Add installation guide for USDA syntax highlighting in Visual Studio

docs/_static/css/lousd_custom.css

@@ -112,6 +112,12 @@ html[data-theme="dark"] .home-header > h1 {
     text-align: center;
 }
 
+/* Disable dark-mode dimming on content screenshots */
+html[data-theme="dark"] .bd-content img,
+html[data-theme="dark"] article img,
+html[data-theme="dark"] main img {
+    filter: none !important;
+    opacity: 1 !important;
 /***********
 * CODE HIGHLIGHTS (Sphinx / Pygments)
 ************/

docs/index.md

@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ asset-modularity-instancing/index
 Glossary <glossary>
 Interactive Glossary <interactive-glossary>
 usdview-install-instructions
+install-usda-syntax
 jupyter-notebook-setup
 Certification Study Guide <https://nvdam.widen.net/s/6kxsqcsrrw/ncp-openusd-development-study-guide>
 :::

docs/install-usda-syntax.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# Installing USDA syntax highlighting in Visual Studio Code
+
+Many Learn OpenUSD exercises include USD ASCII (`.usda`) and generic USD (`.usd`) files. Installing a language extension in Visual Studio Code gives you syntax highlighting, clearer structure when you read layers, and helpful navigation on asset paths and references.
+
+The steps below use **Visual Studio Code**. The same workflow applies in **Cursor** and other editors built on VS Code, including the Extensions view and marketplace.
+
+## Install the USD Language extension
+
+1. Open Visual Studio Code.
+
+2. Open the **Extensions** view by clicking the Extensions icon in the **Activity Bar** on the left.
+
+![](./images/install-usda-syntax/vscode-extensions-activity-bar.png)
+
+3. In the Extensions search box, type **USD**.
+
+4. In the results, find **USD Language** published by **Animal Logic** (Pixar USD language support). Select it, then click **Install**. You can install from the list or open the full marketplace page and use **Install** there.
+
+![](./images/install-usda-syntax/marketplace-search-usd.png)
+
+![](./images/install-usda-syntax/usd-language-extension-install.png)
+
+5. When installation finishes, you can leave the extension’s default settings as they are for typical Learn OpenUSD work.
+
+```{note}
+To install from a terminal instead, use VS Code’s CLI (if `code` is on your `PATH`): `code --install-extension animallogic.vscode-usda-syntax`. The extension identifier in the marketplace is **animallogic.vscode-usda-syntax**.
+```
+
+## Verify highlighting and navigation
+
+1. Open your **Learn OpenUSD** workspace folder in the editor (**File > Open Folder**).
+
+2. Open any `.usd` or `.usda` exercise file, for example, under `docs/exercise_content/`.
+
+3. Confirm the **language mode** in the status bar (lower right) shows **USD** when the file is active. You should see keyword and type coloring similar to the screenshots below.
+
+4. Optionally, hover a quoted asset path (for example after `references` ) or a scene path. The extension can show a resolved path and hints such as **Follow link** with **Ctrl+click** (Windows or Linux) or **Cmd+click** (macOS) to open the target file.
+
+![](./images/install-usda-syntax/usda-file-hover-link.png)
+
+![](./images/install-usda-syntax/usda-syntax-highlighting-result.png)
+
+You are set up to browse USDA layers with highlighting and basic navigation support alongside the rest of the curriculum.

src/lousd/workshop_prep.py

@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
 # Individual files to remove
 FILES_TO_REMOVE = [
     "usdview-install-instructions.md",
+    "install-usda-syntax.md",
 ]
 
 # Base URL for external links to removed content