Workspace Lens
A Visual Studio Code extension that makes multi-root workspaces actually usable.
The built-in Explorer gives no visual differentiation between workspace roots and their children, shows no git information per folder, and provides no quick way to open a terminal scoped to a specific root. Workspace Lens fixes all of that.
Features
Dedicated Activity Bar panel
A custom panel lists all workspace root folders at the top level. Expand any root to browse its files and sub-folders with full file-icon-theme support.
Git status per root folder
Each root folder row shows its current branch and status inline:
vscode.workspace.lens [main * ↑2 ↓1]
| Indicator |
Meaning |
[branch] |
Current branch name |
* |
Uncommitted changes (dirty working tree) |
↑N |
N commits ahead of remote |
↓N |
N commits behind remote |
Status updates live as you commit, stage, or switch branches — no manual refresh needed.
Visual distinction between root folders and children
Root folder rows are colored distinctly (teal by default) so they remain easy to spot when the tree is fully expanded. Both colors are themeable via workbench.colorCustomizations:
| Color ID |
Purpose |
workspaceLens.rootFolderForeground |
All root workspace folders |
workspaceLens.workspaceFileFolderForeground |
The folder that contains the .code-workspace file |
workspaceLens.activeWorkspaceFileForeground |
The currently loaded .code-workspace file |
Workspace host folder
The folder containing your .code-workspace file is marked with a $(home) icon. Its row also shows which workspace file is currently loaded:
ai-workspace [main] ws:ps-workspace
Active workspace indicator
.code-workspace files in the tree are rendered with a distinct $(multiple-windows) icon. The currently loaded workspace file is highlighted in green and marked ● active.
Bookmarks panel
At the top of the tree, a dedicated Bookmarks section gives quick access to frequently used files.
- Add bookmarks from file context menus with Add Bookmark (also available as an inline icon on hover)
- Remove entries directly from the bookmark item with Remove Bookmark
- Use the view title button Bookmark Active File to pin the currently open editor
Bookmarks are persisted in workspace state and restored automatically across sessions.
File management
Right-click any root folder or directory to create new files or folders directly inside it:
- New File... — prompts for a name, creates the file, and opens it in the editor
- New Folder... — prompts for a name and creates the directory
Right-click any file or directory to Delete it (moves to trash with a confirmation prompt).
Terminal launcher with reuse
Right-click any root folder or sub-directory and choose Open Terminal Here. The terminal opens at that folder's path. If a terminal for that folder is already open, it is focused instead of creating a duplicate.
Switch workspace
Right-click any .code-workspace file in the tree and choose Switch to This Workspace to reopen VS Code in that workspace.
| Item type |
Available actions |
| Root folder |
New File, New Folder, Open Terminal, Copy Path, Copy Relative Path, Reveal in File Manager |
| Sub-directory |
New File, New Folder, Open Terminal Here, Cut, Copy, Delete, Copy Path, Copy Relative Path, Reveal in File Manager, Add to Copilot Chat |
| File |
Open to the Side, Cut, Copy, Delete, Copy Path, Copy Relative Path, Open Timeline, Reveal in File Manager, Add to Copilot Chat, Add Bookmark |
.code-workspace file |
Switch to This Workspace, Open to the Side, Cut, Copy, Delete, Copy Path, Copy Relative Path, Open Timeline, Reveal in File Manager, Add to Copilot Chat, Add Bookmark |
| Bookmark item |
Open File, Remove Bookmark |
Requirements
- VS Code
^1.85.0
- The built-in
vscode.git extension must be enabled (it is by default)
Extension settings
No settings yet. Color customization is available via standard workbench.colorCustomizations in your settings.json:
"workbench.colorCustomizations": {
"workspaceLens.rootFolderForeground": "#4EC9B0",
"workspaceLens.workspaceFileFolderForeground": "#FFD602",
"workspaceLens.activeWorkspaceFileForeground": "#89D185"
}
Development
git clone https://github.com/elangelo/vscode.workspace.lens
cd vscode.workspace.lens
npm install
npm run compile
Press F5 to launch an Extension Development Host with the extension loaded. Open a .code-workspace file with multiple folders to test.
npm run watch # incremental compilation
