XanoScript VS Code Extension - Build in Xano using your favorite IDE

If you love working in VS Code, you don't have to leave it behind when building on Xano. The XanoScript VS Code extension lets you write, edit, and sync your entire Xano backend right from your favorite IDE—and with AI Copilot in the mix, you can spin up full applications with just a prompt.

Getting Set Up

Before installing the extension, make sure you have a Xano workspace ready—it can be brand new or one you've already been building in. Head to the VS Code Marketplace, install the XanoScript extension, then create a local folder for your project and open it in VS Code.

Click the Xano icon in the left sidebar and choose Get Started to log in with your Xano account. From there, select your instance, workspace, and branch. When prompted, pull your existing changes from Xano so everything syncs into VS Code. You'll also want to say yes to setting up AI agent instructions—this is especially important if you plan to use Copilot, since it teaches the model how to write XanoScript correctly.

Writing and Syncing XanoScript

Once set up, your full Xano project—APIs, tables, and all—appears in the VS Code Explorer. You can create new API endpoints directly in VS Code, write out your logic in XanoScript, and then push those changes back to Xano in just a few clicks.

To push changes, stage them using the XanoScript panel (hover over a file and click the plus icon, or stage everything at once), then click the push option. Your new endpoints and logic appear in Xano immediately. The sync is bidirectional too—make a change in Xano, pull it in VS Code, and you'll see it reflected right away.

The extension also gives you inline documentation: hover over any function, block type, or primitive and get a description plus a usage example. Syntax checking is built in as well, so you can write with confidence.

Building with Copilot

For AI-assisted development, GPT-4.1 is currently the recommended model for writing XanoScript. You can prompt Copilot directly—for example, asking it to add list-sharing functionality to an existing app. Copilot will create any necessary tables, generate new API endpoints, and push those changes to Xano as it works. You can review each change and choose to allow or skip it.

Vibe Coding a Full App from Scratch

One of the most exciting use cases is starting with a completely blank workspace and prompting your way to a working app. With a simple prompt like "build me a backend for a todo app, keep it simple, just an MVP," Copilot generates the table structure and all the CRUD endpoints automatically.

You can then prompt a different model—like Claude Sonnet—to build a matching front end, store it in a /static folder, and have the extension upload it directly to Xano's static file hosting. In just minutes, you have a full-stack app running entirely on Xano.

Iterating with Confidence

What sets this workflow apart from typical AI app builders is that you can verify everything Copilot creates, iterate visually inside Xano or with code in VS Code, and still benefit from Xano's scalability, security, and compliance. It's vibe coding—with a reliable foundation underneath.