Tab Stack is a Visual Studio Code extension for capturing, curating, and recalling complete editor layouts. Save named tab groups, snapshot every open column, jump between task-focused workspaces with quick slots, and keep your tab setup synchronized while you work.
Highlights
Save named tab groups and reopen entire working sets with a single click.
Capture timestamped snapshots of every open tab and roll back to any previous state.
Assign quick slots (1–9) to your favourite groups and recall them instantly through the Command Palette or keyboard shortcuts.
Quick switch between the two most recently used layouts when you are bouncing between tasks.
Visual overview of columns, pinned tabs, and history from a dedicated activity bar view.
Installation
From the Marketplace
Search for “Tab Stack” by ayecue in the Extensions Marketplace (or follow the link once it is published) and click Install.
Getting started
Open the Tab Stack view from the activity bar.
Use the Quick Actions panel to refresh the view, save the current layout as a group, capture snapshots, or close all tabs.
Manage saved groups and snapshot history from the collections pane. Each group entry lets you:
Apply or clear the group selection.
Assign a quick slot (1–9) via the dropdown beside the group name.
Remove groups or history entries without leaving the view.
When you capture snapshots, the latest entry appears in the history list and can be restored later or assigned to a quick slot.
Use the keyboard shortcuts below to recall layouts without leaving the editor.
Commands & shortcuts
Command ID
Description
Default keybinding*
tabStack.refresh
Sync the view with the current VS Code tab state.
—
tabStack.quickSwitch
Toggle between the two most recent tab states.
Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + Shift + 0
tabStack.clearSelection
Return to the live layout without a saved group applied.
—
tabStack.switchGroup
Choose and apply any saved group.
—
tabStack.createGroup
Save the current set of open tabs as a reusable group.
—
tabStack.deleteGroup
Remove a saved group.
—
tabStack.snapshot
Capture a snapshot of every open tab (saved to history).
—
tabStack.restoreSnapshot
Restore one of the saved snapshots.
—
tabStack.deleteSnapshot
Delete a snapshot from history.
—
tabStack.quickSlot1 – tabStack.quickSlot9
Apply the group assigned to quick slots 1–9.
Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + Shift + 1 … 9
*On macOS the shortcuts use Cmd instead of Ctrl.
Tips
Assign quick slots straight from the Groups list—select a slot in the dropdown beside a group to bind it to that number. The Command Palette entries and keybindings will follow the new assignment immediately.
Use Quick Switch (tabStack.quickSwitch) to bounce between two active contexts, perfect for code reviews or pairing sessions.
The extension now keeps an eye on editor column sizing, automatically refreshing the saved state when you resize or rearrange splits so your snapshots stay accurate.
Snapshots are timestamped automatically, making it easy to spot the state you want to restore even after a long session.
Contributing & feedback
Bug reports and feature suggestions are welcome! Open an issue on GitHub. If you are contributing code, run npm run compile before submitting a pull request so the bundled assets stay up to date.
Enjoy a tidy editor! Tab Stack keeps your context safe so you can focus on building.
