Simplified Text Editor Mode

[tobimensch]

Sometimes all you need is a simple text editor to edit a shell script or config file or something of that nature, and not a full fledged development IDE.

For this reason I'd like to see a mode, in that I can start vscode, that doesn't open a whole workspace and by default shows a new empty file. All the more advanced IDE bits and pieces of the UI should be hidden by default in this mode, for example there's no need for a debugger when editing simple text files.

A classic toolbar for opening and saving files should be visible by default in this mode, because one of the goals here would be to reduce the need for having more than one editor installed on a system, and to do that you want to make the transition from classic simple editors like notepad, kwrite or gedit as smooth as possible.

This also sums up why I want this feature: On my system there are vscodium, kwrite, kate, gedit and even more GUI text editors installed. But why is that considered acceptable?

I know having to keep dozens of different editors around is considered normal for developers, but it means you have to configure and learn the quirks and features of each one. Also they'll differ in their looks, and you'll not be able to use the same shortcuts across all of them (unless with a lot of configuration work applied).

Basically I want to: simplify life.

[JacksonKearl]

I know this isn't quite what you're looking for, but have you tried Zen Mode (View: Toggle Zen Mode)?

I agree a simplified mode with a toolbar would be good for accessibility/discoverability. This is one of our more highly-requested features (#41309).

[tobimensch]

@JacksonKearl I love Zen Mode actually, but it's not what I described and can't solve this.

Yeah, a toolbar is definitely needed to make this familiar and easy to use and a drop in replacement for oldschool editors.

I think there should still be a side-pane, but it should only be for simple document selection, not this very complex sidebar you normally get in vscode where there's a debug pane and workspace pane and a lot of really complex stuff that you simply don't need when for example editing a config file.

Also the load time should be minimal for this simplified text editor mode, most extensions shouldn't get loaded there for example, as users do expect simple text editors to be available in an instant.

Personally I consider the interface of gedit to be almost perfect when it comes to the simplicity and friendliness, I can not imagine a person that would be overburdened by understanding its interface. It has everything that is needed for a basic text editor very neatly arranged in one single top bar, optional sidebar, status bar, and that the title bar is merged with the menu bar/tool bar, makes you feel in control.

It would also be nice, if there was a way to expand the editor from simple text editor mode to full fledged IDE mode again, when you find that you need that in the middle of editing.

[tobimensch]

@JacksonKearl Thanks.

Is it against the etiquette to write about this feature request in https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/41309 ? As I have some hope that they might upvote my feature request. Since getting this added to the backlog, would add one more reason for the toolbar to get implemented, I think the people there might be interested.

[nixsee]

I've shared this in the Foam Discord server. It's a great new note-taking tool built in/on VS Code, so hopefully 10 (or more) people there will get this up to the 20 person threshold!

[vscodenpa]

We closed this issue because we don't plan to address it in the foreseeable future. If you disagree and feel that this issue is crucial: we are happy to listen and to reconsider.

If you wonder what we are up to, please see our roadmap and issue reporting guidelines.

Thanks for your understanding, and happy coding!