File Explorer

A modern, feature-rich file explorer for Visual Studio Code with an intuitive webview interface. Browse your file system, preview images, manage favorites, and perform common file operations without leaving your editor.

Features

Enhanced File Navigation

• Custom File Explorer UI: Beautiful, responsive interface for browsing directories
• Quick Navigation: Navigate up directories, jump to home directory, or browse to any path
• Dual View Modes: Switch between list and grid views for optimal file browsing
• Image Previews: Inline image previews for JPEG, PNG, GIF, SVG, and WebP files
• File Type Recognition: Automatic detection and display of file types with appropriate icons
• Multi-System Support: Seamlessly browse both local and remote (SSH/SFTP) file systems

SSH/SFTP Remote File Management

• SSH Connections: Connect to remote servers via SSH/SFTP protocol
• Multiple Authentication Methods:
  • Password-based authentication
  • Private key authentication (with optional passphrase support)
• Secure Credential Storage: Credentials are stored securely using VSCode's Secret Storage API
• Connection Management: Save, manage, and quickly switch between multiple SSH connections
• Remote File Editing: Edit remote files with automatic upload on save
• Connection Health Monitoring: Automatic connection health checks and reconnection

File Operations

• Create Files & Folders: Quickly create new files and folders from within the explorer (local and remote)
• Rename: Rename files and folders with a simple inline interface
• Delete: Safely delete files and folders with confirmation dialogs
• Copy Path: Copy full file paths to clipboard with a single click
• Remote File Editing: Edit files on remote servers with automatic sync on save

Productivity Features

• Profile-Based Favorites: Bookmark frequently accessed directories for quick access
  • Separate favorites for localhost and each SSH connection
  • Favorites are automatically saved per profile
  • Switch profiles to see your favorite directories for that system
• Profile Selector: Quickly switch between localhost and SSH connections from a dropdown menu
• Drag-and-Drop Reordering: Reorder your favorites via drag-and-drop in settings
• Hidden Files Toggle: Show or hide hidden files (files starting with .)
• Persistent Settings: Your view preferences, favorites, and SSH connections are saved between sessions
• Context Menu: Right-click context menu for common file operations

File Opening

• Direct Integration: Open files directly in VS Code editor with a single click
• Non-Preview Mode: Files open in dedicated tabs (not preview mode) for better workflow
• Smart File Handling: Automatic handling of text files vs. images for both local and remote systems

Usage

Basic File Navigation

1. Open the File Explorer:

   • Use the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P on macOS or Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows/Linux)
   • Type "File Explorer" and select the command
   • Or click the File Explorer icon in the activity bar

2. Navigate Directories:

   • Click on folders to open them
   • Use the "Up" button to navigate to parent directory
   • Use the "Home" button to jump to your home directory

3. Manage Files:

   • Right-click on files/folders for context menu options
   • Use the "+" buttons in the toolbar to create new files or folders
   • Click on files to open them in the editor

4. Customize View:

   • Click the settings icon to toggle hidden files visibility
   • Switch between list and grid views using the view mode buttons
   • Add directories to favorites by right-clicking folders and selecting "Add to Favorites"
   • Reorder favorites by dragging and dropping in the settings panel
   • Favorites are profile-specific (each profile has its own set of favorites)

SSH/SFTP Remote Connections and Profile Management

1. Add an SSH Connection:

   • Select "+ Add New SSH..." from the Profile dropdown at the top of the sidebar
   • Enter connection details (name, host, port, username)
   • Choose authentication method (password or private key)
   • Optionally test the connection before saving
   • Click "Save & Connect" to save and connect

2. Switch Between Profiles:

   • Use the Profile dropdown at the top of the sidebar to switch between:
     • localhost: Your local file system
     • SSH connections: Any saved remote servers
   • When you switch profiles, your favorites and current directory automatically update
   • Each profile maintains its own set of favorites

3. Connect to a Remote Server:

   • Select an SSH connection from the Profile dropdown
   • The extension will connect and display your remote home directory
   • Browse and manage files just like on your local system

4. Edit Remote Files:

   • Click on any remote file to open it in the editor
   • Make your changes and save (Cmd+S / Ctrl+S)
   • Changes are automatically uploaded to the remote server
   • You'll see a confirmation message when the upload completes

5. Manage SSH Connections:

   • Open Settings (gear icon in toolbar)
   • Scroll to "Manage SSH Connections" section
   • View all saved connections with their details (username@host:port)
   • Delete unwanted connections using the "✕" button

Requirements

• Visual Studio Code version 1.105.0 or higher

Extension Settings

This extension stores the following settings:

Global State

• Favorites: Profile-specific favorited directory paths (separate for localhost and each SSH connection, with drag-and-drop reordering support)
• Show Hidden Files: Toggle visibility of hidden files
• View Mode: List or grid view preference
• SSH Connections: Saved SSH connection configurations

Secure Storage

• SSH Credentials: Passwords, private key paths, and passphrases are stored securely using VSCode's Secret Storage API

All settings persist across VS Code sessions and are automatically saved when changed.

Known Issues

• Very large directories (1000+ files) may take a moment to load
• Image previews for very large image files may be slow to generate
• Symbolic links are displayed as regular files/folders
• SSH connection timeout is set to 30 seconds, which may be insufficient for very slow networks

Release Notes

0.1.1 - 0.1.2

• fix File explorer not found issue

0.1.0

Major update with SSH/SFTP support and profile-based favorites:

• SSH/SFTP Remote File System Support: Connect to and manage files on remote servers
• Multiple Authentication Methods: Support for password and private key authentication
• Secure Credential Storage: Credentials stored securely using VSCode's Secret Storage API
• Remote File Editing: Edit remote files with automatic upload on save
• Profile-Based Favorites: Separate favorites for localhost and each SSH connection
• Profile Selector: Dropdown menu to quickly switch between localhost and SSH connections
• Connection Management: Save, manage, and delete SSH connections from settings panel
• Connection Health Monitoring: Automatic connection health checks every 30 seconds
• File System Abstraction: Unified interface for local and remote file operations
• Buffer Handling Fix: Proper handling of SFTP responses (Array/Uint8Array to Buffer conversion)
• Home Directory Resolution: Smart home directory detection for non-root users
• Memory Leak Fix: Increased EventEmitter max listeners to prevent warnings

0.0.3

• Added drag-and-drop reordering for favorites in settings panel
• Improved favorites management with visual feedback during reordering

0.0.2

• Fixed UI issues

0.0.1

Initial release of File Explorer:

• Custom file browser with webview interface
• File operations (create, rename, delete)
• Image preview support
• Favorites management
• Hidden files toggle
• List and grid view modes
• Context menu integration
• Direct file opening in VS Code editor

Support

For issues, questions, or feature requests, please visit the GitHub repository.

Enjoy exploring your files!