Real-Time XR Visualizations of Code Metrics in the IDE
David Moreno-Lumbreras, Gregório Robles, Adrian Montes-Linarfes · 2025
As software grows in size and complexity, developers struggle to understand structural and metric relationships. We present CodeXR, a lightweight Visual Studio Code plugin that extends the IDE with real-time eXtended Reality (XR) visualizations of software metrics. By mapping properties such as lines of code, parameters, and cyclomatic complexity to 3D metaphors, developers can explore entire projects as interactive cities and monitor changes live as they code. CodeXR integrates directly with the IDE, updating visualizations continuously without requiring external dashboards. Additionally, it offers an optional XR representation of HTML DOM hierarchies to support web development tasks. Built on BabiaXR and leveraging concepts validated in prior work like CodeCity, this approach aims to enhance comprehension, reduce cognitive load, and promote spatial reasoning about code quality. We describe the design, capabilities, and use cases, and outline future directions to empirically evaluate its impact on developer workflows. Video URL: https://youtu.be/GFrGDt2BOW0