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VS Code extension for inline assembly checking
A VS Code (and JetBrains) extension that provides real-time type checking, error highlighting, and fix suggestions for inline assembly blocks within C/C++/Rust/Zig source files, leveraging an instruction semantics engine to catch operand errors before compilation.
Why this matters
You are editing C code with inline assembly in VS Code, and your editor provides zero feedback on whether your assembly is correct. You type an instruction with the wrong operand width or forget to declare a clobbered register, and nothing warns you. The red squiggly lines that helpfully catch your C errors stop dead at the asm keyword. You have to compile, run, crash, and debug before discovering that your inline assembly had a subtle register conflict. You wish your editor understood assembly the way it understands C — highlighting errors inline and suggesting fixes before you even build.
- · Built for Individual systems programmers and embedded developers who write inline assembly in their IDE and want immediate feedback on correctness.
- · Most likely monetization: Freemium VS Code extension with paid pro features.
The Pain · Narrative
You are editing C code with inline assembly in VS Code, and your editor provides zero feedback on whether your assembly is correct. You type an instruction with the wrong operand width or forget to declare a clobbered register, and nothing warns you. The red squiggly lines that helpfully catch your C errors stop dead at the asm keyword. You have to compile, run, crash, and debug before discovering that your inline assembly had a subtle register conflict. You wish your editor understood assembly the way it understands C — highlighting errors inline and suggesting fixes before you even build.
Score Breakdown
Market Signal
Go-to-Market
Embedded C/C++ developers using VS Code or CLion who write inline assembly at least a few times per month
~100,000 embedded developers use VS Code for C/C++ development; ~5,000 write inline assembly regularly enough to need this
VS Code marketplace with SEO for 'assembly linter' and 'inline asm checker'
Free tier with basic checking; $5/month pro tier with full semantic analysis and fix suggestions
1,000 installs and 10 paying users within 60 days of marketplace listing
MVP Scope · 1–2 weeks
- Set up VS Code extension scaffolding with TypeScript and the Language Server Protocol
- Implement a basic parser that identifies inline asm blocks in C/C++ files (GCC extended asm syntax)
- Build a lightweight instruction lookup table for the 50 most common x86 instructions with operand constraints
- Create diagnostic provider that highlights operand type mismatches in real time
- Implement hover provider showing instruction semantics on mouseover
- Expand instruction coverage to 200+ x86 instructions including common SSE/AVX operations
- Add ARM64 instruction support for the top 50 most common instructions
- Implement quick-fix code actions for missing clobber declarations and wrong operand types
- Add settings panel for configuring strictness levels and syntax style (Intel/AT&T)
- Publish to VS Code marketplace and create a Show HN post with a demo GIF
Differentiation
Why This Might Fail
Self-rebuttal — the most important trust signal
- 1VS Code extension users strongly expect free tools, and monetizing at $5/month against free alternatives or built-in compiler diagnostics is an uphill battle with low conversion rates.
- 2The population of VS Code users who write inline assembly is small — most C/C++ developers rarely or never touch assembly, making the funnel extremely narrow.
- 3Compiler integration improvements (like Odin's approach or LLVM diagnostics) could provide similar inline checking natively, making a third-party extension redundant.
Evidence Summary
How AI synthesized this insight — no verbatim quotes
Several commenters emphasized the value of good error messages and suggestions enabled by instruction-level type knowledge, noting that current tooling fails to provide this. One commenter specifically praised a new approach for removing friction in assembly writing. The discussion revealed that developers currently have no real-time feedback on assembly correctness within their editors, relying on compile-test-debug cycles. The desire for inline checking and descriptive errors was a consistent theme across multiple comments.
Action Plan
Validate this opportunity before writing code
Recommended Next Step
Validate
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Landing Page Copy Kit
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Headline
VS Code extension for inline assembly checking
Sub-headline
A VS Code (and JetBrains) extension that provides real-time type checking, error highlighting, and fix suggestions for inline assembly blocks within C/C++/Rust/Zig source files, leveraging an instruction semantics engine to catch operand errors before compilation.
Who It's For
For Individual systems programmers and embedded developers who write inline assembly in their IDE and want immediate feedback on correctness
Feature List
✓ Real-time squiggly-line error highlighting in inline asm blocks for GCC, Clang, and MSVC syntaxes ✓ Hover tooltips showing instruction semantics (valid operands, clobbers, side-effects) on hover over mnemonics ✓ Quick-fix suggestions for missing clobber declarations and wrong operand types ✓ Support for x86/x64 and ARM64 instruction sets initially ✓ Configurable strictness levels from syntax-only to full semantic checking
Where to Validate
Share your landing page in r/HN · front_page — that's exactly where these pain points were discovered.
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