Skip to content
| Marketplace
Sign in
Visual Studio Code>Other>Context Bar: Dynamic ShortcutsNew to Visual Studio Code? Get it now.
Context Bar: Dynamic Shortcuts

Context Bar: Dynamic Shortcuts

Rahul Dhole

| (0) | Free
Trigger VS Code shortcuts and commands directly from your editor title bar
Installation
Launch VS Code Quick Open (Ctrl+P), paste the following command, and press enter.
Copied to clipboard
More Info

Context Bar: Dynamic Shortcuts

Context Bar Hero

Elevate your workflow by pinning your favorite shortcuts exactly where your eyes land—the tab bar.

Marketplace Version Installs License


✨ Why Context Bar?

VS Code has thousands of commands, but you probably only use a handful frequently. Context Bar turns the empty space in your editor title bar into a dynamic, context-aware dashboard for your most essential tasks.

No more memorizing complex key combinations. No more hunting through the Command Palette. Just Pin, Click, and Code.

🚀 Key Features

  • 🎯 Context-Aware Buttons: Buttons appear and disappear automatically based on the file extension you are currently editing (e.g., show a 'Run' button for .py files and a 'Preview' button for .md).
  • 🎨 Swiss Minimalism: A clean, distraction-free configuration interface that matches the native VS Code aesthetic. No "shiny" clutter—just pure functionality.
  • 🔍 Smart Shortcut Search: Don't know the Command ID? Just search by keybinding (like "Ctrl+S") or command name in our built-in builder.
  • 📦 30+ Native Icons: Support for the full library of official VS Code Codicons for a seamless, "built-in" look.
  • ⚡ High Performance: Zero UI lag. Context matches are pre-computed and cached for instantaneous tab switching.

🛠 Quick Start

  1. Open the Builder: Type Context Bar: Configure Shortcuts in the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P).
  2. Add a Shortcut: Click "+ Add Action" and type a familiar shortcut or command name to see suggestions.
  3. Set the Scope: Enter extensions like md, py or use * for a global button that never hides.
  4. Save & Apply: Hit "Save & Apply" and watch your icons appear instantly in the tab bar.

📖 Pro Tips

  • Multi-Targeting: List multiple extensions comma-separated (e.g., ts, js, tsx) to share a single button across languages.
  • Individual Toggles: Use the checkboxes in the builder to quickly enable or disable buttons without deleting their configuration.
  • Edit JSON: For power users, click the "Edit JSON" link in the header to modify your shortcuts directly in settings.json.

⚙️ Extension Settings

This extension contributes the following settings:

  • context-bar.enabled: Enable/disable all Context Bar buttons globally.
  • tabTools.actions: The list of configured shortcuts and their context rules.

📋 Requirements

  • VS Code version 1.75.0 or higher.

🐛 Known Issues

  • Some custom icons might not render correctly if the theme overrides VS Code's default Codicons.
  • Large numbers of buttons may crowd the editor title bar on smaller screens.

🤝 Contributing

We love contributions! If you have ideas for new features or icons, feel free to open an issue or a pull request on our GitHub Repository.


📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.


Made with ❤️ by Rahul Dhole

  • Contact us
  • Jobs
  • Privacy
  • Manage cookies
  • Terms of use
  • Trademarks
© 2026 Microsoft