BranchNotes

BranchNotes is a VS Code extension for keeping local Markdown notes organized by Git repository and branch. Capture the context of a branch without mixing it with notes from another one.

Features

• Browse notes grouped by branch from the BranchNotes panel.
• Create and edit regular Markdown files in the VS Code editor.
• Import TODO, FIXME, HACK, and XXX items from a repository into a new note.
• Delete notes by sending them to the system trash after confirmation.
• Optionally add .vscode/branchnotes/ to .gitignore.

Commands

• BranchNotes: Open Notes Panel: Open the notes panel grouped by branch.
• BranchNotes: Create Note: Enter a title and open a new editable Markdown file.
• BranchNotes: Create Note from TODOs: Scan the repository and create a note grouped by file.
• BranchNotes: Edit Note: Open the original note in the VS Code editor.
• BranchNotes: Delete Note: Confirm and send a note to the system trash.
• BranchNotes: Add Notes to .gitignore: Add .vscode/branchnotes/ to .gitignore with explicit confirmation.

Markdown Notes

Notes open as regular .md files in the VS Code editor, so you can use headings, lists, links, code blocks, and checkboxes as usual. Use Markdown: Open Preview to the Side to preview a note.

Each note stores its branch metadata in front matter and keeps the Markdown content editable.

TODO Scanner

Configure markers, excluded directories, and the maximum text length from Settings → Extensions → BranchNotes or settings.json:

{
	"branchnotes.todoMarkers": ["TODO", "FIXME", "BUG", "REVIEW"],
	"branchnotes.todoExcludeDirectories": [".git", "node_modules", "dist", "vendor"],
	"branchnotes.todoMaxTextLength": 100
}

By default, BranchNotes searches for TODO, FIXME, HACK, and XXX, while excluding common dependency and generated directories. TODO results include the file, line, and matching text.

Where Notes Are Stored

Notes are stored locally in the workspace as independent Markdown files:

.vscode/branchnotes/
├─ branches/
│  ├─ main-<hash>/notes/<id>.md
│  └─ feature-login-<hash>/notes/<id>.md
└─ no-git/notes/<id>.md

Branch names are converted into safe keys to avoid collisions, while the original branch name is preserved in the note metadata. In a workspace without Git, notes are stored in no-git.