2026 · SHIPPED · UNKNOWN

Bnlang for VS Code

Writing code in Bangla without an IME

TypeScript
VS Code Extension API
TextMate grammars

Bnlang for VS Code provides syntax highlighting, snippets, completions and formatting for the Bangla programming language Bnlang. A .bnl file freely mixes English and Bangla keywords, because both forms tokenize to the same thing in the lexer.

The feature that matters is phonetic typing: type a roman spelling and accept the Bangla token. Because the language defines a closed set of keywords, this removes the system IME requirement entirely for the tokens the language owns.

Problem

Bnlang lets you write programs with Bangla keywords. But typing Bangla on a standard keyboard requires a system IME, which means the language is only usable by people who have already solved a separate, unrelated problem.

Question

If a language defines a closed set of keywords, does the editor need an IME at all — or can phonetic completion cover every token the language actually defines?

Approach

Because Bnlang keywords are a closed set, the editor can accept a roman spelling and complete it to the Bangla token: type jodi, accept যদি; type likhun, accept লিখুন. That covers all 28 keyword groups plus Bangla globals and built-in module aliases, so no system IME is needed for any token the language defines.

System

Open any stage to see what it does.

GRAMMAR — Syntax highlighting for .bnl files, tokenizing English and Bangla keyword forms to the same thing — because the lexer does too.

PHONETIC COMPLETION — Roman spelling in, Bangla token out. All 28 keyword groups, Bangla globals, and built-in module aliases.

SNIPPETS — if, while, for-of, function, class, import, try/catch and the common idioms.

BILINGUAL IMPORTS — আমদানি "io" যেমন ফাইল; behaves identically to import "io" as ফাইল;. The two forms are fully interchangeable.

FORMATTING — Formatting that survives mixed-script source.

Demo

Open a .bnl file, type a roman spelling of any keyword, and accept the Bangla token. Mixed English and Bangla source highlights and formats as one language.

Result

Covers all 28 keyword groups plus Bangla globals and built-in module aliases with phonetic completion.
No system IME is required for any closed-set token the language defines.
English and Bangla keyword forms are fully interchangeable, matching the behaviour of the Bnlang lexer.

Lesson

Language accessibility is usually framed as a font or encoding problem. Here it was an input problem, and the fix was possible only because keywords are a closed set — a constraint of the language turned into the feature that makes it usable.

Source

Connected

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