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File Types

Hexana 0.9 registers four file types with the IntelliJ Platform.

File type Extensions Editor Language Implementation
wasm .wasm Hexana multi-tab viewer — org.jetbrains.hexana.WasmFileType
wat .wat IntelliJ editor with WAT language support wat org.jetbrains.hexana.wat.WatFileType
wit .wit IntelliJ editor with WIT language support wit org.jetbrains.hexana.wit.WitFileType
binary .bin, .elf, .exe Hex view — org.jetbrains.hexana.BinaryFileType

Hexana also registers a fileTypeOverrider (HexFileTypeOverrider) that claims .wasm, .wat, and .wit even when another plugin tries to register the same extension.

.wasm — WebAssembly binary

The primary surface. Hexana replaces the default editor with its multi-tab viewer through HexanaFileEditorProvider. Tabs: Module, Imports, Exports, Functions, Top, Hex, WAT. See features.md for the full per-tab capability list.

Two file-size checkers run before the file opens:

  • WasmFileSizeChecker — gates expensive operations for very large .wasm files.
  • WatFileSizeChecker — sibling check for .wat.

When a .wasm opens, FUS records the wasm.file.opened event.

.wat — WebAssembly Text format

WAT is the S-expression text representation of WebAssembly. Hexana provides full language support:

  • Parser (WatParserDefinition) and PSI tree.
  • Syntax highlighter (WatSyntaxHighlighter).
  • Brace matcher (WatBraceMatcher).
  • File-view-provider factory.
  • Problem-highlight filter (WatProblemHighlightFilter).
  • Use-scope optimizer (WatScopeOptimizer) — speeds up reference lookups on large WAT files.
  • Documentation target provider.
  • Find Usages handler factory.

WAT is also the rendered form Hexana produces inside the WAT tab of a .wasm file — the same language support applies in both surfaces.

.wit — WebAssembly Interface Types

WIT is the interface description language of the WebAssembly Component Model. Hexana's WIT support is its most complete language implementation. See wit-language.md for the full reference.

Quick summary of what .wit files gain: - Parsing, semantic highlighting, brace matching, code folding, breadcrumbs. - Five inspections (empty definition, world-name uniqueness, missing semicolon, gate, use-declaration names). - Keyword and @gate completion. - Find Usages, Rename validation, Goto Symbol. - Code formatter with code-style settings page. - Cross-file resolve via WitComponentIndex and WitBuiltInDefinitionsContributor (which seeds the index with built-in WIT types). - Documentation provider. - Element manipulators for WitHandle, WitUsePath, WitUseNamesItem, WitIncludeNamesItem — required by the platform's Refactor and Rename machinery.

Binary — .bin, .elf, .exe

A generic catch-all binary file type. These open directly in Hexana's hex view (the Hex tab presented standalone, without the WASM-specific tabs). The viewer supports the same selection, search, and structure-popup features as the hex tab inside a .wasm editor.

Future native-binary work (ELF / PE / COFF parsers and llvm-objdump integration) extends this surface; in 0.9 the type primarily exists so users can route binary files into Hexana's hex view from external openers without manual file-type association.

Default editor selection

HexanaFileEditorProvider returns a Hexana editor for .wasm. For .wat and .wit, the platform's default editor (with Hexana's language support applied) is used. For the binary type, Hexana's hex view is the default editor.

If you have another plugin that conflicts on .wasm / .wat / .wit, HexFileTypeOverrider ensures Hexana wins. To disable the override, uninstall or disable the Hexana plugin.