About expressCode

expressCode brings VS Code’s editor to After Effects, providing IntelliSense completion, real‑time error checking, hover definitions, and TypeScript support for writing expressions. Users can edit any expression directly in a composition without navigating the timeline, and a built‑in library stores frequently used scripts for one‑click access. The extension links expressions to properties, loads expressions from layers, and offers autocomplete for locally declared variables, functions, and After Effects string names such as comps, layers, markers, effects, and parameters. Recent updates add layer and library search, bulk selection of identical expressions, timeline reveal, persistent editor content across launches, and enhancements to the Insert Property Reference (pick‑whip) with default formatting and relative reference options. expressCode runs with After Effects versions 2026 through 2021; version 1.2.3 includes a fix for pasting non‑English characters on Windows.

Features

• IntelliSense completion, real-time error checking, and hover definitions
• TypeScript support for expressions
• Edit any expression in a comp without hunting through the timeline
• Built-in library that saves most-used scripts and expressions for one-click access
• Linking expressions to properties and loading expressions from layers
• Autocomplete for locally declared variables, functions, and After Effects string names for comps, layers, markers, effects, and effect parameters
• Insert Property Reference (pick whip) with configurable parameter format and relative reference options

Best for

After Effects artists who write and manage expressions and want editor features like completion, error checking, TypeScript support, and a reusable expression library.