updated development installation instructions

README.md

@@ -12,20 +12,24 @@ Syntax highlighting and language support for **EFTL (ElixForms Template Language
 ## Supported Syntax
 
 ### Block Delimiters
+
 - `[EFTL]...[/EFTL]` - Main EFTL block
 - `[VAR name="..." type="..."]...[/VAR]` - Variable declarations
 - `[IF]...[/IF]` - Conditionals
 - `[WHILE]...[/WHILE]` - Loops
 
 ### Expressions
+
 - `[% expression %]` - Execute expression
 - `[%= expression %]` - Output expression value
 
 ### Data Tags
+
 - `[TAG]GETVALUEBYTAG,TAG_NAME,REQUEST,IUQOID[/TAG]`
 - `[TAG]SCHEMAID,schemaId,COL0001,IUQOID, , [/TAG]`
 
 ### Functions
+
 - `[SPLIT regex="..."]...[/SPLIT]` - Split string
 - `[TRIM]...[/TRIM]` - Trim whitespace
 - `[VALUE_OF varname="..." index="..." /]` - Get array element
@@ -34,29 +38,75 @@ Syntax highlighting and language support for **EFTL (ElixForms Template Language
 - `[FORMAT type="..." pattern="..."]...[/FORMAT]` - Format values
 
 ### Control Structures
+
 - `[IF]`, `[CONDITION]`, `[THEN]`, `[ELSE]`, `[ELSE IF]`
 - `[WHILE]`, `[DO]`
 
 ### Comments
+
 - `[!-- comment --]`
 
-## Installation
+## Building and Installation
 
-### From VSIX (Local)
+### 1. Build from Source
 
-1. Package the extension: `npx vsce package`
-2. Install in VS Code: `code --install-extension eftl-language-0.1.0.vsix`
+To compile the extension, you need [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/) installed.
 
-### Development Mode
+1. Open a terminal in the project root.
+2. Install dependencies:
 
-1. Open this folder in VS Code
-2. Press `F5` to launch Extension Development Host
-3. Open any `.eftl` file to see syntax highlighting
+    ```bash
+    npm install
+    ```
+
+3. Compile the TypeScript code:
+
+    ```bash
+    npm run compile
+    ```
+
+    *Alternatively, use `npm run watch` to automatically recompile on changes.*
+
+### 2. Manual Installation (for testing)
+
+To make the extension available in your VS Code without packaging it as a VSIX:
+
+#### Windows
+
+1. Open a command prompt (as Administrator for symlinks) or PowerShell.
+2. Create a link to this folder in your VS Code extensions directory:
+
+    ```powershell
+    # PowerShell
+    New-Item -ItemType Junction -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.vscode\extensions\eftl-language" -Value "D:\__Git\vscode-eftl-language"
+    ```
+
+    *Note: Replace the value path with the actual absolute path to your project folder if it differs.*
+
+#### Linux / macOS
+
+1. Create a symbolic link:
+
+    ```bash
+    ln -s "$(pwd)" ~/.vscode/extensions/eftl-language
+    ```
+
+2. **Restart VS Code**. The extension will now be loaded.
+
+### 3. Development Mode (Debugging)
+
+If you want to debug the extension or the language server:
+
+1. Open the project folder in VS Code.
+2. Ensure you have run `npm install` and `npm run compile`.
+3. Press `F5` (or go to the **Run and Debug** view and click **Launch Extension**).
+4. A new **Extension Development Host** window will open.
+5. In that window, open any `.eftl` file to test syntax highlighting and the language server.
 
 ## Snippets
 
 | Prefix      | Description            |
-|--------|-------------|
+| ----------- | ---------------------- |
 | `eftl`      | EFTL block with header |
 | `var`       | Variable declaration   |
 | `vartag`    | Variable from TAG      |