Taskasaurus
Taskasaurus turns VS Code Tasks (think: saved CLI commands) into a one-click launcher strip in the status bar—so you can keep frequently used automations in your editor instead of context switching to the terminal. It also groups related tasks (like Test/unit / Test/e2e) to keep large task lists organized.
Features
- Status bar task launcher - Tasks appear directly in the status bar for quick access
- Automatic grouping - Tasks with slash-separated names (e.g.,
Test/unit, Test/e2e) are grouped together
- Expandable groups - Click a group to expand it, click again to collapse
- One-click execution - Click any task to run it immediately
- Icon support - Display icons next to your tasks using VS Code's built-in codicons
- Multi-root workspace support - Works with multiple workspace folders, disambiguating duplicate task names
- Hide tasks - Keep utility tasks out of the status bar while still accessible via Command Palette
Installation
Install from VS Code Marketplace
Or install manually:
- Open VS Code
- Go to the Extensions view (
Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
- Search for "Taskasaurus"
- Click Install
Usage
Basic Usage
Once installed, Taskasaurus automatically displays your workspace tasks in the left side of the status bar:
- Click a task to run it
- Click a group (indicated by a chevron) to expand it and see its children
Task Grouping
Taskasaurus automatically groups tasks that share a common prefix separated by a slash. For example:
{
"version": "2.0.0",
"tasks": [
{ "label": "Package", "type": "shell", "command": "npm run build" },
{ "label": "Run", "type": "shell", "command": "npm start" },
{ "label": "Test/unit", "type": "shell", "command": "npm run test:unit" },
{ "label": "Test/e2e", "type": "shell", "command": "npm run test:e2e" },
]
}
This creates:
Package - standalone taskRun - standalone taskTest - expandable group containing Test/unit and Test/e2e
Note: Groups are only created when there are 2 or more tasks with the same prefix.
Adding Icons
Add icons to your tasks using the icon property with any VS Code codicon:
{
"version": "2.0.0",
"tasks": [
{
"label": "Package",
"type": "shell",
"command": "npm run build",
"icon": { "id": "build" }
},
{
"label": "Run",
"type": "shell",
"command": "npm start",
"icon": { "id": "run" }
},
{
"label": "Test/unit",
"type": "shell",
"command": "npm run test:unit",
"icon": { "id": "beaker" }
},
{
"label": "Test/e2e",
"type": "shell",
"command": "npm run test:e2e",
"icon": { "id": "compass" }
}
]
}
Hiding Tasks
Keep utility tasks out of the status bar by adding "hide": true:
{
"version": "2.0.0",
"tasks": [
{
"label": "Build",
"type": "shell",
"command": "npm run build"
},
{
"label": "internal-watcher",
"type": "shell",
"command": "npm run watch",
"hide": true
}
]
}
Hidden tasks remain accessible via the Command Palette (Tasks: Run Task) but won't clutter your status bar.
Multi-Root Workspaces
When working with multiple workspace folders that have tasks with the same name, Taskasaurus automatically disambiguates them by appending the folder name:
Behavior
- Accordion mode - Only one group can be expanded at a time
- Auto-collapse - Expanded groups automatically collapse after 10 seconds of inactivity
- Alphabetical sorting - Tasks and groups are sorted alphabetically
- Auto-refresh - The task list refreshes when you save
tasks.json or change workspace folders
Commands
Taskasaurus provides these commands (accessible via Command Palette):
| Command |
Description |
Taskasaurus: Refresh Tasks |
Manually refresh the task list |
Taskasaurus: Collapse All Groups |
Collapse any expanded group |
Requirements
- VS Code 1.85.0 or higher
- A workspace with tasks defined in
.vscode/tasks.json or provided by extensions
Tips
- Keep task labels short - Status bar space is limited
- Use consistent naming -
Category/action format works best for grouping
- Add icons - Visual cues make tasks easier to identify at a glance
- Hide background tasks - Use
hide: true for watchers and internal scripts
License
MIT
Links
