(φ) Phicode

Your Code, Your Syntax, Your Environment

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Overview

Phicode is a symbolic, mathematical syntax for Python that lets you write code in a more concise and expressive way using .φ files — while staying 100% compatible with standard Python.

With the Phicode VS Code extension you can:

• Write Python using symbols and mathematical notation.
• Run .φ files directly, or mix them seamlessly with .py files in existing projects.
• Convert back and forth between Phicode ⇆ Python at any time.

Simply install the runtime with:

pip install phicode

…and you’re ready to use Phicode inside VS Code.

Features

Core Language Support

• Syntax highlighting for Phicode symbols and Python keywords
• Language configuration with auto-indentation and bracket matching
• File icon theme support for .φ files

Development Tools

• Code Formatting: Document and range formatting with configurable rules
• IntelliSense: Hover information, definition navigation, and reference finding
• Symbol Support: Document outline and workspace-wide symbol search
• Refactoring: Rename symbols across files with cross-language support

Execution & Conversion

• Code Execution: Run & debug Phicode files
• Access the benchmark suite: Run benchmark suite
• Bidirectional Conversion: Convert between Python and Phicode syntax
• Smart Tokenization: Preserves strings and comments during conversion

Productivity Features

• Interactive Tutorial: Comprehensive symbol reference with search functionality
• Code Snippets: 50+ templates for common Phicode patterns
• Configuration Support: Customizable symbol mappings and formatting options

Installation

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8+
• Phicode runtime package

Steps

1. Install the Phicode runtime:

pip install phicode

2. Install the extension from Visual Studio Code Marketplace:
   • Open VS Code Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X)
   • Search for "Phicode"
   • Install the extension

Usage

Basic Example

Create a file with .φ extension:

# Phicode
ƒ calculate_sum(n):
    total = 0
    ∀ i ∈ ⟪(n):
        total += i
    ⟲ total

π(calculate_sum(10))

# Python
def calculate_sum(n):
    total = 0
    for i in range(n):
        total += i
    return total

Commands

• Phicode: Run File - Execute current Phicode file
• Phicode: Debug File - Debug current Phicode file
• Phicode: Convert to Phicode - Convert Python to Phicode syntax
• Phicode: Convert to Python - Convert Phicode to Python syntax
• Phicode: Show Tutorial - Display interactive symbol reference

Context Menu

• Right click in editor or on file Convert to Python/Phicode for quick conversion

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Ctrl+Alt+P - Convert Python to Phicode
• Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P - Convert Phicode to Python

Configuration

The extension supports configuration through VS Code settings:

{
  "phicode.autoConvert": true,
  "phicode.symbolHints": true,
  "phicode.formatting.spaceAroundOperators": true,
  "phicode.formatting.spaceAfterCommas": true
}

Requirements

• Visual Studio Code 1.74.0 or higher
• Python 3.8 or higher
• Phicode runtime package

Roadmap

• Custom Syntax Configuration
• Linting
• Symbol insert panel
• Local API connection to engine

Support

• Documentation: Interactive tutorial included in extension
• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Source Code: GitHub Repository

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Developed by Jay Baleine

© 2025 Banes Lab • Runtime • Extension