Task Buttons VSCode Extension

A VSCode extension that adds configurable task buttons to the status bar for quick execution of user-defined tasks stored in VS Code settings.

Features

• User-specific configuration: Each user can keep their own set of task buttons and commands in VS Code settings
• Configurable buttons: Customize button names, icons, and tooltips
• Live configuration updates: Changes to user settings are automatically applied
• Task integration: Executes inline tasks directly from your User Settings

Setup

1. Install the extension
2. Open your VS Code user settings JSON
3. Configure your task buttons and task commands (see configuration below)
4. The buttons will automatically appear in the status bar

Configuration

Add the following settings to your user settings JSON:

{
  "taskButtons.tasks": [
    {
      "name": "build",
      "command": "npm run build"
    },
    {
      "name": "test",
      "command": "npm test"
    },
    {
      "name": "dev",
      "command": "npm run dev"
    },
    {
      "name": "git-clean-gone-branches",
      "command": "powershell.exe",
      "args": [
        "-NoProfile",
        "-ExecutionPolicy",
        "Bypass"
      ],
      "script": "if ((git branch --show-current) -ne 'master') { git switch master }; git fetch --prune; $branches = git for-each-ref --format='%(refname:short)%09%(upstream:track)' refs/heads | ForEach-Object { $parts = $_ -split \"`t\", 2; if ($parts.Count -lt 2) { return }; [pscustomobject]@{ Branch = $parts[0].Trim(); Track = $parts[1].Trim() } } | Where-Object { $_.Track -eq '[gone]' -and $_.Branch -ne 'master' }; foreach ($branch in $branches) { git branch -d $branch.Branch }"
    }
  ],
  "taskButtons.buttons": [
    {
      "name": "Build",
      "task": "build",
      "icon": "🔨",
      "tooltip": "Build the project"
    },
    {
      "name": "Test",
      "task": "test",
      "icon": "🧪",
      "tooltip": "Run tests"
    },
    {
      "name": "Start",
      "task": "dev",
      "icon": "▶️"
    }
  ]
}

Configuration Options

• name (required): Display name for the button
• task (required): Name of the task defined in taskButtons.tasks
• icon (optional): Icon to display before the button name (emoji or text)
• tooltip (optional): Tooltip text when hovering over the button
• command (required in taskButtons.tasks): Executable to run, for example powershell.exe
• args (optional in taskButtons.tasks): Arguments passed to the executable
• script (optional in taskButtons.tasks): Inline command body passed to PowerShell with -Command

Example User Settings

{
  "taskButtons.tasks": [
    {
      "name": "build",
      "command": "npm run build"
    },
    {
      "name": "test",
      "command": "npm test"
    },
    {
      "name": "dev",
      "command": "npm run dev"
    },
    {
      "name": "git-clean-gone-branches",
      "command": "powershell.exe",
      "args": [
        "-NoProfile",
        "-ExecutionPolicy",
        "Bypass"
      ],
      "script": "if ((git branch --show-current) -ne 'master') { git switch master }; git fetch --prune; $branches = git for-each-ref --format='%(refname:short)%09%(upstream:track)' refs/heads | ForEach-Object { $parts = $_ -split \"`t\", 2; if ($parts.Count -lt 2) { return }; [pscustomobject]@{ Branch = $parts[0].Trim(); Track = $parts[1].Trim() } } | Where-Object { $_.Track -eq '[gone]' -and $_.Branch -ne 'master' }; foreach ($branch in $branches) { git branch -d $branch.Branch }"
    }
  ],
  "taskButtons.buttons": [
    {
      "name": "Build",
      "task": "build",
      "icon": "🔨",
      "tooltip": "Build the project"
    },
    {
      "name": "Test",
      "task": "test",
      "icon": "🧪",
      "tooltip": "Run all tests"
    },
    {
      "name": "Dev Server",
      "task": "dev",
      "icon": "🚀",
      "tooltip": "Start development server"
    }
  ]
}

Commands

The extension provides the following commands:

• Task Buttons: Refresh - Manually refresh the task buttons (useful if configuration changes aren't detected)

How It Works

1. The extension loads on VSCode startup
2. It reads taskButtons.tasks and taskButtons.buttons from your user settings
3. For each button configuration, it creates a status bar item
4. When clicked, the button executes the matching inline task command
5. The extension watches for changes to those settings and updates buttons automatically

Development

To set up the extension for development:

1. Clone the repository
2. Run npm install to install dependencies
3. Open in VSCode and press F5 to launch a new Extension Development Host
4. Test the extension in the development environment

Requirements

• VSCode version 1.74.0 or higher
• User settings with taskButtons.tasks and taskButtons.buttons

Publishing

You can publish this extension if you own the publisher value in package.json and have access to the Visual Studio Marketplace account for that publisher.

Before publishing, make sure:

1. The extension compiles cleanly with npm run compile.
2. The README example matches the current user-settings model.
3. You are ready to publish under Condor304, or you change the publisher field to your own marketplace publisher id.
4. You package and publish with the VSCE CLI or the modern @vscode/vsce workflow.

If you do not control the Condor304 publisher account, you cannot publish under that id.

License

MIT