Jinja2 Enhance: VS Code Extension for Syntax Highlighting, Variable Checking & More

If you've ever worked with Jinja2 templates in Flask, Django, or FastAPI, you know the drill — you open an HTML file and half of it is {{ this }} and {% that %}, and VS Code just... stares at it blankly. No highlighting, no help. Just vibes.

That frustration is what pushed me to build Jinja2 Enhance — a VS Code extension that makes working with Jinja2 HTML templates actually pleasant.

What it does

At its core, it layers Jinja2 syntax highlighting on top of normal HTML highlighting, so both coexist without stepping on each other. But honestly, it grew into a lot more than that.

✨ Syntax Highlighting

Control structures, variable interpolation, filters, keywords — all highlighted in a way that actually makes the template readable at a glance.

Covers the full range: {% for %}, {% if %}, {% block %}, {% extends %}, {% include %}, {% set %}, {% macro %}, pipe filters like | capitalize or | default, and more.

✨ Variable Checking — zero config

Starting in v1.13.0, the extension automatically scans your template when you open it, and re-checks every time you save. No setup, no config files.

It spots variables that are used but never defined within the template and surfaces them as warnings right in your editor — the same way VS Code flags a missing import in Python or JavaScript.

It accounts for variables set via {% set %}, loop variables from {% for %}, and anything inherited from a parent template via {% extends %}.

✨ Variable Panel

A dedicated sidebar panel lists every variable used or defined in the current file. The Origin column (new in v1.13.0) tells you at a glance whether a variable comes from a {% set %}, a loop, a parent template, or your backend — no more guessing.

✨ Save Variables to Config

For larger Jinja2 templates, you can save your variable configuration so the Quick Fix lightbulb can help resolve warnings without hunting through your codebase.

✨ Jinja2 Comment Toggling

Ctrl+/ (or Cmd+/ on Mac) toggles {# #} Jinja2 comments on single lines or selections — exactly like you'd expect from any language in VS Code.

✨ Theme Support

Five themes available via the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P → "Choose Jinja2 Theme"):

Theme	Preview
Dark Default
Light Default
Dark High Contrast
Light High Contrast
Xuby Selection

Pro Tier (coming soon)

A Jinja2 Enhance Pro version is in progress, aimed at teams doing heavier full-stack Python development:

Backend Variables panel — see every variable your Flask/Django/FastAPI view passes to the template
Go to backend definition — Cmd+click a template variable to jump straight to its declaration in Python or JS
Hover info — hover over a variable to see its source file and line number
Quick-fix lightbulb — Cmd+. on any variable offers "Go to backend definition of <var>"
Template Preview — render Jinja2 templates with real backend variables, right inside VS Code