Add an optional configurable toolbar below the menu

[morozovsk]

Whole my life I used ide where there was a customizable toolbar. I starded to use vscode and stopped to use it after one day. It is impossible to remember all shorcuts. In any other popular ide you can put any menu item on toolbar and use it from time to time.

visual vtudio:

idea:

eclipse:

netbeans:

code blocks:

komodo ide:

atom:

notepad++:

gedit:

github:

WTF MS? VS code? VS users?

Don't tag it "out-of-scope" as you did before with similar requests. Even simple editors have toolbar. It isn't advanced feature it's basic feature for most people. Using ide without toolbar is not user friendly for most users. It is vim way.

People really need it like "exit from vim":

FAQ FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST THE TOOLBAR:

I don't want to use toolbar so I am against that feature-request.

It is not a problem "it is optional toolbar". If you don't want you can don't use it.

If you want it so why don't you form a team and submit a PR?

People have offered, go look at the many other bug reports made on the same issue. MS has said they would likely reject it. They don't even want to add hooks to make a plugin possible. So it's not a resource issue, it's an ideological one.

Temporary workaround by @GorvGoyl:

It seems like it won't be the high priority feature in foreseeable future so I made this extension which adds handy buttons like beautify, list files, undo, redo, save all etc to the editor menu bar in the VSCode. Shortcut Menu Bar

[NickMaev]

It turns out that the VSCode is a hype project by Microsoft since it "came" to opensource. MS won't allow VSCode to become a competitor for the Visual Studio XXXX which is laggy and slow. It's not hard to understand this resistance of the main contributors due to their profile details. They have a job in Microsoft and they could get fired. Waiting for the forks of the VSCode with toolbars.

[ronnyek]

@NickMaev visual studio itself works great and provides a lot above and beyond vs code. That being said, vscode is ultimately microsoft's project right, wrong or indifferent.

I've been a big advocate of adding toolbars because its what at least many consumers (including myself) have been asking for and complaining about for just ages.

tl;dr; - I don't think there are any obligations for them to add toolbars, but I'd think just the sheer number of issues submitted, submitted and closed, submitted and marked as dupes, submitted and marked out of scope etc. seems to indicate that people want this, and product management or however else vscode development gets managed has some beef against it. (I've yet to hear a legitimate reason why they are so opposed)

Microsoft, just acknowledge peoples wants/desires, and if it really is one or two people that are adamantly against toolbars... please just say so. I'll go contribute my time and efforts into adding it to the already existing forks.

[kryptus36]

This bug is now the black hole the devs have filters to ignore. It allows people to vent and hope it may actually happen. It prevents new bugs from getting opened on the issue while nothing will ever be done with it. It happens when software development is driven by blind ideology instead of user need.

[nickcoad]

Surely this could be done with an extension? Why does it need to be in the core product? It is already the most popular code editor, indicating most of its users are perfectly happy with the lack of a toolbar. This is a 100% perfect scenario for an extension. Get coding guys!

[morozovsk]

This is a 100% perfect scenario for an extension.

It sounds smart... but hey! vscode doesn't support api for creating toolbars. Get reading the ticket guys!

[ronnyek]

Surely this could be done with an extension? Why does it need to be in the core product? It is already the most popular code editor, indicating most of its users are perfectly happy with the lack of a toolbar. This is a 100% perfect scenario for an extension. Get coding guys!

I'd prefer not to make any assumptions that people are perfectly happy, but I do agree that if there was an API and didn't force the toolbars on everyone, that would be acceptable to me personally as well.

VS Code is efficient, beautiful and a great code editor... I feel like somehow UX has taken a back seat completely.

[zaphod4254]

Toolbar needed. I'm starting to learn more about PowerShell, being very experienced with VBScript. I used Notepad++ for most of my vbscript editing, and starting to learn the PowerShell ISE. PowerShell ISE at least has a toolbar, though it's not customizable as far as I can tell. I heard about and installed VSCode in the hopes of it having a better toolbar than the PowerShell ISE. Upon not being able to find a toolbar in VSCode myself, I searched and found this thread. With this feature request confirming that VSCode doesn't even have a toolbar at all, I've already uninstalled it.

[wittend]

Toolbar essential! I cannot use this editor without it. I cannot believe the resistance to at least providing the necessary hooks. Clearly come ideological peeve of the team. Astonishing!

[ronnyek]

61336

[ronnyek]

Can we just finally admit this is something you guys need to do?! This is just one thread of MANY MANY MANY MANY threads of people asking this very same thing.

Just build a toolbar framework so people that want toolbars can opt in to having toolbars.

Hell give us a sign of faith that a PR would be actually be considered for acceptance, and I bet you'd get loads of people volunteering that functionality

[rhclayto]

@isidorn You wrote: 'currently this feature request (as many others) is open so we can gather more feedback from users. . . .'

It seems like the feedback keeps coming in, but none is flowing in the other direction. Could someone on the VSCodeteam explain the seeming lack of excitement to support this feature, the reasoning behind it?

'VSCode is a minimalstic code editor and due to that we would be reluctant to accept a PR which adds a custom toolbar.'

To my way of thinking, VSCode is an IDE--or an IDE building platform--not just a minimalistic code editor. A minimalistic code editor is another Microsoft product, Notepad.

'As with all feature requests the best first step is to usualy start a discussion and not start coding right away.'

So my question, in this feedback issue, is, Where is the discussion?

@ronnyek has the right idea: expose a framework for extension developers to build on, just like all the other ways of building on top of VSCode. Nobody's idea of minimalism need be impinged upon.

Great product altogether, but this issue is rather mystifying.

[GongT]

This feature is common everywhere in the world, what is need to discussion...

The requirements? Just like the name Visual Studio code said, duplicate one from there.
The implement? It really need some reasearch, but this issue already 1.5 years old.

I think there is only a tiny step between the new status bar and a "menu bar".

[ronnyek]

A tiny step that vscode team is unwilling to take... that's the key point. Here we are more than a year after this issue was created, loads of people commenting and loads of other issues for same functionality opened up... and still... same conspiracy level opposition to this functionality.

More than happy to continue to use webstorm. Way to go vscode team!

[sBrecht]

I will add another voice to this. The lack of a toolbar in VS Code is a complete mystery to me. I come back to it every once in awhile to see if it has been added but always end up back in my old editors. There is a lot in VS Code to like but this lacking item amazes me.

[latcomsystems]

Seriously, Microsoft! An otherwise neat code editor / IDE rendered useless for those of us who appreciate good GUI design. It's 2019, why exactly are we still puttering around with command lines?

[kanlukasz]

It's 2019, why exactly are we still puttering around with command lines?

Because it's a thousand times faster?

[JMPZ11]

Another vote for either adding this functionality or making it possible for Extensions to add this functionality.

Some people's brains don't handle keyboard shortcuts. This omission is plain silly.

[darm10]

It's a good editor but, nah can't be bothered to learn a hundred shortcuts or dig through menus. I cannot think of one IDE without toolbars. The decision to exclude them is just plain silly, just like Windows Phone!

I've relegated VS Code and use it as a simple log viewer.

[munael]

Still sorely needed. Possibly my biggest customization point pain at the moment. The more extensions and commands I have, the more I need a place to put a couple of them on the chrome.

[ronnyek]

almost 2yr on, and still no comments, confirmation, stated intention, simply added to the backlog once again. S-S-S-SUUUUUPER duper. (I guess at least it wasn't just deleted or closed)

Amazing how something so simple, and been done countless times before just gets neglected. I've said it before that it just pushes me towards webstorm which I already own licenses for.

I'm just really amazed at what a cluster this whole situation has become. way to go vscode team!

[VTGroupGitHub]

Maybe if there are enough complaints, this will change. It seems to be another case of "we know better than you do", which I've found that a lot with MSFT products. I just removed VSC and downloaded Notepad++.

[sph3rex]

Maybe if there are enough complaints, this will change. It seems to be another case of "we know better than you do", which I've found that a lot with MSFT products. I just removed VSC and downloaded Notepad++.

Did the same. VsCode went on a parallel path to my needs, so back to notepad++(thank you wine)/sublime also. Funny how smaller teams of people with no msft interaction do stuff totally different and most of the times, better. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

[xgdgsc]

Let' s see how the status bar could be insanely long across monitors without a toolbar.

[latcomsystems]

Gave it an honest try, but ditched VS code and went back to Notepad++. Just can't remember all the commands that I need to use and this thing is a resource hog to boot. In my opinion, something that takes up over 700MB RAM to load up just one text file should definitely have a toolbar.

[nickcoad]

Let' s see how the status bar could be insanely long across monitors without a toolbar.

Moving those things to the top of the screen won't magically make them take up less horizontal space...

[munael]

Moving those things to the top of the screen won't magically make them take up less horizontal space...

A dedicated toolbar can make use of:

1. Bigger icons
2. Less text
3. Stacking/list-hiding
4. Multiple rows
5. Easy management of groups of controls (show/hide according to some flag or status)
6. And probably other subtle UX stuff that are useful or needed.

[awittaker]

Just dropping by to see if any traction with this? Is there seriously still not an API for extensions to add a toolbar?

This made me laugh... The Visual Studio Code Roadmap 2020

• Become the best editor for anyone who relies on accessibility features ...

  :runner: Make VS Code an outstandingly accessible developer tool. We'll engage and work with our community to get input and guidance, and we need you to keep us honest.

Who is this "community"? Whoever it is, I feel excluded... I need to rest my arms & hands as much as possible to minimize pain. The lack of toolbar is literally hurting me.

Since there is no feedback from devs on this toolbar issue, I'm not sure how to interpret the following...

Investigate how to safely provide richer customizability in the workbench ... Broaden support to customize the UI, e.g. context menus.

Both sound positive, but I am suspicious - the context menus customization has been around since 2016 hasn't it? Updates June 2016 (version 1.3) Am I misunderstanding it? Or is the 2020 roadmap copy/pasted from 2015!?

[minig0d]

• Become the best editor for anyone who relies on accessibility features ...

🏃 Make VS Code an outstandingly accessible developer tool. We'll engage and work with our community to get input and guidance, and we need you to keep us honest.

LOL... for sure... I'm sure they have more blind coders than people wanting useful stuff like toolbars (sorry not to knock on any disabilities) it's just par for the course... All the useful stuff get turned down as out of scope and the releases contain 18 pages of release notes of stuff no one cares about .

I mean... I'm all about free, but hey if they need some more developers to pull this stuff off, I'd pay for a "Pro" version if they'd stop ignoring these useful feature requests... I have no need for Visual Studio, but a reasonably priced VSC that wasn't neglected by the devs... I'm game...

Meanwhile maybe they'll put a toolbar in Accessibility mode and :/

[sketchbuch]

@minig0d ever used a keyboard shortcut? Or increased font size on editors for a presentation? Well you are using accessabillity features whether you knew it or not:

https://vscode.readthedocs.io/en/latest/editor/accessibility/

If you can't wait for your issue to get enough upvotes you could always submit a PR.

[minig0d]

@sketchbuch yes I'm quite aware of what it is... it was sarcasm... the only keyboard shortcuts that would be nice if they were built into core are multiple commands ("macros") but they have plugins for those already and we can already increase the font size last I checked... yep i'm coding right now and it works quite well... now can we have some real features?

[minig0d]

If you can't wait for your issue to get enough upvotes you could always submit a PR.

Have you looked at the upvote count on these "features" being released? B/C last time I spot checked a few, they were way lower than many of ^^^ type of request and had been open much longer. I kinda think the whole upvote thing is more like the buttons to cross the street... purely to amuse people til the light changes.

[latcomsystems]

With all the pros and cons being presented in this thread, why not just have it as an option? Those who like toolbars can turn it on, those who don't can leave it disabled. This is not rocket science.

[JMPZ11]

Microsoft is not going to do it. We must do it. Has somebody already done it?

[rei-vilo]

There is a limited tool-bar I'm using, Shortcut Menu Bar by Jerrygoyal.

However, the main question remains:

• Are the APIs for a tool-bar on VSC available and fully documented?

[MikeRosoft]

There is a limited tool-bar I'm using, Shortcut Menu Bar by Jerrygoyal.

Sure, but with such an extension 1) it doesn't look at all like a toolbar that one is used to from every other application; and 2) it's not configurable - we're stuck with what the extension author has added.

[rei-vilo]

Hence the need for an official toolbar API / extension from the Microsoft Visual Studio Code team.

[XeonG]

Hence the need for an official toolbar API / extension from the Microsoft Visual Studio Code team.

any year now

[NevillePHolistics]

Come on MS?! How hard can it be to keep your developer customers happy? We are not asking that much. Remember we are your customers AND your profits...think about that...

[ronnyek]

Can we just get this done... or any useful input from vscode team about why this isn't there, or wont be there? Maybe I'll just go see if its something theia devs are willing to take as a PR and implement there... problem solved.

[thariqnu-ifm]

Initially, I felt the same confusion when I can't find any toolbar on vscode, I went "what the heck with the new technology".

But it's different now, I love the Command Palette better than any toolbar or menu.

1. Hit F1 on the keyboard to display the Command Palette (or hit Ctrl+Shift+P for the same effect, but require more effort :p).
2. Type any command that you want to search for. This command search feature is quite smart, so go ahead and type anything that you want to search.
3. Pick the command using the keyboard (directional button then press enter), or click on it.

Finding a menu or toolbar can be frustrating. Too much menu or toolbar makes life difficult. Hence ability to search any command by typing it is very helpful.

[minig0d]

Initially, I felt the same confusion when I can't find any toolbar on vscode, I went "what the heck with the new technology".

But it's different now, I love the Command Palette better than any toolbar or menu.

Finding a menu or toolbar can be frustrating. Too much menu or toolbar makes life difficult. Hence ability to search any command by typing it is very helpful.

But this is talking about more like the quick access toolbar in windows (i.e. to put a handful of favorite/frequently used commands) not exactly a full office-type ribbon.

I.e. we're talking 1 click vs. at minimum 2 keystrokes (assuming it was the absolute last command you used) (and likely more like 3-4 to either hit the down arrow a few times and select or to type a few letters and select...

The palette is great for certain things, but there are other tasks where you have the mouse in hand and going back to the keyboard is a distraction...

[moon6969]

@thariqnu-ifm How precisely do I use the command palette without the keyboard? Why can't we have both command palette AND optional toolbar (or least an API for it)?

[minig0d]

One point that should be strongly made is that the VSCode team has repeatedly stated that they don't want to add features that can be done with an extension... Well in keeping with that viewpoint, since this cannot be done with an extension without an API, this should be implemented accordingly :)

[MikeRosoft]

@thariqnu-ifm How precisely do I use the command palette without the keyboard? Why can't we have both command palette AND optional toolbar (or least an API for it)?

Another problem with the palette is that it is unstructered - it's just a list of all commands dumped into a single combobox. (Yes, you can search it by typing and hoping that you have guessed the correct command name.)

[XeonG]

They've only just added mousewheel support for the tabbar... at somepoint they might make it possible to have a multiline tabbar and i'll finally be able to see more than less than 10~ tab documents on the tabbar... it's not like they bother to provide a dropmenu button that shows all the tab documents either... instead you have to have the explorer sidebar opened and in view to see more documents than what is visually shown on the single row tabbar.

How it got to 2020 for MS to throw out all good GUI and UX to the point developers are asking for things that were in a lot of cases added as core basics to software 20 years ago.. like a Toolbar...

I'll be glad anyway when I can toggle certain extensions/features, on/off and visually see a button that represents said extension/feature being on or off ...right there on my screen! And that can also just be clicked on in a fraction of the time, instead of doing a key combos and hammering keys to get the same thing done... sucks when you forget the extension name feature command you need to type. Toolbar buttons/icons amazing.

Really surprised this feature isn't on priority because it should be.

[Avtopic]

VSCode is a minimalstic code editor and due to that we would be reluctant to accept a PR which adds a custom toolbar.

Hah! :)) What it means minimalistic?

Tab buttons, which height can not be customized, and are like subway windows, mean minimalistic?

The huge button paddings in the menu, action bar, etc., which take up more space on the screen than the editor area, mean minimalistic?

I wasted three months on the vscode editor customization, thinking - yes, I found it, my editor!

And where do you think I'm coding, Yes, you're right - in notepad ++

[minig0d]

hi, currently this feature request (as many others) is open so we can gather more feedback from users, not because we want to tackle it right away. VSCode is a minimalstic code editor and due to that we would be reluctant to accept a PR which adds a custom toolbar.

@isidorn are the 20 thumbs down on your reply enough to show you how out of touch that reply was?

You say minimalistic but I would consider something like Notepad++ to be pretty minimalist... Meanwhile, we have git / version control built in (which to my knowledge none of the "minimalist" editors include... got debugging... which I thought was more of an IDE function than a minimalist code editor one? got it's own process monitor? Don't think I've ever seen a code editor with one of those...

But you know what it don't got? a TOOLBAR... know what does have a toolbar? Most code editors, post VIM (pretty much)... Which one's don't? Sublime maybe the only remotely major one I can think of that may not (not sure never used it), so is the goal minimalist, or a Sublime knockoff to try to lure sublime users into the MS ecosystem?

Oh... ya I almost forgot... Isn't Microsoft the one developing those 3 Remote editing EXTENSIONS (Remote - SSH, Remote - Containers, Remote - WSL, etc.)? I can't recall any minimalistic editors that have those functions built in either... and thought the philosophy was MS is developing the editor and extensibility handled by 3rd party extensions? shrug...

[latcomsystems]

Come on Microsoft - do the right thing for once and listen to your customer base. I'm sure you already have the toolbar ready, just need to include it in the build and make an additional 50% of your audience happy. It's all about choices. Those who want the toolbar, turn it on. Those who don't, leave it off. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?????

[morozovsk]

VSCode is a minimalstic code editor and due to that we would be reluctant to accept a PR which adds a custom toolbar.

Maybe only isidorn thinks so and maybe when he will change his job, we will get a toolbar within a month. Maybe the problem isn't only in him.

[minig0d]

Come on Microsoft - do the right thing for once and listen to your customer base. I'm sure you already have the toolbar ready, just need to include it in the build and make an additional 50% of your audience happy. It's all about choices. Those who want the toolbar, turn it on. Those who don't, leave it off. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?????

They are trying to "prioritize" based on customer demand... in other words, they are working on their next rockstar feature release... probably something like an API for Raspberry Pi's embedded into their Coffee Makers... just in case anyone wants to program some Java with their Java? You know the super high demand stuff... they may be trying to translate VSCode into the Code of Hammurabi language... I hear that one is pretty popular in some parts...

I kid... But on a serious note... I would just love an official response from MS one way or the other... because the information provided about how they are going to be developing moving forward and the future vision doesn't seem congruent with current actions...

If they can't manage the 30 minutes it would take to build out an OPTIONAL toolbar/api... then a lot of us probably do need to go back to another editor...