pointlanguage docs0.1.1

Tutorial

Installation

Install Point for the terminal, VS Code or Cursor, and any editor that can launch an LSP server.

Summary

Point projects work best with Bun + a local `@hatchingpoint/point` devDependency. After bun install, the CLI and LSP resolve from node_modules — no global install required for team members cloning your repo.

New here? Point in 60 seconds → Golden app demo.

For greenfield work, point create scaffolds a project with editor configs. For an existing repo, run `point init`.

Clone an existing Point project

git clone <repo>
cd <repo>
bun install

If the repo includes .vscode/ and .point/ (from point init or point create):

  • VS Code / Cursor — install the recommended Point Language extension when prompted; LSP uses the local package automatically.
  • Neovim / Zed / any LSP editor — read .point/editor.json for the project-local launcher (bun .point/lsp.mjs lsp).
  • Terminal only — bun run check, point fmt, point box, point launch.

No global CLI required when @hatchingpoint/point is in package.json and you use the bundled editor configs.

Add Point to an existing repo

From the project root (where your .point files live):

point init
bun install

point init adds @hatchingpoint/point, .vscode/extensions.json, .vscode/settings.json, .point/lsp.mjs, and editor hints for Neovim/Zed. Use --skip-install to only write config files.

Install the CLI globally (optional)

Useful for point create, ad-hoc checks outside a Node project, or editors without project-local resolution:

bun install -g @hatchingpoint/point
point box src/app.point

Terminal-only workflow

point check myfile.point
point fmt myfile.point
point launch myfile.point my command    # when file has command blocks
point dev src/app.point                 # full-stack app

For CI or agent scripts:

point check-json myfile.point
point repair-plan myfile.point
point index myfile.point

LSP for any editor

The package includes a stdio language server:

point lsp

Editors start this command automatically. It provides diagnostics, document outline, go to definition, hover, and document formatting.

VS Code and Cursor

Install Point Language from the Marketplace (or accept the workspace recommendation from .vscode/extensions.json).

The extension auto-detects, in order:

1. point.cliPath workspace setting (set by point init) 2. node_modules/@hatchingpoint/point in the workspace 3. Global point on PATH

See also