SymLynx
Create, manage, and navigate symbolic links without ever leaving VS Code — at the speed of a Lynx.
Features
Symbolic Links panel
A dedicated panel in the Explorer sidebar lists every symlink and hard link found in your workspace. It updates automatically as files change.
- Symlinks — shown with a blue arrow icon (
→ target)
- Hard links — shown with an orange link icon (
⇒ original)
- Broken symlinks — shown with a yellow warning icon (
⚠ broken → target)
- Status bar badge — bottom bar shows
🔗 5 (healthy) or 🔗 5 ⚠ 2 (broken links present). Click to jump to the panel.
Create a symlink
Two ways, depending on which end you know first:
| Method |
How |
| Create Symlink Here |
Right-click a folder in Explorer → pick the target file or folder |
| Create Symlink to This |
Right-click any file or folder → pick where to put the symlink |
Both methods ask for a name (defaulting to the target's filename) before creating.
Hard links (Windows fallback)
If creating a file symlink fails on Windows due to missing Developer Mode, SymLynx offers to create a hard link instead — provided both files are on the same drive. Hard links require no elevated privileges and are tracked in the panel with an orange icon.
Hard link vs symlink: A hard link is a second filename pointing to the exact same file data on disk. Deleting one name doesn't affect the other. Hard links work for files only, not folders, and cannot span drives.
Fix a broken symlink
Right-click a broken symlink in the panel (or use the $(wrench) inline button) → pick a new target. The symlink is recreated at the same path pointing to the new target.
Rename
Click the $(edit) inline button on any item, or right-click → Rename…. Renames in place — no delete and recreate needed.
Delete
Click the $(trash) inline button or right-click → Delete. A confirmation prompt clarifies what will and won't be affected (targets are never touched).
Reveal navigation
From any item in the panel:
| Action |
Result |
| Click item |
Reveals the symlink in VS Code's Explorer |
| Reveal Target |
Opens the target file in the editor, or reveals a target folder |
| Reveal Original |
(Hard links) Opens the original file in the editor |
| Reveal Target in File Explorer |
Opens the target's location in Windows Explorer / Finder |
Export & Import
Share your link setup across projects or team members.
Export ($(cloud-upload) button in panel title bar)
- Saves all links to a
.symlynx JSON file
- Default filename:
<workspace-name>.symlynx
Import ($(cloud-download) button in panel title bar)
- Pick a
.symlynx file
- If importing into a different project and targets were inside the source workspace, SymLynx asks whether to remap those paths to the current workspace
- A checklist lets you deselect individual links before committing
- Items that would conflict or can't be created are flagged and pre-deselected
Requirements
- VS Code
1.116.0 or later
- Windows: Directory symlinks are created as junctions (no elevation needed). File symlinks require Developer Mode to be enabled, or administrator privileges. Hard links are offered as a fallback when both files are on the same drive.
- macOS / Linux: No special requirements.
Usage
| Icon |
Action |
$(cloud-download) |
Import links from a .symlynx file |
$(cloud-upload) |
Export all links to a .symlynx file |
$(refresh) |
Re-scan the workspace |
| Icon |
Symlink |
Broken symlink |
Hard link |
$(go-to-file) |
Reveal Target |
— |
Reveal Original |
$(wrench) |
— |
Fix Broken Target |
— |
$(edit) |
Rename |
Rename |
Rename |
$(trash) |
Delete |
Delete |
Delete |
Command Palette
All commands are available via Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P) under the SymLynx category:
SymLynx: Create Symlink HereSymLynx: Create Symlink to ThisSymLynx: Fix Broken Target…SymLynx: Rename…SymLynx: Export Links…SymLynx: Import Links…SymLynx: Refresh
Known Issues
- File symlinks on Windows require Developer Mode. Use the hard link fallback for files on the same drive, or enable Developer Mode via
ms-settings:developers.
- Hard links are tracked per-workspace in VS Code's workspace state. If you manually delete a hard link outside of SymLynx, its entry will remain in the panel until the next refresh (where it will show as broken).
