[!NOTE] This extension is entirely made by a combination of AI models.

Open in Browser

A VS Code and Cursor extension that allows you to open files or selected code lines from your Git repository directly in the browser. Supports GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, and custom Git providers.

Features

Single Open Command: One command opens either the file or the selected lines, depending on editor state
Multiple Git Provider Support: Works with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps
Custom Provider Configuration: Add support for private Git instances or custom providers
Context Menu Integration: Right-click in the editor or Explorer for quick access
Smart Line Detection: Automatically detects selected lines and opens the file when nothing is selected
Detached HEAD Support: Opens the current commit when you are browsing a specific revision instead of forcing the default branch
Cursor Support: Works seamlessly in the Cursor IDE with the same commands and menus

Usage

Right-click in the editor or on a file in the Explorer
Choose "Git: Open In Browser"
If text is selected, the browser opens to those lines; otherwise it opens the file

Command Palette

Git: Open In Browser - Opens the current file or the selected lines

Cursor Compatibility

This extension runs in Cursor out of the box. Use the same Command Palette entries and editor/explorer context menus as in VS Code—no extra setup is required.

Supported Git Providers

Built-in Support

GitHub (github.com)
GitLab (gitlab.com)
Bitbucket (bitbucket.org)
Azure DevOps (dev.azure.com)

Custom Providers

You can add support for private Git instances or other providers through VS Code settings. Custom providers can optionally define separate templates for file-only links and single-line selections.

Configuration

Settings

Add these settings to your VS Code settings.json:

{
  "openInBrowser.defaultBranch": "main",
  "openInBrowser.customProviders": [
    {
      "name": "My Private GitLab",
      "domain": "gitlab.mycompany.com",
      "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/-/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}-{endLine}",
      "urlTemplateNoLines": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/-/blob/{branch}/{filePath}",
      "urlTemplateSingleLine": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/-/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}"
    },
    {
      "name": "My Private GitHub Enterprise",
      "domain": "github.mycompany.com",
      "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}-L{endLine}",
      "urlTemplateNoLines": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/blob/{branch}/{filePath}",
      "urlTemplateSingleLine": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}"
    }
  ]
}

URL Template Placeholders

When configuring custom providers, you can use these placeholders in your templates:

{domain} - Git provider domain (e.g., github.com)
{owner} - Repository owner/organization
{owner_basename} - Last non-empty segment of {owner} split on /
{repo} - Repository name
{branch} - Current git branch
{filePath} - Relative file path from repository root
{startLine} - Starting line number
{endLine} - Ending line number

Custom provider template fields:

urlTemplate - Used for multi-line selections and as the base template
urlTemplateNoLines - Optional template used when nothing is selected
urlTemplateSingleLine - Optional template used when exactly one line is selected

Configuration Options

openInBrowser.defaultBranch (string, default: "main"): Default branch name to use when current branch detection fails
openInBrowser.customProviders (array): Array of custom Git provider configurations

Examples

Opening a File

Open any file in your Git repository
Right-click → "Git: Open In Browser"
File opens in your browser at the current branch

Opening Specific Lines

Select text in your editor
Right-click → "Git: Open In Browser"
Browser opens showing the exact lines with highlighting

Custom Provider Example

For a private GitLab instance at git.mycompany.com:

{
  "openInBrowser.customProviders": [
    {
      "name": "Company GitLab",
      "domain": "git.mycompany.com",
      "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/-/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}-{endLine}",
      "urlTemplateNoLines": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/-/blob/{branch}/{filePath}",
      "urlTemplateSingleLine": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/-/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}"
    }
  ]
}

Requirements

VS Code 1.83.0 or higher, or Cursor (based on a compatible VS Code version)
Git repository with remote origin configured
Active internet connection to access Git provider web interface

Supported Git URL Formats

The extension supports various Git remote URL formats including complex repository structures:

Standard Formats

HTTPS: https://github.com/owner/repo.git
SSH: git@github.com:owner/repo.git
SSH with protocol: ssh://git@github.com/owner/repo.git

Complex Repository Structures

GitLab Groups/Subgroups: git@gitlab.company.com:group/subgroup/repo.git
Multi-level paths: https://gitlab.company.com/group/subgroup/project.git

The extension automatically handles GitLab group and subgroup structures, making it work seamlessly with enterprise GitLab instances that use complex repository hierarchies.

Quick Start Guide

For Standard Git Providers (GitHub, GitLab.com, etc.)

Install the extension
Open any file in your Git repository
Right-click → "Git: Open In Browser"
Done! The file opens in your browser

For Private Git Instances

Add custom provider configuration to VS Code settings
Use the extension normally

Example for private GitLab instance:

{
  "openInBrowser.customProviders": [
    {
      "name": "Company GitLab",
      "domain": "gitlab.company.com",
      "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/-/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}-{endLine}"
    }
  ]
}

Common Use Cases

Select code lines → Right-click → "Git: Open In Browser"
Copy the URL from browser to share with colleagues

2. View File History

Open file in browser to access Git history, blame view, etc.

3. Code Reviews

Quickly jump from local development to web interface for creating pull/merge requests

URL Templates for Popular Git Providers

GitHub Enterprise

{
  "name": "GitHub Enterprise",
  "domain": "github.company.com",
  "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}-L{endLine}"
}

GitLab Self-Hosted

{
  "name": "Company GitLab",
  "domain": "gitlab.company.com",
  "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/-/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}-{endLine}"
}

Gitea

{
  "name": "Company Gitea",
  "domain": "git.company.com",
  "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/src/branch/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}-L{endLine}"
}

Bitbucket Server

{
  "name": "Bitbucket Server",
  "domain": "bitbucket.company.com",
  "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/projects/{owner_basename}/repos/{repo}/browse/{filePath}?at={branch}#L{startLine}-{endLine}"
}

Troubleshooting

"Not a git repository" Error

Solution: Ensure your workspace is a Git repository
Check: Run git status in your terminal to verify
Verify: Confirm you have a remote origin with git remote -v

"Unsupported Git provider" Error

Solution: Add a custom provider configuration for your Git hosting service
Check: Verify the domain in your Git remote URL matches a configured provider
Example: If your remote is git@gitlab.company.com:..., add a provider with "domain": "gitlab.company.com"

Wrong Branch Opens

Cause: The extension uses your current Git branch
Solution: Switch to the correct branch with git checkout <branch-name>
Detached HEAD: If you checked out a specific commit, the extension uses that short commit hash in the generated URL
Fallback: If branch detection fully fails, it uses the configured default branch
Configure: Change default branch in settings: "openInBrowser.defaultBranch": "develop"

Line Numbers Don't Match

Cause: Different line endings or file versions between local and remote
Solution: Ensure your local changes are committed and pushed to the remote repository

Complex GitLab URLs (Groups/Subgroups)

Supported: The extension now handles complex GitLab structures like group/subgroup/repo
Example: git@gitlab.company.com:frontend-team/web-apps/customer-portal.git works automatically
No Setup Required: Just add the domain to your custom providers

Advanced Configuration

Multiple Custom Providers

You can configure multiple custom Git providers:

{
  "openInBrowser.customProviders": [
    {
      "name": "Internal GitLab",
      "domain": "gitlab.internal.com",
      "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/-/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}-{endLine}"
    },
    {
      "name": "Client GitLab",
      "domain": "gitlab.client.com",
      "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/-/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}-{endLine}"
    },
    {
      "name": "GitHub Enterprise",
      "domain": "github.company.com",
      "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}-L{endLine}"
    }
  ]
}

Workspace-Specific Settings

Add settings to .vscode/settings.json in your project root for team-wide configuration:

{
  "openInBrowser.customProviders": [
    {
      "name": "Project GitLab",
      "domain": "gitlab.project.com",
      "urlTemplate": "https://{domain}/{owner}/{repo}/-/blob/{branch}/{filePath}#L{startLine}-{endLine}"
    }
  ]
}

Contributing

Issues and pull requests are welcome! Please visit the GitHub repository to contribute.

License

This extension is licensed under the MIT License.

Git: Open in Browser

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