One File Chat

English

One File Chat is a VS Code extension that stores each conversation as a plain .filechat.json file.

Instead of hiding chat history inside a private database, it keeps conversations in your workspace so they can be versioned, copied, branched, reviewed, and shared like any other project file.

Screenshot

Highlights

• One file per conversation, opened with a custom editor inside VS Code
• Conversations are saved directly to disk instead of a hidden app database
• Explorer sidebar shows chat sessions sorted by recent activity
• Retry and rewrite create new branches instead of overwriting existing history
• Per-message version history with preview, restore, copy, and delete actions
• Markdown rendering with LaTeX math support via $...$ and $$...$$
• Image and file attachments through picker, paste, drag and drop, or local Markdown links
• Session-level model selection, common config, system prompt, and message template

Who It's For

One File Chat is built for people who want AI conversations to behave like project artifacts.

• Keep prompt history next to code, docs, and assets
• Track conversations with Git
• Preserve alternate branches of a discussion
• Use your own OpenAI-compatible provider instead of a locked-in hosted chat UI

Quick Start

1. Install the extension.
2. Create .filechat/key.json in one of these locations: the chat file's directory, the workspace root, or your home directory.
3. Run the command One File Chat: New Chat File.
4. Open the generated .filechat.json file and start chatting.

Configuration is resolved in this order:

1. Chat file directory
2. Workspace root
3. User home directory

key.json Example

{
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "label": "OpenAI",
      "transport": "openai-compatible",
      "api_key": "${env:OPENAI_API_KEY}",
      "api_base": "https://api.openai.com/v1",
      "models": [
        {
          "id": "gpt-4.1-mini",
          "label": "GPT-4.1 Mini"
        },
        {
          "id": "gpt-5.4",
          "label": "GPT-5.4",
          "options": [
            {
              "id": "high",
              "label": "High",
              "config": {
                "reasoning_effort": "high"
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Notes:

• openai-compatible is currently the supported transport
• api_key and api_base support ${env:NAME} expansion
• Model selection is saved back to the chat file so sessions can resume with the same setup

Common Commands

• One File Chat: New Chat File
• One File Chat: Manage Chat Config
• One File Chat: Manage Common Config
• One File Chat: Refresh Sessions

Attachments And Storage

• Attachments are stored under .filechat/assets/ next to the chat file
• Supported image types: png, jpg, jpeg, webp, gif
• There is no fixed per-message attachment count limit; practical limits depend on the selected model, provider API, and runtime environment
• Non-image attachments are sent as file metadata by default instead of inlining the full file body into the prompt

Common Configs

You can define reusable session presets in .filechat/common_configs.json, including shared system prompts and message templates. The session config panel in the chat view lets you inspect, switch, and save those values per conversation.

Current Scope

• Built around OpenAI-compatible APIs, including compatible gateways such as LiteLLM Proxy
• Chat file format continues to evolve, with compatibility prioritized for existing data
• Assistant-generated Markdown images are best-effort persisted as local assets

Development

npm install
npm run compile

Press F5 in VS Code to launch an Extension Development Host.

License

MIT

中文

One File Chat 是一个把每段对话直接保存成 .filechat.json 文件的 VS Code 扩展。

它不会把聊天历史藏进私有数据库，而是把会话留在你的工作区里，让它们像普通项目文件一样可版本管理、可复制、可分支、可审阅、可共享。

截图

亮点

• 一文件一会话：每个 .filechat.json 文件都会直接用 VS Code 自定义编辑器打开
• 会话直接落盘：聊天内容保存到磁盘，而不是隐藏在应用私有数据库里
• 会话列表：Explorer 侧边栏会按最近更新时间展示聊天文件
• 分支而不是覆盖：重试和改写会生成新分支，不会覆盖已有历史
• 单消息版本历史：支持预览、恢复、复制和删除历史版本
• Markdown 与数学公式：支持 Markdown 渲染，以及 $...$ 和 $$...$$ LaTeX 数学公式
• 图片与文件附件：支持文件选择、粘贴、拖拽，以及本地 Markdown 链接吸收
• 会话级配置：每个聊天都可以单独设置模型选择、通用配置、system prompt 和 message template

适合谁

One File Chat 适合想把 AI 对话当成项目资产来管理的人。

• 想把提示词历史和代码、文档、资源放在一起管理
• 想让聊天记录参与 Git、备份和协作
• 需要保留同一轮对话的多个分支和重试结果
• 想使用自己的 OpenAI-compatible 服务，而不是绑定单一聊天客户端

快速开始

1. 安装扩展。
2. 在以下任意位置创建 .filechat/key.json：聊天文件所在目录、工作区根目录，或用户 HOME 目录。
3. 运行命令 One File Chat: New Chat File。
4. 打开生成的 .filechat.json 文件并开始聊天。

配置查找顺序如下：

1. 聊天文件所在目录
2. 工作区根目录
3. 用户 HOME 目录

key.json 示例

{
  "providers": {
    "openai": {
      "label": "OpenAI",
      "transport": "openai-compatible",
      "api_key": "${env:OPENAI_API_KEY}",
      "api_base": "https://api.openai.com/v1",
      "models": [
        {
          "id": "gpt-4.1-mini",
          "label": "GPT-4.1 Mini"
        },
        {
          "id": "gpt-5.4",
          "label": "GPT-5.4",
          "options": [
            {
              "id": "high",
              "label": "High",
              "config": {
                "reasoning_effort": "high"
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

说明：

• 当前支持的 transport 是 openai-compatible
• api_key 和 api_base 支持 ${env:NAME} 环境变量展开
• 模型选择会写回聊天文件，便于下次恢复同一会话设置

常用命令

• One File Chat: New Chat File
• One File Chat: Manage Chat Config
• One File Chat: Manage Common Config
• One File Chat: Refresh Sessions

附件与存储

• 附件会保存在聊天文件同目录下的 .filechat/assets/
• 支持的图片类型：png、jpg、jpeg、webp、gif
• 单条消息的附件数量不设固定上限，实际可用范围取决于所选模型、提供方接口与运行环境
• 非图片附件默认只向模型发送文件元信息，不会把整份文件正文直接内联进 prompt

通用配置

你可以在 .filechat/common_configs.json 里定义可复用的会话预设，例如共享的 system prompt 和 message template。聊天页里的会话配置面板可以直接查看、切换和保存这些设置。

当前范围

• 当前主要围绕 OpenAI-compatible API，也支持 LiteLLM Proxy 这类兼容网关
• 聊天文件格式会继续演进，但优先保证已有数据可读
• 助手返回的 Markdown 图片会尽量落盘为本地资源

开发

npm install
npm run compile

在 VS Code 中按 F5 启动 Extension Development Host。

License

MIT