There are multiple issues with variables as they stand now in the grammar some of which have been reported and some of which haven't:

• Punctuation in variables with properties and methods isn't scoped correctly: The "scope" named "variable.other.member" includes the dot separator #131
• The sigil for a sub-expression is not handled the same way as the sigil on a variable: subexpression marker ($ in '$(') is in scope 'punctuation.definition.variable' #132
• Some language variables like $_, $$, $? are treated differently depending on context and are currently scoped incorrectly: $_ scoped differently between inside and outside string.quoted.double #133
• Properties and method highlighting breaks when the variable has an array position specified: sub members (properties/methods) of variables appear different behind an array reference #127
• Multiple legal characters break variable highlighting ($Var?Iable), and special automatic variables like $<drive letter>:folder don't highlight correctly: Handle special characters in variable names. #49

There are also questions about the correct scope of properties and methods (mentioned #131) and questions about to what extent the grammar should be concerned with user expectation/"most themes" vs either correctness (subjective) or consistency (with which languages?) (#130 and #129).

Background

The following cases need to be covered with as little repetition / complexity as possible:

• Regular variables with and without scopes, properties, array position, methods, etc.
• Variables contained within strings.
• Variables contained within sub-expressions with and without scopes, properties, array position, methods, etc.
• Variables in and out of strings and sub-expressions when using the ${Variable} format again with and without scopes, properties, array position, methods, etc.

The following gotchas need to be taken in to account:

• Which special characters are legal within ${Variable} syntax vs $Variable syntax.
• International characters (\p{L} vs [A-z]`).
• Access of variables through splatting where the sigil is @.
• Separate scoping for constants, automatic variables, language variables, etc.
• $$ where "$$Hello" needs to show $$ as the variable and Hello as part of the double quoted string and other similar oddities.
• Lots of others...

Planned Format/Rules

??? tbd

Re: Scope selection -> See #138