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tSM VS Code Extension

The tSM VS Code Extension brings the power of configuration management into a familiar developer environment.
It synchronizes the full tSM configuration with the local filesystem, making it possible to use Git workflows, advanced search and editing tools, and even AI assistance when building or maintaining configurations.

Instead of working only in the tSM UI, developers and configurators can now use standard development practices: branches, merges, pull requests, backups, and environment comparisons — all inside Visual Studio Code.

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Synchronization​

ℹ️ Planned for version 2.4

The extension provides two-way synchronization between tSM and the local filesystem:

  • Download configurations from tSM into a project folder.
  • Edit locally with full IDE support.
  • Push changes back to the tSM instance.

This enables:

  • Backup & Restore – keep safe local copies of entire configuration sets.
  • Prepared Config Sets – upload complete packages (e.g., for new customers or products).
  • Continuous versioning – every configuration change can be committed to Git.

Git Workflows​

ℹ️ Planned for version 2.4

Because configurations are synchronized as files, the full power of Git becomes available:

  • Branching and merging – experiment with new features without affecting production.
  • History tracking – every change is traceable.
  • Collaboration – teams can review each other’s configuration changes using pull requests.

Example: a team may create a feature branch for a new process, test it in dev, merge into main, and then deploy to production.

Environment Management​

ℹ️ Planned for version 2.4

The extension allows comparing and managing configurations across dev, test, and prod environments:

  • Side-by-side diff between environments.
  • Identify missing or outdated configurations.
  • Deploy specific sets from one environment to another.

This avoids errors caused by manual reconfiguration and ensures consistent deployments.

Full-Text Search & Bulk Actions​

ℹ️ Planned for version 2.4

Configuration projects can be large, with hundreds of processes, forms, and attributes. The extension makes it manageable:

  • Full-text search across the entire configuration.
  • Replace across multiple files with preview before applying.
  • Bulk edits for repetitive tasks (e.g., renaming attributes, updating field types).

This saves hours of manual editing and reduces the chance of mistakes.

Specialized Editors​

ℹ️ Planned for version 2.4, with incremental rollout

The extension provides dedicated editors for complex configuration types:

  • Processes – structured editor with validation of steps and transitions.
  • Forms – visual layout editor with schema checks.
  • SpEL Scripts – syntax highlighting, autocomplete, and linting.
  • JSON and YAML – schema-aware editing with validation.

Tabular Editing​

For entity-heavy tasks, a spreadsheet-like editor is available:

  • Edit multiple entities in a grid.
  • Diff view for each row or cell, showing what changed.
  • Property editor opens when selecting a cell for detailed configuration.

Debugging & Execution​

ℹ️ Planned for version 2.4, with incremental rollout

SpEL scripting becomes easier with integrated debugging:

  • Run scripts directly inside VS Code.
  • Use breakpoints and autocomplete with the native VS Code debugger.
  • Step through logic and inspect variables before deploying.

This reduces errors and makes it faster to test complex scripts.

AI Integration​

ℹ️ Planned for version 2.5; integrated with GitHub Copilot via MCP server

The extension includes AI-powered features to accelerate configuration work:

  • Copilot Integration – inline suggestions and autocompletions for scripts and configuration files.
  • Chat-Based Entity Generation –
    • Ask: “Create a process for customer escalations with statuses New → Escalated → Resolved → Closed.”
    • AI generates the configuration files.
    • Configurator reviews, adjusts, and refines before uploading to tSM.

Unlike the stricter AI embedded in tSM itself, the extension is designed for prototyping:
users can iterate quickly, try multiple variations, and manually fine-tune details.

Vision​

The first version of the extension focuses on configuration management: sync, Git workflows, environment comparison, and AI-assisted configuration creation.

Future versions will go further:

  • Extending editors and AI to business entities such as customers, tickets, and contracts.
  • Providing predictive insights directly in the extension

The tSM VS Code Extension ensures that configurators and developers can work in a professional IDE with all the productivity tools they expect, while staying seamlessly connected to the tSM platform.