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Semantic Colors

Enhanced syntax highlighting with semantic coloring for specific C# types.

Overview​

Semantic colors provide distinct highlighting for interfaces, enums, and namespaces, making code structure more visible.

Colored Elements​

Interfaces​

Interface types are highlighted with a distinct color:

IUserService service; // IUserService in interface color

Enums​

Enum types have their own color:

Status currentStatus = Status.Active; // Status in enum color

Namespaces​

Namespace names are highlighted:

using System.Collections.Generic; // System, Collections, Generic in namespace color

Configuration​

Enabling Semantic Colors​

Semantic colors are enabled by default. Configure in:

  1. Open Settings (Ctrl+,)
  2. Search for csharp-dev-tools.editor.semanticColors
  3. Enable/disable per type:
    • semanticColors.interface
    • semanticColors.enum
    • semanticColors.namespace

Customizing Colors​

Define colors per theme in settings.json:

{
  "editor.tokenColorCustomizations": {
    "[Theme Name]": {
      "textMateRules": [
        {
          "scope": "entity.name.type.interface.cs",
          "settings": {
            "foreground": "#b8d7a3"
          }
        },
        {
          "scope": "entity.name.type.enum.cs",
          "settings": {
            "foreground": "#4ec9b0"
          }
        },
        {
          "scope": "entity.name.type.namespace.cs",
          "settings": {
            "foreground": "#dcdcaa"
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Benefits​

Visual Distinction​

  • Quickly identify interfaces vs classes
  • Spot enum types at a glance
  • Understand namespace structure

Code Navigation​

  • Easier to scan code
  • Faster comprehension
  • Better pattern recognition

Team Consistency​

  • Shared color scheme
  • Uniform code appearance
  • Professional presentation

Use Cases​

Interface-Based Development​

See interfaces clearly when:

  • Implementing dependency injection
  • Working with abstractions
  • Reviewing architectural patterns

Enum Usage​

Identify enums quickly:

  • State machines
  • Configuration values
  • Type discrimination

Namespace Organization​

Understand structure:

  • Module boundaries
  • Package organization
  • Code layout

Theme Integration​

Semantic colors respect VS Code themes:

  • Dark themes get appropriate colors
  • Light themes use suitable contrast
  • High contrast themes supported
  • Custom themes can override

Best Practices​

  • Use distinct colors that don't clash
  • Ensure sufficient contrast
  • Test with your preferred theme
  • Share color scheme with team
  • Document custom colors

Troubleshooting​

Colors Not Appearing​

  • Ensure semantic highlighting is enabled
  • Check C# Language Server status
  • Verify theme supports semantic tokens
  • Restart VS Code

Colors Look Wrong​

  • Check theme color customizations
  • Verify settings.json syntax
  • Use color picker for accuracy
  • Test with default theme first

Performance​

Semantic coloring:

  • Provided by Language Server
  • Cached for performance
  • Updated incrementally
  • Minimal impact