VS Code Extensions
Context Bar: Dynamic Shortcuts

Context Bar: Dynamic Shortcuts

by RahulDhole

Trigger VS Code shortcuts and commands directly from your editor title bar

Downloads

15

Rating

β€” (0)

Version

0.2.0

Last updated

Jul 13, 2026


Context Bar Hero

Elevate your workflow by pinning your favorite shortcuts exactly where your eyes land—the tab bar.

Visual Studio Marketplace Open VSX Registry License: MIT


✨ Why Context Bar?

VS Code has thousands of commands, but you probably only use a handful frequently. Context Bar turns the empty space in your editor title bar into a dynamic, context-aware dashboard for your most essential tasks.

No more memorizing complex key combinations. No more hunting through the Command Palette. Just Pin, Click, and Code.

🚀 Key Features

  • 🎯 Context-Aware Buttons: Buttons appear and disappear automatically based on the file extension you are currently editing (e.g., show a 'Run' button for .py files and a 'Preview' button for .md).
  • 🎨 Swiss Minimalism: A clean, distraction-free configuration interface that matches the native VS Code aesthetic. No "shiny" clutter—just pure functionality.
  • 🔍 Smart Shortcut Search: Don't know the Command ID? Just search by keybinding (like "Ctrl+S") or command name in our built-in builder.
  • 📦 30+ Native Icons: Support for the full library of official VS Code Codicons for a seamless, "built-in" look.
  • ⚡ High Performance: Zero UI lag. Context matches are pre-computed and cached for instantaneous tab switching.

🛠 Quick Start

  1. Open the Builder: Type Context Bar: Configure Shortcuts in the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P).
  2. Add a Shortcut: Click "+ Add Action" and type a familiar shortcut or command name to see suggestions.
  3. Set the Scope: Enter extensions like md, py or use * for a global button that never hides.
  4. Save & Apply: Hit "Save & Apply" and watch your icons appear instantly in the tab bar.

📖 Pro Tips

  • Multi-Targeting: List multiple extensions comma-separated (e.g., ts, js, tsx) to share a single button across languages.
  • Individual Toggles: Use the checkboxes in the builder to quickly enable or disable buttons without deleting their configuration.
  • Edit JSON: For power users, click the "Edit JSON" link in the header to modify your shortcuts directly in settings.json.

⚙️ Extension Settings

This extension contributes the following settings:

  • context-bar.enabled: Enable/disable all Context Bar buttons globally.
  • tabTools.actions: The list of configured shortcuts and their context rules.

📋 Requirements

  • VS Code version 1.75.0 or higher.

🐛 Known Issues

  • Some custom icons might not render correctly if the theme overrides VS Code's default Codicons.
  • Large numbers of buttons may crowd the editor title bar on smaller screens.

🤝 Contributing

We love contributions! If you have ideas for new features or icons, feel free to open an issue or a pull request on our GitHub Repository.


📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.


Made with ❤️ by Rahul Dhole

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