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BimlExpress for Visual Studio Code

BimlExpress for Visual Studio Code is the free Biml authoring extension from Varigence, in preview for the 2027 release. It brings editing, validation and SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) automation for Biml to Visual Studio Code on Windows, macOS and Linux.

The BimlExpress for Visual Studio documentation covers the Visual Studio extension.

Features​

  • Colorizing and IntelliSense for Biml XML and for embedded C# and VB code nuggets, with completion for elements, attributes, enum values and boolean values, Quick Info tooltips and signature help. Editing Biml describes them.
  • Live diagnostics as you type that flag malformed XML, Biml schema violations and BimlScript nugget syntax errors in the editor, described in Editing Biml.
  • Auto-close and auto-indent for tags, brackets and BimlScript blocks.
  • A preview of the flattened Biml your templates produce.
  • Build and validate commands that compile Biml to SSIS packages and projects. Build and Validate describes the commands, the output targets and their settings.
  • One build worker for every platform, with a bitness you choose on Windows. The Build Worker describes what it does on your computer.
  • SSIS project import that reverse-engineers existing .dtproj projects into Biml.
  • The Live Biml Files view, which tracks the .biml files included in every Build and Validate run, with profiles, grouping, sorting and filtering.
  • Licensing with account setup and product key management, described in Account and Licensing.

Requirements​

  • Visual Studio Code 1.96.0 or higher.
  • The .NET 10 runtime. If it is missing, the extension shows guidance with a download link.

BimlExpress runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. On macOS and Linux it runs on x64 and Arm64 computers. On Windows it offers an x64 build worker and an x86 build worker.

Install​

The extension is listed on the Visual Studio Marketplace and on Open VSX by the publisher varigence-inc as BimlExpress, with the extension id varigence-inc.bimlexpress. Install it from the Extensions view of Visual Studio Code by searching for BimlExpress, or from either listing.

After you install it, open a folder that holds your .biml files. The BimlExpress container in the activity bar holds the Live Biml Files, Import Packages and BimlExpress Account views.

Preview Status​

BimlExpress for Visual Studio Code is a preview release. Varigence is finalizing which features the general availability release includes, so some preview functionality may change or be removed. Performance may vary on very large Biml projects. Send feedback and bug reports to [email protected].

Help and Support​

Contact Varigence Support