Fluent UI Redesign and New Functionalities for VS Code

[edward-sam]

Hey team,

I have a few suggestions that I think would make VS Code even better!

1. Fluent UI Redesign:

• Could we explore a redesign of VS Code using Fluent UI principles? A minimal and clean look would make it feel more modern and visually appealing.

2. Improved Settings Area:

• The settings area could be more user-friendly. Here are a few ideas:
  • Sections with Icons: Organize settings into clearer sections, like "General" for built-in options.
  • New "AI/Models" Section: Add a dedicated section for AI and models. This could include options for using local models or external ones (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) with API keys.
  • Include a toggle switch to let users enable multiple AI models, similar to how Cursor Code Editor does it.

3. Better Search Functionality:

• It'd be awesome to have a more powerful search engine built into VS Code, so we can find answers and information quickly without leaving the editor.

4. Redesigned Extensions Section:

• The extension panel feels a bit cramped. How about:
  • Adding an option to open a larger "VS Code Marketplace" window when right-clicking the extension icon.
  • In that window, we could see more details like Downloads, Updates, Recommendations, Featured, and Verified extensions.
  • A side panel similar to the Microsoft Store could help categorize these sections (e.g., Home, Apps, Gaming, Arcade, etc.).
  • And just for fun, maybe an Arcade section where we can play some classic games?

5. Reference for Redesign:

• I found this YouTube video showing a redesign of VS Code with Fluent UI it might provide some inspiration!

Thanks for considering these ideas! I think they’d really enhance the overall user experience.

[IllusionMH]

Better to fill different request for different features, otherwise it's hard to track. Also search for duplicates.

1 and 5 look like duplicates of #133372 and many other that are duplicate of #115641

3 not clear what exactly file/text search or you just want "to google with Bing" instead of pressing Alt+Tab. I think there's simple browser built in or can be an extension.