JAR Explorer

A Visual Studio Code extension to explore and decompile .jar, .war, .ear, .zip and .vsix files directly inside VS Code.

Effortlessly browse Java archives, view their internal structure (including nested archives), inspect resources, and decompile .class files using a custom decompiler like CFR.

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🧩 VS Code

✨ Features

• 📁 Tree view of .jar, .war,.ear,.zip and .vsix file structures
• 🧬 View .class files with syntax highlighting and decompiled Java source
• 🧪 Integrates with your custom JAR-based decompiler (e.g. CFR)
• ⚙️ Configurable paths for Decompiler JAR and JDK
• ⏳ Displays loading state while decompiling large files
• 🚫 Supports cancellation and automatic timeout for stuck decompilation
• 🧹 Clean and modern WebView interface with file tabs
• 📂 Handles multiple JAR/WAR/EAR/ZIP files simultaneously
• 🔁 Supports nested archives (e.g. JAR inside WAR, WAR inside EAR)
• 🖼️ View embedded images: .png, .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .svg directly in the viewer
• ❌ Remove from Jar Explorer option for closing archives quickly
• 🧭 Dedicated navigation icon in the Activity Bar for quick access to the Jar Explorer

📽 Demo

🧪 How to Use This Extension

Follow these steps to explore and decompile .jar, .war,.ear,.zip and .vsix archives right inside VS Code:

1️⃣ Install Java

• Install Java 21.
• Make sure the Java binary bin path is available in your system PATH.
• Alternatively, set the Java path manually in extension settings.

2️⃣ Open an Archive

• Right-click any supported archive file (.jar,.war,.ear,.zip,.vsix)
• Select 🧩 Open in JAR Explorer
• Or simply click the file in the VS Code Explorer

📌 The file will open in the Jar Explorer side panel

3️⃣ Browse Files in Tree View

• The archive opens in a folder-like structure
• You can expand folders and view all contained files, including nested archives

4️⃣ View Any File

• Click on any file (.class, .xml, .json, .png, etc.)
• The content will open in a dedicated VS Code editor tab
• .class files are automatically decompiled.

5️⃣ Open Nested Archives

• If an archive contains another archive (e.g., .jar inside .war), just click on it
• It will appear as a subfolder in the Jar Explorer, allowing further navigation

6️⃣ Need Help?

• If you're stuck, feel free to ask a question in the Marketplace Q&A section
• Feedback and suggestions are always welcome!

📁 Supported File Types

⚙️ Requirements

• Java JDK 21 installed or added to PATH

🔧 Extension Settings

This extension contributes the following settings:

You can add these in your settings.json:

{
  "jarExplorer.jdkPath": "D:\\software\\jdk-21.0.4\\bin\\java.exe",
}

📝 Release Notes

📦 v1.1.0

• Added support for .war,.ear,.zip and .vsix archives
• Full support for nested archives (e.g., .jar inside .war)
• Embedded image viewing: .png, .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .svg
• Improved decompiler support: loading indicators, cancel, and timeout
• Modern WebView UI with tabs and syntax-highlighted .class files
• Activity Bar icon for quick access to Jar Explorer
• Option to remove files from explorer tree
• Handles multiple archive files simultaneously

See full changelog in CHANGELOG.md

📦 v1.0.0

• Added support for viewing files other than .class files within the .jar.
• Improved file opening behavior and view handling.
• Multiple .jar files can now be opened simultaneously in the Jar Explorer tab.
• This is stable release.

📦 v0.0.1

• Initial beta release with support for viewing .class files.

💳 Credits

• We have used the CFR Decompiler (https://www.benf.org/other/cfr) to reverse engineer .class files. CFR was chosen for its accuracy, support for modern Java features, and ease of integration into Java-based tooling workflows.
• Icons used from JAR Explorer icon created by bearicons - Flaticon

🙌 Stay Connected

If you find this extension helpful, consider supporting it:

	⭐️ Star and Follow the project on GitHub
	Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shivwakchaure

Your feedback, stars, and shares mean a lot! 💙