A VSCode extension that intelligently manages the bottom panel (Terminal, Problems, Output, Debug Console) based on your editor state, maximizing your workspace efficiency.
✨ Features
🔄 Automatic Panel Management
Smart Auto-Maximize: Automatically maximizes the bottom panel when no editor tabs are open
Intelligent Restoration: Restores panel to normal size or hides it completely when you open files
Configurable Behavior: Choose how the panel behaves when editors are opened
⚙️ Flexible Configuration
Toggle Auto-Maximize: Enable or disable automatic panel management
Custom Panel Behavior: Configure whether to restore to normal size or hide completely
Manual Controls: Override automatic behavior with manual commands
🚀 Installation
From VS Code Marketplace
Open VS Code
Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
Search for "Smart Panel"
Click Install
From VSIX File
Download the latest .vsix file from releases
Open VS Code
Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P)
Run "Extensions: Install from VSIX..."
Select the downloaded .vsix file
📖 Usage
Automatic Behavior
Once installed, Smart Panel works automatically:
When you close the last editor tab, the bottom panel maximizes
When you open a file, the panel behavior depends on your configuration
Manual Commands
Access these commands via Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P):
Command
Description
Smart Panel: Maximize Panel
Manually maximize the bottom panel
Smart Panel: Restore Panel
Manually restore panel to normal size
Smart Panel: Toggle Auto-Maximize
Enable/disable automatic panel management
⚙️ Configuration
Configure Smart Panel in VS Code Settings (File → Preferences → Settings):
smartPanel.enableAutoMaximize
Type: boolean
Default: true
Description: Enable automatic panel maximization when no editors are open
smartPanel.editorOpenBehavior
Type: string
Options: "normal" | "hidden"
Default: "normal"
Description: How to handle the panel when an editor tab is opened
"normal": Restore the panel to its normal size
"hidden": Hide the panel completely
🎯 Use Cases
Perfect for:
Terminal-heavy workflows: Maximize terminal space when not editing files
Debugging sessions: Get more space for debug output when analyzing logs
Problem solving: Focus on Problems panel when no code is open
Output monitoring: Keep an eye on build outputs and logs
Example Workflows:
Web Development: Close editor → Terminal maximizes → Run dev server → Open file → Terminal restores
Data Analysis: Close editor → Output panel maximizes → View logs → Open script → Panel hides
Debugging: Close editor → Debug console maximizes → Analyze output → Open source → Console restores
🛠️ Technical Details
Requirements
VS Code Version: 1.74.0 or higher
Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux
Extension Activation
Activates on VS Code startup (onStartupFinished)
Minimal performance impact - only monitors editor state changes
🤝 Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues and pull requests on GitHub.
📄 License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
