VS Code: Simple Dialog

By default, VS Code uses your system’s file dialog when opening files and folders.

But did you know there’s a cleaner, faster alternative?

Let’s check out the Simple Dialog:

• How to enable it
• How it works
• What to expect

📹If you prefer the video version of this article:

Enable Simple Dialog

First, open the Settings by pressing CTRL + , (comma) or CMD + , on macOS.
Then enable the Files > Simple Dialog: Enable setting.

Or, add this line to your settings.json file:

"files.simpleDialog.enable": true

How It Works

Now, try opening a file with CTRL + O (or CMD + O` on macOS).

Instead of the system dialog, you’ll see VS Code’s simple dialog. It opens in the last-used folder.

You can use the mouse or keyboard to navigate your project.

You’ll notice the interface is minimal and snappy.

In the top-right corner, there’s an eye icon. Click it to toggle visibility of dotfiles. This is useful when working on projects with a lot of dotfiles.

And when you’re done, just press ESC to close the dialog.

Last but not least, if you don’t like the dialog’s position, you can move it wherever you want.

Limitations

Right now, the Simple Dialog is either on or off. There’s no extra customization.

But for a cleaner workflow, it’s a great little tool!

Try it out and see if it fits your workflow better.

Happy coding 💜

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