Runway

Run any script from a smart sidebar panel — npm, shell, Python, Swift, Go, and more.

Runway gives you a dedicated sidebar for all the scripts in your project. Add package.json files, directories, or individual script files and run them with a single click — no more digging through package.json or memorising long commands.

Features

One-click script running

Click any script to run it in a named terminal. Double-click a running script to stop it. Single-click a running script to bring its terminal into focus.

Running state indicators

Active scripts are highlighted so you always know what's running:

• Amber label — the script name is tinted while the process is active
• ▶ badge — a persistent git-style badge appears to the right of the label
• Stop button — the inline play button swaps to a stop button on hover; click to send Ctrl+C

Runway uses VS Code's shell integration to detect when a process exits naturally, crashes, or is stopped via Ctrl+C in the terminal — not just when the terminal window is closed.

Smart package.json support

Add any package.json and Runway automatically:

• Uses the project's name field as the group heading
• Shows the real npm, pnpm, yarn, or bun logo next to the group
• Detects the package manager from lock files, the packageManager field, or script command patterns
• Runs scripts with the correct command (pnpm run dev, bun run build, etc.)

Script icons

Well-known script names get distinct icons so you can find what you need at a glance:

Multi-language script detection

Add a directory and Runway finds and categorises scripts by type:

Command overrides

Right-click any script → Set Command Override to permanently replace the command. Add flags, env vars, or change the binary entirely. The original command is always shown in the tooltip.

Display name aliases

Right-click → Set Display Name to give any script a friendly label (e.g. rename build:prod to Production Build). The original name stays visible as secondary text.

Open in system terminal

Right-click any script → Open in [Terminal App] to run it in your preferred native terminal. Configure the app under Settings → runway.systemTerminalApp — supports Terminal, Warp, iTerm, and iTerm2.

Live file watching

Scripts update automatically when package.json files change or new files are added to watched directories — no manual refresh needed.

Explicit, opt-in sources

Runway starts empty. You add exactly what you want — no surprise scripts from deep inside node_modules.

Getting Started

1. Open the Runway panel from the activity bar
2. Click + and choose:
   • Add package.json — pick one or more package.json files
   • Add Directory — scan a folder for all supported script types
   • Add Script File — add a single script file
3. Click any script to run it

Commands & interactions

Configuration

Tips

• Monorepos: add each sub-package's package.json separately — each gets its own named group
• Override + display name together: set a custom command and a friendly label to fully control how a script appears and runs
• External scripts: add script files from outside your workspace — they show their full path so you always know where they live
• All overrides and display names are saved per-workspace and persist across reloads

Requirements

The relevant runtime must be available in your PATH:

• Python scripts require python3
• TypeScript scripts require npx tsx (or install tsx globally)
• Swift scripts require the Swift toolchain
• Go scripts require the Go toolchain
• PowerShell scripts require pwsh

License

MIT