Window Pin
A macOS preview by Cloudscaff LLC. Keep a FaceTime call or video in view while you code.
Window Pin displays a live, view-only capture of an application window inside a VS Code panel. It stays visible when you click the editor. Audio and playback/call controls remain in the original app.
Features
- Choose one open window to display beside Terminal and Output.
- Move the live view into a sidebar using VS Code's View: Move View command.
- Pause capture when the view is hidden and resume when it is shown.
- Reconnect to the last selected app, remembered across VS Code reloads.
- Choose Low CPU, Balanced or Smooth quality.
- Stop and Restart controls recover from closed windows and ended calls.
- Local capture with no telemetry, cloud upload or intentional frame recording.
Requirements
- Desktop Visual Studio Code 1.85 or newer, on macOS 13 or newer.
- Apple Silicon or Intel Mac.
- A signed, notarized companion is included for your Mac architecture. No compilation tools are required to use it.
- Screen Recording permission for the companion and, where macOS attributes the request to its parent, Visual Studio Code.
Start watching
- Run Window Pin: Pin Video or Call Window from the Command Palette.
- Review the license and privacy notice; accept the license to start capture.
- The included signed companion starts locally; no compilation step is required.
- In System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording (or Screen & System Audio Recording), allow Window Pin Live Companion and Visual Studio Code if it is the requesting app.
- Fully quit and reopen VS Code after changing permissions, then choose your source window.
The companion path appears in View → Output → Window Pin after building. Use the + button in macOS privacy settings if you need to add it manually. Keep the original window open and unminimized; it can be behind VS Code.
Controls and quality
| Control |
Behaviour |
| Choose window |
Select an open video or call window |
| Reconnect |
Reuse the last app's unique matching window; ask if ambiguous |
| Stop |
End capture, clear the view and cancel automatic resume |
| Restart |
Reset the companion; then choose a window |
| Quality |
Set a preset for the next selection/reconnection |
| Preset |
Maximum frame rate |
Maximum image bounds |
| Low CPU |
10 FPS |
640 × 480 |
| Balanced |
15 FPS |
960 × 720 |
| Smooth |
30 FPS |
1280 × 960 |
Bounds preserve the source's aspect ratio and avoid upscaling. Actual frame rate depends on the source, hardware and VS Code. Smooth uses more local processing resources. Adjust windowPin.quality and windowPin.pauseWhenHidden in Settings.
Capture does not start automatically when VS Code launches. Hiding the view pauses capture by default; showing it resumes the previous source if still available. Stop cancels that resume. Use Window Pin: Forget Remembered App to clear saved source information.
Privacy and terms
Capture frames pass locally from the Mac companion to the extension. This build contains no telemetry or cloud service and does not intentionally record frames to files. It stores the last selected app name/window title, preferences and accepted terms version in VS Code state. Run Window Pin: Read Privacy Notice for details and controls.
This is preview software, provided as-is. Warranty exclusions and liability limits apply only to the extent permitted by law; mandatory rights are preserved. Run Window Pin: Read License Terms to read the complete license. You must be authorized to capture/view the selected content and obtain consent where required.
Window Pin is independent of Apple, Microsoft and the owners of captured apps; it is not endorsed by them.
Limitations and troubleshooting
- View only; interact with the original application for controls.
- One selected window at a time. Protected/DRM video may appear black.
- Screen capture support varies by app and macOS version. Preview behaviour is not guaranteed.
- Dramatic source resizing may require selecting the source again.
- The bundled companion is Developer ID signed and notarized. Building custom source changes its signature and may reset permissions.
- If a call ends, choose another window. Use Restart if capture appears stuck.
- For permissions issues, confirm both companion and VS Code permissions and fully quit/reopen VS Code.
- Changing from the local prototype to the Cloudscaff publisher creates a new extension identity. Disable/uninstall the old
byron-local.window-pin-mac prototype first to prevent duplicate commands.
Feedback and development
Use the Marketplace listing's Q&A for feedback once published. Include your macOS version, Mac architecture, extension version and relevant Window Pin output. Review logs for private information before sharing.
Source is included under the license above. To test locally, open the source directory and press F5. Run npm test and npm run check. Native compilation and app-specific testing require a Mac.
