vscode-better-open-file

Better Open File is a Visual Studio Code extension that provides custom file selection dialogs that allow you to navigate the file system much faster than the default ones.

The extension contributes the Better Open File: Open File and Better Open File: Save File commands.

Why Does This Exist?

One of the best things about Visual Studio Code is the "Ctrl + P" hotkey, which toggles the Quick Open feature. This allows you to immediately start typing and fuzzy-match the name of the file that you want to open. However, in some situations, you want to open a file, but you don't know the exact name, or the file is not inside of the project workspace. In those situations, you have to resort to the normal "Open File..." dialog. This will either:

1. Open the file selection dialog provided by the operating system (in normal situations).
2. Open the "simple file dialog" provided by Visual Studio Code (when the project is on a remote computer).

Unfortunately, both of these file dialogs suck - they don't allow the same fuzzy matching that makes Quick Open great. Thus, this extension provides a minimal file selection dialog that supports fuzzy matching and basic navigational hotkeys.

How Do I Use It?

It is not possible for Visual Studio Code extensions to replace the vanilla "File --> Open File..." or "File --> Save..." functionality. Instead, you can remap hotkeys to trigger the Better Open File: Open File and Better Open File: Save File commands.

To remap "Ctrl + O" for opening files:

• Press "Ctrl + Shift + P" to bring up the Command Palette.
• Type: Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts (JSON)
• Add the following to the array:

  {
    "key": "ctrl+o",
    "command": "betterOpenFile.openFile",
  },

To remap "Ctrl + S" for saving files, add:

  {
    "key": "ctrl+s",
    "command": "betterOpenFile.saveFile",
    "when": "resourceScheme == untitled"
  },

List of Features

The aim is to be in the Goldilocks zone: extremely minimal, but not suck.

• A three column file view:
  • Name
  • Date modified
  • Size
• Use the up and down keyboard arrows to move the cursor.
• Fuzzy match:
  • Type anything to fuzzy match.
  • Use backspace to clear.
• Top-left buttons with hotkeys:
  • Back (Alt + Left)
  • Forward (Alt + Right)
  • Up (Alt + Up)
  • Refresh (F5)
  • New File (Ctrl + Shift + M)
  • New Directory (Ctrl + Shift + N)
  • Copy Current Path (Alt + Shift + C)
• Bottom-right buttons with hotkeys:
  • Open or Save (Enter)
  • Cancel (Escape)
• You can delete files or directories with the delete key. (A confirmation dialog will appear.)
• You can rename the currently selected file or directory with the F2 key.
• Right-click to open the context menu:
  • Copy (Ctrl + C)
  • Cut (Ctrl + X)
  • Paste (Ctrl + V)
  • Rename (F2)
  • New File (Ctrl + Shift + M)
  • New Directory (Ctrl + Shift + N)

Development

Clone the repository, then run:

cd vscode-better-open-file
bun ci # Install dependencies
bun run build # To convert the TypeScript to JavaScript
code . # Open Visual Studio Code to this directory

In Visual Studio Code, use the Run Extension launch configuration.