VS Code Folder Reminder

This VS Code extension shows a bright status bar warning when a window is open without a folder, and tints the status bar with a loud warning color. This is for intro CS students who often open a single file instead of a project folder, then get confused when relative paths, terminals, and extensions do not behave as expected.

What it does

When no workspace folder is open:

1. Status bar banner — a high-contrast warning item on the left (NO FOLDER OPEN…). Click it to open a folder.
2. Status bar color — sets statusBar.noFolderBackground / foreground to a bright orange-red (only applies in empty windows).

Settings

• folderReminder.enabled (default: true)
  • Show the warning banner and apply warning status bar colors when no folder is open.
• folderReminder.warningBackground (default: #FF4500)
  • Background color used for the no-folder status bar warning (bright orange/red).
• folderReminder.warningForeground (default: #FFFFFF)
  • Foreground color used with the no-folder warning background.
• folderReminder.showWarningNotification (default: false)
  • When no folder is open, also show a warning notification with an Open Folder button. Off by default.
• folderReminder.showWelcomeView (default: false)
  • When no folder is open, show Folder Reminder welcome content in the Explorer empty view with an Open Folder button. Off by default.

Development

• Install dependencies:
  • npm install
• Compile:
  • npm run compile
• Run extension for testing:
  • Press F5 in VS Code to start an Extension Development Host.
• Package for distribution:
  • npx @vscode/vsce package --no-dependencies

Folder reminder behavior

When folderReminder.enabled is enabled and the current window has no workspace folder:

1. Extension shows a high-contrast status bar banner on the left (NO FOLDER OPEN…).
2. Extension sets statusBar.noFolderBackground / foreground to the configured warning colors.
3. User can click the banner (or run Folder Reminder: Open Folder) to open a folder.
4. Once a folder is open, the banner hides. The no-folder status bar colors only apply again in empty windows.

Optional aggressive reminders (both off by default):

• If folderReminder.showWarningNotification is enabled, a warning notification appears once per empty-window session with an Open Folder button.
• If folderReminder.showWelcomeView is enabled, the Explorer empty view shows welcome text and an Open Folder button.