',
  'alpha',
  'delta',
  'beta',
  # keep-sorted end
]

To ensure your statements are correct see google/keep-sorted#options for more information.

Getting Help

Report Issues: GitHub Issues
Feature Requests: GitHub Discussions
Documentation: Keep Sorted Project

License

This project is licensed under the Apache 2.0 License - see the LICENSE.md file for details.

Share on

X Facebook LinkedIn Bluesky

Andrew Walsh