A lightweight, secure, and responsive VS Code extension for single-string and multi-string text search with real-time highlighting.
Features
- Single Search Mode (default) — Search for one term at a time with instant highlighting
- Multi-Search Mode — Search for up to 10 terms simultaneously, each highlighted in a distinct color
- Real-time highlighting — Matches appear as you type with sub-50ms responsiveness
- Match counts — See how many matches each term has in the current file
- Editor-aware — Highlights follow your active editor tab
- No keybinding conflicts — Does not override Cmd+F / Ctrl+F or any other shortcuts
Usage
- Open the MultiSearch panel from the Activity Bar (sidebar icon) or via Command Palette:
MultiSearch: Focus Panel - Type a search term — matches are highlighted immediately
- Toggle to Multi mode to add additional search terms (up to 10)
- Each term gets a unique highlight color for easy visual distinction
Configuration
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
multisearch.maxTerms |
10 |
Maximum concurrent search terms (1-10) |
multisearch.defaultCaseSensitive |
false |
Whether search is case-sensitive by default |
multisearch.debounceMs |
150 |
Input debounce delay in milliseconds (50-500) |
Security
- All input is sanitized — no code execution from search terms
- No data transmitted to external services
- No file system access beyond reading the active editor
- Content Security Policy enforced in the webview panel
- Minimal permissions requested
Performance
- Bundle size: ~25 KB
- Memory: well under 50 MB with maximum terms active
- Lazy activation: only loads when you open the panel or invoke the command
- No background processes when idle
Development
npm install # Install dependencies
npm run build # Build the extension
npm run watch # Build with file watching
npm test # Run tests
npm run package # Package as .vsix
License
MIT