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Overview & Installation

Thanks for checking out the Chatter NC Editor extension for VS Code! This extension is designed to make it easier to edit NC files. As of today, code comprehension is built for Fanuc-style code (i.e. Fanuc, Haas, Brother, etc.). Support for additional code syntaxes such as Heidenhain and Siemens is planned for the future.

Getting Started​

If you have not already installed Visual Studio Code, you can download it here.

To install the Chatter NC Editor extension, follow these steps:

  1. Open Visual Studio Code
  2. Click on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window.
  3. In the search bar, type "Chatter NC Editor"
  4. Click the Install button next to the Chatter NC Editor extension

Features​

FTP File Transfer for CNC Machines​

The extension features a built-in FTP and SFTP client for easy file transfer to and from your CNC machines. Learn More

Syntax Highlighting​

The extension provides syntax highlighting for G-code. This is enabled for files ending in .nc, or can be manually set in the bottom right corner of the window.

NC Code Editing Toolbox​

The toolbox panel is a collection of tools to make formatting G-code easier. Learn More

Code Comprehension & Navigation​

The extension parses operations, tools, offsets, and probing cycles into the sidebar for easy navigation. It reads the NC code line by line and extracts the relevant information. Learn More

Snippets​

The snippets section allows you to store commonly used blocks of G-code for easy insertion. Learn More

Git-Based Version Control​

The extension features a simplified interface for Git-based version control. This is a massive improvement on the typical "-R1", "-R2" naming convention you see in many shops. Instead, you changes whenever they are made and finalized so that you can keep a log of all revisions and easily revert to a previous version if needed, without cluttering up your filesystem. Learn More

Roadmap​

  • Extend comprehension to include Heidenhain and Siemens code
  • Thumb drive identification (ensure code is synced between local and remote)
  • Expanded G-code comprehension for diffing
  • Ability to add remote repositories (Chatter Vault)
  • ITAR / CMMC compliance via the cloud (Chatter Vault w/ GovCloud)
  • Support for on-premise git remotes