expressCode

Bring VS Code's powerful editor to After Effects! Get IntelliSense completion, real-time error checking, hover definitions, and TypeScript support. Edit any expression in your comp instantly, without hunting through the timeline. Save your most-used scripts and expressions in the built-in library for one-click access.

Learn about license types
  $19.98
  • Free Trial
Description

What's New

1.2.0 update

Expression & Library Search

Quickly search through all your expressions or library items. Find exactly what you need in seconds, no matter how large your project gets.

Select Identical Expressions

Select all expressions that match the currently loaded one. Perfect for batch updating expressions simultaneously.

Reveal in Timeline

Jump directly to the selected expression's location in the After Effects timeline. No more hunting through layers to find your code.

Auto-Highlight Layers

Automatically scroll to and highlight expressions for layers you select in the timeline. Seamlessly sync your workflow between expressCode and After Effects.

Can be disabled in settings

IntelliSense Code Completion

IntelliSense Code Completion

Get instant suggestions as you type with full IntelliSense support for After Effects expressions and scripts. Hover documentation, parameter hints, and smart autocomplete make coding effortless. Never look up API documentation again—everything you need is right at your fingertips.

Real-Time Error Detection

Real-Time Error Detection

Catch errors before they happen. TypeScript-powered error checking shows you exactly what's wrong with inline diagnostics and helpful error messages. Say goodbye to debugging expressions in the After Effects timeline—see problems as you type and fix them instantly.

Expression Library

Expression & Script Library

Save your favorite expressions and scripts in organized libraries. One-click apply to multiple layers. Build your personal toolkit and never rewrite the same code twice. Share libraries with your team and standardize your workflows.

Monaco Editor

Monaco Editor Power

Built on the same editor that powers VS Code. Get professional features like multi-cursor editing, find & replace, syntax highlighting, and keyboard shortcuts you already know. Edit all your comp's expressions in one place without hunting through timeline layers.

Batch Operations

Batch Operations

Select multiple expressions at once and edit them all simultaneously. Apply library expressions to multiple selected layers with a single click. Make sweeping changes across your comp in seconds, not minutes.

See expressCode in Action - Full Walk Through

  • 00:00 - Intro
  • 00:14 - Scripting in expressCode
  • 01:04 - Typescript
  • 02:22 - Expression library
  • 02:44 - Linking expressions to properties
  • 03:39 - Loading expressions from layers

Learn More

Explore our guides and documentation

User Guide

Online overview of all the different sections of expressCode. Automatically updated with each release. Learn how to use the Monaco editor, manage your library, and optimize your expression workflow.

Read Guide →

TypeScript Support

Write modern TypeScript code with full IntelliSense and let expressCode automatically transpile it to ES3. Get type checking, autocomplete, and the latest JavaScript features while maintaining compatibility with After Effects.

Learn More →

ES5 Helpers

Understand the helper functions automatically added during TypeScript transpilation. Learn how expressCode polyfills modern features and what each helper does to ensure your code runs smoothly in After Effects' ES3 engine.

View Helpers →

Discussions

Want to talk about it?

Head over to r/aescripts to chat with fellow users about this product.

Need Support?

Please open a support ticket to be connected directly with the author of this product

Version History

1.2.3 -

Mar 31, 2026

- Fix for pasting non-English characters on Windows

1.2.2 -

Mar 26, 2026

All about Property References Insertion (Pick Whip):
- Added default effect parameter format setting for Insert Property Reference (display name, match name, or index)
- Added option to prefer relative property references on the same layer - 'thisLayer' instead of 'thisComp.layer("...")'
- Modifier keys on Insert Property Reference button now override defaults for a single click
- Shape layer property references now get built and inserted correctly
- Check layer and effect names for uniqueness before inserting their reference like native AE pick whip does

1.2.1 -

Feb 10, 2026

- Autocomplete now supports locally declared variables & functions
- Autocomplete now supports After Effects string names for comps, layers, markers, effects, and effect parameters

1.2.0 -

Feb 4, 2026

- Added search to the layers / library
- Added select all identical expressions
- Added reveal selected expression in timeline
- Highlight selected layers
- Added reload selected expression
- Persist code editor content between extension launches
- Clear layer selection when loading expressions
- Theme updates and support for light mode

1.1.1 -

Dec 19, 2025

- Added keyboard short to apply expression / run script (Cmd + Enter for macOS & Cntrl + Enter for Windows)
- Fix for keyboard shortcuts on Windows

1.1.0 -

Dec 18, 2025

- Added clear all button & keyboard shortcut to reset state of selection and editor
- Added insert selected property reference button
- Update keyboard shortcuts and display shortcuts in tooltips
- Fix for right-click -> copy & paste
- Reduced bundle size

1.0.0 -

Dec 12, 2025

- initial release

Compatibility

After Effects

2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

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Updated: Oct 21, 2025 1:35 AM