Project Explorer

Latest Build: Project Explorer 0.1.95

A Visual Studio Code extension by ftl-tools that adds a Project Explorer view to the Explorer sidebar. It lets you pin files, folders, and URLs into a custom tree, open a brainstorming document from the title bar, and quickly access the extension’s settings. This README explains what it does, how to use it, and how to configure it.

Features

• Project Explorer view under Explorer (id: projectExplorer).
• User-defined tree items via settings; supports:
  • file:path → opens file in editor
  • folder:path → reveals folder in Explorer
  • url:https://... → opens in system browser (tries to show site favicon; falls back to globe; cached for 7 days)
• Title bar actions:
  • Brainstorming (visible when a brainstorming document is configured)
  • Project Explorer Settings (opens Settings UI filtered to this extension)
  • Collapse All
• Reacts to light/dark theme changes.

Install

• Download the VSIX above.
• In VS Code: Extensions panel → … menu → Install from VSIX… → select the file.

Use

• Open the Explorer sidebar and locate the "Project Explorer" view.
• Click items to open files, reveal folders, or launch URLs.
• Use the title bar:
  • Lightbulb icon opens your brainstorming document (when configured).
  • Gear icon opens the extension’s settings.
  • Collapse-all icon collapses all nodes in this view.

Configuration

Settings are available in the Settings UI (search for @ext:ftl-tools.ftl-project-explorer) or in settings.json.

• project-explorer.brainstormingDocPath (string)
  • Absolute path, ~ expansion, or path relative to the first workspace folder, pointing to your brainstorming document.
• project-explorer.treeItems (array)
  • Define items shown in the Project Explorer. Each object supports:
    • id (string, required): unique across all items
    • typeAndPath (string): one of file:..., folder:..., url:https://...
    • icon (string, optional): VS Code codicon like $(rocket) or image path (.svg/.png)
    • label (string, optional): custom label (defaults to last path segment or hostname for URLs)
    • parentId (string, optional): id of parent item to create nesting

Example (Workspace settings):

{
  "project-explorer.brainstormingDocPath": "docs/brainstorming.md",
  "project-explorer.treeItems": [
    {
      "id": "readme",
      "typeAndPath": "file:README.md",
      "icon": "$(book)",
      "label": "Read Me"
    },
    {
      "id": "repo",
      "typeAndPath": "url:https://github.com/ftl-tools/project-explorer",
      "label": "Repository"
    },
    { "id": "scripts", "typeAndPath": "folder:scripts", "parentId": "readme" }
  ]
}

Commands

• Project Explorer: Configure Tree Items… (projectExplorer.configureTreeItems)
• Project Explorer Settings (projectExplorer.openSettings)
• Brainstorming (projectExplorer.openBrainstormingDoc)
• Collapse All (projectExplorer.collapseAll)

Requirements

• VS Code 1.74.0 or newer.

Notes

• URL favicons for url tree items are fetched over HTTP/HTTPS and cached in global storage. Positive cache TTL: 7 days; negative results are not retried for 24 hours.