Command Buttons Panel

Run your go-to terminal commands from a draggable grid in the Explorer. Add buttons once, pick how they run (copy + enter, copy only, or dynamic input), and reuse a dedicated terminal.

Features

• Explorer side panel with grid and list views; collapse the list to focus on the grid.
• Drag to reorder commands and pick 1-4 grid columns.
• Three run modes: Copy + Enter (default), Copy only, and Dynamic input using a ${input} placeholder with synced values across the UI.
• Dedicated terminal named Command Buttons that is created once and reused.
• Preset library for common npm/git/docker commands; add your own in seconds.
• Commands persist per workspace when one is open, otherwise globally; Settings Sync can keep them in sync.

Preview

Usage

1. Open the Explorer view and find Command Buttons.
2. Add a command (label optional). Use ${input} to prompt for a value when running.
3. Click a command's mode chip to cycle its run mode; use the toolbar buttons to set a mode for every command.
4. Drag buttons in the grid to reorder; change the grid column count with the toolbar toggles.
5. Click any button to run it; the extension opens/reuses the Command Buttons terminal.

Dynamic input

• Insert ${input} anywhere in the command text.
• Enter the value in the per-command input; it stays synced between the grid and list.
• When run mode is Dynamic input, the placeholder is replaced before sending to the terminal.

Predefined variables

Use these placeholders in commands (they mirror VS Code task variables):

• ${file}: active file path.
• ${fileBasename}: active file basename.
• ${fileBasenameNoExtension}: active file basename with no extension.
• ${fileDirname}: active file directory name.
• ${fileExtname}: active file extension.
• ${lineNumber}: first selected line number.
• ${lineNumbers}: all selected line numbers, e.g. 41,46,80.
• ${columnNumber}: first selected column number.
• ${columnNumbers}: all selected column numbers, e.g. 41,46,80.
• ${selectedFile}: first selected file or folder from the context menu.
• ${selectedFiles}: selected file or folder list from the context menu or config, e.g. "path/to/file1" "path/to/file2".
• ${selectedText}: first selected text.
• ${selectedTextList}: all selected text, e.g. sl1 sl2.
• ${selectedTextSection}: all selected text sections, e.g. sl1\nsl2.
• ${selectedPosition}: selected position, e.g. 21,6.
• ${selectedPositionList}: all selected positions, e.g. 45,6 80,18 82,5.
• ${selectedLocation}: first selected location, e.g. 21,6,21,10.
• ${selectedLocationList}: all selected locations, e.g. 21,6,21,10 22,6,22,10 23,6,23,10.
• ${relativeFile}: active file relative path.
• ${workspaceFolder}: active workspace folder path.
• ${workspaceFolderBasename}: active workspace folder basename.
• ${homedir}: home directory of the current user.
• ${tmpdir}: default directory for temporary files.
• ${platform}: OS platform.
• ${env:PATH}: value of the PATH environment variable.
• ${config:editor.fontSize}: VS Code setting value.
• ${command:workbench.action.terminal.clear}: run a VS Code command.
• ${input}: prompt for a value as a parameter.
• ${input:defaultValue}: prompt for a value with a default.

Presets

• Use the preset dropdown to add a command from the built-in library (npm dev/build/test, git status, docker compose up).
• Edit or delete presets after adding them like any other command.

Development

• npm install
• npm run watch to build on save, or npm run compile for a one-off build.
• Press F5 in VS Code to launch an Extension Development Host and open the Command Buttons view.

Packaging & Publishing

• npm run package builds command-buttons-panel-x.y.z.vsix.
• npm run publish publishes via vsce; set VSCE_PAT to your Marketplace token first.
• .vscodeignore excludes source and packaged .vsix files from the extension bundle.

Release Notes

0.1.1

• Documented predefined variables and selection placeholders.
• Added Marketplace preview screenshots.
• Cleaned up README encoding artifacts.

0.1.0

• Marketplace metadata and docs refreshed for release.
• Added VSCE scripts for packaging/publishing.
• Exclude packaged .vsix files from extension bundles.

0.0.1

• Initial release with Explorer view, add/run/delete commands, dedicated terminal, and basic UI.

License

MIT