Installation

Last updated: March 02, 2026
Installation Edit page

WurstScript is a patch-aware programming language and modding toolkit for Warcraft 3 maps. This guide covers the current streamlined setup with VS Code.

Prerequisites

VS Code

  Download VS Code

Wurst Extension

Install the VS Code Wurst language support extension.

The extension now installs and updates the compiler and CLI for you. grill is added to PATH automatically by the extension setup.

Quick Start

After installing the extension, use one of these paths:

Important: Open the Wurst project folder itself as the VS Code workspace root. Wurst projects do not work reliably when opened as a subfolder of a larger workspace. After grill generate my-wurst-project, either run code ./my-wurst-project as shown by grill, or use VS Code’s File -> Open Folder... command and select the folder that grill generate created.

A) Open an existing project

  1. Clone/open the project folder from version control.
  2. If the project has dependencies, run:
grill install
  1. If language features do not initialize immediately, run F1 -> Developer: Reload Window.

B) Create a new project

  1. In VS Code, press F1.
  2. Run Wurst: New Wurst Project.
  3. Follow the prompts.

For this flow, you usually do not need to run grill install manually right away.

Target a Warcraft III Patch

Wurst supports multiple Warcraft III generations from one toolchain. Grill can select the patch your project targets and downloads the matching core Jass definitions and standard library version, keeping the compiler and dependencies aligned with the client you actually run.

This is useful for both ends of Warcraft III’s history:

  • Older MPQ-era classic patches use Jass output and layered MPQ game data.
  • Classic CASC-era patches such as 1.30/1.31 use Jass output and CASC game data.
  • Reforged projects can use Lua or Jass output and modern CASC game data.

The VS Code extension detects the installed client when it can, and the asset and map tooling follows the same game-data selection. You can therefore work against an older MPQ installation without losing the modern Reforged workflow.

Running Your Map

Use the play button in VS Code to run your project quickly.

  • Open any .wurst file and click the play button.
  • You can also open a .w3x or .w3m map and use the same run action.

Useful Commands

  • >wurst: Install
  • >wurst: New Wurst Project

Open the command palette with F1 and search for wurst.

Optional: CLI-Only Usage

If you are not using VS Code, you can still use grill directly.

Create a new project:

grill generate my-wurst-project

Add a dependency:

grill install https://github.com/Frotty/wurst-astar-jps

If you are new to WurstScript, continue with the beginner walkthrough:

  Open Beginner Guide