Aiken VSCode Extension

[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

Aiken VSCode Extension

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

85000

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

3

[Proposal Summary] Translation Information

Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated

No

Original Language

en

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

The current Aiken VSCode extension only provides syntax highlighting and formatting, forcing developers to constantly switch to terminal for compilation and testing.

[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies

Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'

No dependencies.

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

No

License and Additional Information

Apache 2.0

[Theme Selection] Theme

Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal

Developer Tools

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Mention your open source license and describe your open source license rationale.

Apache 2.0 license. This license aligns with both Aiken's own licensing and the existing VSCode extension's license, ensuring full compatibility within the ecosystem. Apache 2.0 provides broad usage rights while protecting contributors, allows commercial use which encourages adoption by professional development teams, and includes patent protection clauses. This choice supports the Cardano ecosystem's open-source philosophy while providing legal clarity for all users and contributors.

How do you make sure your source code is accessible to the public from project start, and people are informed?

Development will occur in the public GitHub repository from day one (either in the official Aiken VSCode extension repo or a public fork). I will use semantic versioning for all releases, maintain a detailed commit history with clear messages, publish regular development updates through GitHub issues and pull requests, and provide alpha/beta releases via GitHub releases for community testing before official VSCode marketplace publication.

How will you provide high quality documentation?

I will create comprehensive documentation using VitePress, which will include installation guides, feature documentation with code examples, troubleshooting sections, and API references for extension commands. The documentation will feature screenshots and code snippets demonstrating each feature, clear navigation structure for easy discovery, and will be hosted on GitHub Pages with automatic deployment on updates. Documentation will be written concurrently with feature development to ensure accuracy.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

The Aiken VSCode extension currently offers only basic syntax highlighting and formatting, leaving a significant gap in the development workflow. My solution addresses this by implementing three core features that transform the extension into a comprehensive development environment.

First, I will implement intelligent compilation integration. When developers save a file or trigger compilation, the extension will invoke aiken build in the background, parse the output, and display errors directly in VSCode's Problems panel with precise file and line locations. This eliminates the manual terminal compilation step and provides immediate visual feedback through red underlines and error markers.

Second, I will add integrated test execution. Developers will run aiken test through a command palette action, with results parsed and displayed in VSCode's output panel. This creates the rapid feedback loop that Aiken promises, allowing developers to verify their smart contract logic without leaving their coding environment.

Third, I will implement project scaffolding to lower the barrier for new developers. Commands like "Create New Aiken Project" will generate proper project structure with example validators and tests, while "New Validator Module" will insert boilerplate code. This addresses the onboarding challenges identified in developer surveys.

The technical implementation leverages TypeScript and VSCode's Extension API to create a bridge between Aiken's Rust-based CLI and the IDE. I will handle cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux) and ensure the extension gracefully handles different Aiken CLI versions.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

This project directly addresses the tooling gaps identified by the Cardano developer community. By eliminating context-switching between IDE and terminal, developers save minutes on each compilation and test cycle - time that compounds significantly over a project's lifetime.

The integrated environment will reduce common errors caused by forgotten CLI commands or misconfigured paths. For new developers, the scaffolding features and immediate visual feedback lower the learning curve substantially, making Cardano development more accessible.

Success will be measured through extension adoption metrics, community feedback on forums and Discord, and potential improvements in future developer survey satisfaction scores regarding tooling.

The broader impact extends to the entire Cardano ecosystem - better tooling attracts more developers, faster development cycles mean more dApps reach production sooner, and improved developer experience strengthens Cardano's competitive position against other smart contract platforms.

[Your Project and Solution] Capabilities & Feasibility

What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

I am Tolga Yaycı, an experienced software engineer with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering and a proven track record of delivering developer tools across major blockchain ecosystems including Solana, Arbitrum, Stellar, and Internet Computer.

My expertise in VSCode extension development is demonstrated through the successful Stylus VS Code Extension for Arbitrum (https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=tolgayayci.stylussuite),,) which provides similar CLI integration features for Arbitrum's Stylus framework. I have also built interactive development environments like Wizard (https://thewizard.app/),,) an Arbitrum Stylus Playground, and GUI tools for complex CLIs including Dfinity DFX GUI and Soroban CLI GUI.

This extensive background in creating developer tooling, combined with my active involvement in the Cardano ecosystem and familiarity with Aiken's architecture, positions me uniquely to deliver this project successfully. I have already contributed to the Aiken VSCode extension codebase and understand both the technical requirements and developer needs. My track record shows consistent delivery of production-quality developer tools that are actively used by blockchain communities.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Core Compilation Integration

Milestone Outputs

• Fully functional "Build/Compile" command integrated into VSCode command palette
• Comprehensive error and warning diagnostics with precise file/line mapping displayed in Problems panel
• User-friendly configuration options for customizing Aiken CLI path and build preferences
• Alpha release published to GitHub for early adopter testing and feedback

Acceptance Criteria

• Developers can successfully compile Aiken projects entirely within VSCode without using terminal
• All compilation errors appear correctly in Problems panel with accurate file locations and line numbers
• Settings interface allows full customization of build behavior and compiler options

Evidence of Completion

• Public GitHub release containing alpha version with release notes
• Recorded video demonstration showcasing all compilation features in action
• Thoroughly updated README with detailed usage instructions and examples

Delivery Month

1

Cost

25000

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Test Runner and Scaffolding Implementation

Milestone Outputs

• Integrated "Run Tests" command with comprehensive results displayed in output panel
• "New Aiken Project" scaffolding command with complete project structure generation
• "New Validator Module" template command for quick module creation
• Beta release incorporating all implemented features for community testing

Acceptance Criteria

• All Aiken tests execute seamlessly from VSCode with clearly visible and formatted results
• Project scaffolding consistently creates valid and compilable Aiken project structure
• Module templates generate properly formatted and immediately compilable code

Evidence of Completion

• Public GitHub release containing beta version with comprehensive changelog
• Detailed video showing test execution workflow and scaffolding functionality
• Documented community beta testing feedback with responses and improvements

Delivery Month

2

Cost

25000

Progress

60 %

Milestone Title

Documentation and Production Release

Milestone Outputs

• Complete VitePress documentation site with all features thoroughly documented
• Fully cross-platform tested extension verified on all major operating systems
• Official production release published on VSCode Marketplace for public availability
• All critical bug fixes implemented based on beta testing feedback

Acceptance Criteria

• Documentation comprehensively covers all features with practical examples and troubleshooting guides
• Extension performs reliably on Windows, macOS, and Linux distributions
• Successfully published and available on official VSCode Marketplace

Evidence of Completion

• Live documentation website URL accessible to all users
• Active VSCode Marketplace listing with installation instructions
• GitHub release tagged v2.0.0 with complete release notes

Delivery Month

3

Cost

20000

Progress

80 %

Milestone Title

Project Close-out and Final Report

Milestone Outputs

• Comprehensive Project Close-out Report detailing all achievements and learnings
• Professional Project Close-out Video showcasing complete functionality
• Final documentation review ensuring all content is accurate and updated
• Complete community handover materials including contribution guide and future development roadmap
• Full confirmation and verification of all previous milestone completions

Acceptance Criteria

• Close-out report comprehensively details project outcomes, challenges overcome, and impact achieved
• Video professionally demonstrates all implemented features with clear narration
• Documentation perfectly reflects final state of project with all updates applied
• Clear and actionable guide provided for future community contributions

Evidence of Completion

• Published close-out report available for community review
• Professional video uploaded and shared across relevant channels
• Fully updated documentation reflecting project completion
• GitHub repository containing detailed contribution guidelines and roadmap

Delivery Month

4

Cost

15000

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Total Funding Requested: 85,000 ADA

0.93 USD per ADA (currently)

(120 USD/hour × 8 hours/day × 5 days/week × 14 weeks) = 67,200 USD ≈ 72,500 ADA + 12,500 ADA volatility buffer = 85,000 ADA

This covers ~3 months of full-time development by a single experienced developer, providing exceptional value for a tool that will serve the entire Aiken-Cardano ecosystem.

Breakdown:

Development (14 weeks): 72,500 ADA

Volatility buffer: 12,500 ADA (Protection against ADA/USD fluctuation)

All funds are allocated to development work. No marketing or promotional costs included.

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?

This investment delivers permanent infrastructure improvement to the Cardano developer ecosystem. At 85,000 ADA competitive with standard software development rates while delivering outsized value through:

The extension will serve thousands of developers at zero cost to them, multiplying productivity gains across the entire Aiken developer base. Each developer saves hours weekly through integrated workflows, translating to faster dApp development and deployment across Cardano.

The open-source nature ensures community ownership and longevity beyond initial development. The Apache 2.0 license allows unrestricted use and modification, creating a foundation for future enhancements by any developer.

Compared to the economic value of accelerated smart contract development and reduced bugs from better tooling, this one-time investment provides exceptional return. The improved developer experience helps Cardano compete with other blockchains that already offer mature IDE integrations, making this funding critical for ecosystem growth.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes