FileInsight

FileInsight is a local-first VS Code extension that helps you understand what each file in your repository does. It builds a lightweight dependency graph and displays file-level context directly in the VS Code Explorer, all without relying on any external AI services.

Installation

You can install FileInsight directly from the VS Code Marketplace:

1. Open Visual Studio Code.
2. Navigate to the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window, or pressing Ctrl+Shift+X (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+X (macOS).
3. Search for FileInsight.
4. Click Install.

Where to find FileInsight after installation

Once installed, FileInsight integrates directly into your VS Code environment:

1. Open a workspace or folder in VS Code.
2. Look at the Explorer view (the primary sidebar where your files are listed).
3. You will see a new view called FileInsight at the bottom of the Explorer sidebar.
4. If it is collapsed, click on it to expand and view the insights for your current workspace files.

How to make it work

FileInsight runs automatically in the background as you work. Here is how it functions:

1. Hover over a file: Simply hover your mouse cursor over any file in the FileInsight Explorer view.
2. View Insights: A tooltip will appear showing the file's role, summary, exports, imports, and complexity metrics.
3. Automatic Updates: When you modify and save files, FileInsight automatically re-analyzes them and updates the insights.

Workflow Chart

graph TD
    A[Open Workspace in VS Code] --> B[FileInsight Activates]
    B --> C[Extension Scans Workspace Files]
    C --> D[Builds Local Dependency Graph]
    D --> E[Classifies File Roles]
    E --> F[Populates FileInsight View in Explorer]

    F --> G[User Hovers Over File in View]
    G --> H[Displays Tooltip with File Summary]

    I[User Edits and Saves a File] --> J[FileInsight Detects Change]
    J --> K[Re-analyzes Changed File]
    K --> F

Features

FileInsight acts as a powerful static analysis tool:

• Custom Explorer View: Dedicated section in your workspace Explorer for file insights.
• File Classification: Automatically categorizes files into roles like entry, core, utility, config, test, style, and leaf.
• Detailed Summaries: Provides counts for exports, imports, classes, functions, complexity, and TODOs.
• Live Refresh: Automatically updates its analysis when files are changed and saved.
• Smart Ignoring: Automatically skips common build and dependency folders such as node_modules, dist, out, and build.
• Privacy First: 100 percent local analysis. No code is ever sent to an external server or AI model.

Configuration

You can customize FileInsight through VS Code settings:

• fileInsight.enabled: Enable or disable the extension (default: true).
• fileInsight.maxFilesToScan: Limit the maximum number of files scanned for the dependency graph to maintain performance on large repositories (default: 1500).

Requirements

• Visual Studio Code version 1.85.0 or higher.