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

[morozovsk]

out-of-scope

show me other popular ide without toolbar

#39548:

we are closing issues that have been on the backlog for a long time

vijayvepa opened this issue on 4 Dec 2017 15:34
vscodebot closed this on 4 Dec 2017 18:01
... it was a long time ... already two and a half hours :)

#18042:

Ticket closed. Thanks for your understanding and happy coding!

Yep! Without vscode :)

[rei-vilo]

Because #18042 has been closed, I've switched to another IDE. Sorry, Microsoft!

[ronnyek]

Sadly I don't think Microsoft or vscode team cares what customers want. This topic had long been almost conspiracy levels of blatant ignoring countless issues.

I too took the notifications as someone on the team who looks on vscode as their baby... Seeing it working their way with no interest to the contrary what so ever.

I've purchased jet brains full subscription and haven't looked back. I'd love vscode to be in my tool box... As a software engineer seeing this sort of feedback to community suggestion.. it just left a real read bad taste in my mouth.

Vscode team won't care they lost a handfull more users... So it is what it is.

[MikeSummit]

I totally agree with OP. The biggest feature gap by far in VSCode is a missing toolbar.

I want an old school ms-office-2003-like toolbar, with toolbars and toolbar buttons. Thoughtful icons, and mouseover to see description and keymap alternates. There should be good default toolbars and they should be customizable by the user. Plugins should be able to define plug-in specific toolbars as well.

A toolbar will drive a lot more adoption and will make it easier for users to learn the keyboard alternates.

I am a long-time Visual Studio, eclipse, and Jetbrains user. I just spent a lot of time setting up and learning VSCode, and I can say VSCode is great except for the missing toolbar. If it had an office-like toolbar I would switch to VSCode exclusively. But without it I'm afraid I will have to go back to Jetbrains.

Microsoft, please stop sabotaging your own future.

[alkorsan]

a temporal solution can be using the status bar to add the commands you need.
this extensions can do that :
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=anweber.statusbar-commands
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=gsppvo.vscode-commandbar
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=gizak.shortcuts
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=fabiospampinato.vscode-commands

and this one can add tasks to the status bar:
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=GuardRex.status-bar-tasks

result:

[bebo-dot-dev]

I'm with @morozovsk and @MikeSummit on this. vs code has so much going for it however lack of feature discoverability, lack of easy navigation and forcing users into a land of Ctrl+Shift+P / the command palette bucket of everything does hold it back IMO.

Toolbars are a must have feature that vs code doesn't have.

Do the right thing. Implement the user interface that is a globally accepted standard in user interface design. Make vs code really usable with default toolbars, plugin specific toolbars and user definable customizable toolbars.

I'm sure this will be a large feature to implement however that should not prevent this feature request getting visibility on the roadmap.

[guardrex]

@alkorsan Please add mine to your list, which provides a good feature to include in a toolbar ...

Devs should have the option to add a clickable button for each of their tasks.

https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=GuardRex.status-bar-tasks

I'd love to RETIRE that!

[ourcore]

Coming from Atom, a customisable toolbar is one of the features I miss the most. I'd rather not have to learn new shortcuts since I should be focusing on the actual code. I hope we get something in the near future! Keep up the great work, Microsoft.

[bebo-dot-dev]

Interestingly this issue has not been closed as out of scope yet and I remain hopeful that this feature will be implemented.

The official 2018 roadmap does talk about "Happy Coding", "we want to make the experience even more pleasant, for both new and existing users" and "eliminate blockers that make it hard for people to adopt VS Code" so without specifically saying that this issue is on the roadmap, it should be on the roadmap and being worked on based on what has been said.

@bpasero has been active in this issue and he is an active VSCode developer. It would be really nice if a Microsoft VSCode team developer could find the time to go on the record in this issue and say what the plan is.

[ronnyek]

Haven't they gone on record and said it's basically not gonna happen for the foreseeable future? That seems like what I understand with all the open and closed issues and stating it's not even just gonna get stuck in the backlog... But more like "not interested" even though the issue has been brought up countless times.

Not trying to start a negative feedback loop or anything... But this topic is a sore one... And I almost feel like there is conspiracy level of anti-toolbar. Someone somewhere decided no amount of feature requests for it will ever result in a general purpose toolbar... And their mind is made

[bebo-dot-dev]

Hi @ronnyek I've seen multiple closed issues similar to this one and I do understand where you're coming from with your stance. I'm trying to stay positive. The fact this issue remains open today gives me hope that there's willingness in the vscode team to consider that this really is a valid suggestion.

I also hope that I'm not deluded :)

I'm happy to repeat that the lack of default toolbars, plugin specific toolbars and user definable customizable toolbars are a real barrier to entry / adoption of vscode for new users and this missing feature is a also and endless productivity inhibitor for those people that are willing to stick with vscode regardless.

[ronnyek]

oh yeah, don't get me wrong... I'm for this change, and like I said I don't want to be a negative feedback loop or anything... Just surprised this issue has stood as long as it has. VS Code is making leaps and bounds as it progresses... and just really really dont understand the opposition to the toolbar. For now I've written off vscode for front end editing in favor of webstorm, but I'd love to have vscode as an option in the future

[aaronclawrence]

Seems so basic, I was very surprised when I didn't find one ... but I guess if the designers have a philosophy of keeping a very minimal UI maybe they feel its not worth the effort to support one

[ewwink]

maybe anyone can try to port this atom toolbar extension https://github.com/suda/tool-bar

[junalmeida]

I started a feature branch with some code that aims to do that fixed toolbar:
junalmeida#1
Ask me if you want to be part of it.
I already created the initial requirements for a toolbar (ui things such as positioning, etc.) with 3 common basic actions. See the gif I've put on the PR.

There is much work to be done yet.

[isidorn]

@junalmeida 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.

As with all feature requests the best first step is to usualy start a discussion and not start coding right away.
Please see our pull request guidelines https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/wiki/How-to-Contribute#pull-requests

Kind regards
isidor

[morozovsk]

@isidorn
atom is a minimalstic code editor:

notepad++ is a super minimalstic code editor:

vscode is a ... vim way code editor.
please delete left panel and top menu! only keyboard shortcuts! only hardcore!

a mouse was invented in 1946 but you force us to use the keyboard.
I use a lot of programs. I don't need to remember key combinations in all programs.

If you want your program to be used along with others you must be compatible. If you don't want to be compatible (ms way), you can do as you want but don't pretend that you care.

😠

[junalmeida]

@isidorn I got your point but I guess that a discussion was already started here in this topic and others. Anyway, I started coding this as a POC for myself, trying to understand all the guidelines used and the UI code. If this is not the direction of the official VSCode team, no problem, but this is the beautiful of open source: anyone can fork and do experimentation, and this does not necessarily mean that a PR will be accepted. ;)

[MichelZ]

This is a really weird decision and will definitely be a big blocker for me personally to adopt vscode (and I imagine many other users, too)

[ShivanshuKantPrasad]

Also due to lack of toolbar everything gets dumped on the status bar. There are extensions that clutter the status bar very badly like git-history, cmake. Since you cannot disable status-bar icons individually, there is not space for rather important things.

[Pethical]

300+ likes and 4-5 years since this has been opened. Incredible how long a company can ignore it's user base... pretty stupid imo... Is that an elitism issue where the core dev team of the product just are dead set on their ideologies?

Oh, maybe the dev team don't use VsCode (because the lack of toolbar), so they don't understand users 😃

[Hobart2967]

the toolbar is useful, for example, the current debug tool is floating and can cover the content of the editor. Putting it into the toolbar is the best solution.

I really hate that one, tbh. It is literally ALWAYS in the way of something, constantly moving that around. I would love to stop playing "Debug Bar Simulator"....

[XeonG]

Another year I'm still seeing this pop up in email notifications.. everytime I see a vscode changelog I just wonder how in the fuck can this company implement anything but what so many are asking for.

[oviano]

I'm trialing VS code at the moment.

When I click on a CMake Preset at the bottom of the window, it brings up a menu at the top of the window. This is surely a bug and not acceptable UI behaviour?

The point is, this would be improved if we could have that toolbar, or configurable elements of it at the top. Then at least when you click on one of these extension buttons to bring up the command palette it would be closer to it.

However, in my opinion, it still wouldn't be as good as a dedicated CMake Preset menu which when clicked on just acts as a normal selection box for choosing the preset, rather than a shortcut to the command palette. Personally I think the command palette seems like a cheap way of providing all functionality in one go, but from a usability perspective, having come from Xcode, MSVC, and CLion, it's awful and I won't be continuing with VS Code until CMake integration is more user friendly for projects with multiple presets and targets.

All I want is some nice clean menus at the top to select the current Preset, the current Target, and a Build menu to Clean/Rebuild/Install in various scopes (current preset/target, current preset/all targets, all presets/targets).

Neither this or CLion can do this. CLion comes closer, but has a dreadful search/find functionality with all these annoying and fiddly pop-ups and so forth, whereas VSCode is much closer to Xcode's, with the ever-present search side panel, which I prefer. I also prefer the feel of VS Code editing, again, it's more like I'm used to with Xcode.

Still searching for the ultimate CMake/C++ IDE...

[Tharkis]

There isn't much point in this thread anymore. The powers that be aren't interested in making VS Code more accessible or listening to the users. You can tell by the lack of any movement after 5 years.

[oviano]

Actually having discovered the CMake Project Status option, hidden away in the settings this gives me much of what I need in the sidebar for choosing configuration/build presets.

[m6502]

And here is another perfectly reasonable request about a basic feature that serious code editors have had for ages being ignored since forever. The day this project loses steam the debacle will be really fast.

[mattsmall1972]

I'm being forced to use VS Code and now I see this... this is so typical of Microsoft PMs. "We need to get feedback on something that is easily understood, already proven in concept, requested by customers and optional to use. Maybe next decade."

[ronnyek]

Its not even that... it's the whole massive demand for this, and the conspiracy theorist level (I know how crazy this sounds) of ignoring feedback.

Consensus from ms/vscode team seems to be "vscode is an enhanced text editor, not an IDE" until you need plugins for every last little framework, developing against some random obscure hardware, etc etc etc..

I've all but given up hope on this topic, don't think its gonna change (even if hundreds of thousands of people showed interest or asked for this.. .it seems to have been decided, and I'm skeptical it'll be reconsidered). I'm all about supporting competition at this point.

[yyqwerty]

Just a reminder to celebrate 6 y.o. issue soon.

[XeonG]

they are... retarded

[msimic]

They think that CTRL-SHIFT-P and CTRL-O are easier...

…

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[notV3NOM]

Still waiting ...

[toddmo]

I need custom buttons as well, but once I went to the trouble of adding my task to the status bar with the status bar command extension, I was "fine". I do wish VS Code would not need an extension to do this...Right clicking on the status bar should add a new option to add custom task, and take you to a wizard or something so we don't have to remember how to create a custom task every time.

[neko-js]

Don't give them ideas. The status bar does not do justice for our needs because after installing a few extensions the status bar becomes a cluttered mess with tiny icons.

I've been using IntelliJ's IDE instead of VS Code and the toolbar is a bliss (along with detachable tabs). And this is what we need in VS Code. I would even welcome a big customizable toolbar with tabs like in MS Office. But a classic toolbar would suffice.

Programs like Open Office have options to switch between classic, tabbed or no toolbars. What is stopping us?

[netizen-ais]

This makes me miss Githib's Atom

[realhaik]

For all the losers who use VS Code, you are not a real programers, real pros use Visual Studio 20XX.

[drizztdourden08]

For all the losers who use VS Code, you are not a real programers, real pros use Visual Studio 20XX.

If you can't say anything constructive, just don't talk.

there isn't any need for trolls or kids here.

[m6502]

For all the losers who use VS Code, you are not a real programers, real pros use Visual Studio 20XX.

If you were one of those pros you would know the best one is still Visual C++ 6.0 and not one of the lame 20XX releases :-)

[gdbrianj]

How do you debug your Salesforc APEX code? Or how about debugging PowerShell?

…

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[minig0d]

For all the losers who use VS Code, you are not a real programers, real pros use Visual Studio 20XX.

No... real programmers use Notepad or Vi... (and know how to spell programmer)

How do you debug your Salesforc APEX code? Or how about debugging PowerShell?

Salesforce you debug by one of those rim raff procedures and work on something more fun...
PowerShell while VSC has some flaws, it's still been my goto...

And to the REAL topic... 6.5 years later the devs are busy adding AI chat functions rather than this... Because of course we all need more chat methods in our lives, right? Who do we need to bribe to get this thing done?!

[mkvlrn-cm42]

And to the REAL topic... 6.5 years later the devs are busy adding AI chat functions rather than this...

For real. Copilot fell hard and unless it becomes an actual sentient entity, I'm sticking with Supermaven for my auto complet needs.

But yeah, for the people in the back:

COPILOT SHOULD NOT BE A PART OF THE EDITOR, IT SHOULD BE AN OPT-IN ADDON DEVELOPED BY A SEPARATE TEAM.

[GitMensch]

Let's not topic drift, but copilot isn't a part of the editor "vscode" (only necessary APIs are) if the proprietary copilot extension is a part of Visual Studio Code and you don't like that, then use the free licensed binaries like VSCodium instead. ... but as the editor and keyboard _is_ part of vscode, you'll have the same "insert key only (partially) works as expected after installing an extension" for a feature that should be integrated.

[MattWLeonard]

I would also really love to have a customizable toolbar in VS Code!

Some people simply work better with visual buttons than with remembering keyboard shortcuts.

For example, in my other IDE I could indent a whole block of selected code with a button in the toolbar. Or comment out the selected code. Or various other actions. This would be really handy for me!

[harishkannarao]

For those looking to have a customisable toolbar for VS Code:

Recently I tried the Theia IDE from Eclipse foundation.
Theia IDE is based on VS Code platform.

https://theia-ide.org/

It has the option to configure and customise the toolbar as explained here..Hope this will make life easier for some developers or users of VS Code

https://theia-ide.org/docs/user_toolbar/

The toolbar.json can be exported and reused (if needed for another environment).

Export of my toobar.json

{
    "items": {
        "left": [],
        "center": [
            [
                {
                    "id": "workbench.action.showCommands",
                    "command": "workbench.action.showCommands",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-terminal",
                    "tooltip": "Command Palette"
                },
                {
                    "id": "workbench.action.splitEditorRight",
                    "command": "workbench.action.splitEditorRight",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-split-horizontal"
                }
            ],
            [
                {
                    "id": "textEditor.commands.go.back",
                    "command": "textEditor.commands.go.back",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-arrow-left"
                },
                {
                    "id": "textEditor.commands.go.forward",
                    "command": "textEditor.commands.go.forward",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-arrow-right"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.gotoLine",
                    "command": "editor.action.gotoLine",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-circle-large-outline"
                },
                {
                    "id": "file-search.openFile",
                    "command": "file-search.openFile",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-folder-opened"
                }
            ],
            [
                {
                    "id": "scrollEditorTop",
                    "command": "scrollEditorTop",
                    "icon": "fa fa-toggle-up"
                },
                {
                    "id": "scrollEditorBottom",
                    "command": "scrollEditorBottom",
                    "icon": "fa fa-toggle-down"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.wordHighlight.prev",
                    "command": "editor.action.wordHighlight.prev",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-arrow-up"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.wordHighlight.next",
                    "command": "editor.action.wordHighlight.next",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-arrow-down"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.gotoPreviousFold",
                    "command": "editor.gotoPreviousFold",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-repo-push"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.gotoNextFold",
                    "command": "editor.gotoNextFold",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-repo-pull"
                }
            ],
            [
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.smartSelect.shrink",
                    "command": "editor.action.smartSelect.shrink",
                    "icon": "fa fa-angle-double-left"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.smartSelect.expand",
                    "command": "editor.action.smartSelect.expand",
                    "icon": "fa fa-angle-double-right"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.copyLinesDownAction",
                    "command": "editor.action.copyLinesDownAction",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-add"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.deleteLines",
                    "command": "editor.action.deleteLines",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-chrome-minimize"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.moveLinesUpAction",
                    "command": "editor.action.moveLinesUpAction",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-debug-step-out"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.moveLinesDownAction",
                    "command": "editor.action.moveLinesDownAction",
                    "icon": "codicon codicon-debug-step-into"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.marker.prev",
                    "command": "editor.action.marker.prev",
                    "icon": "fa fa-step-backward"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.marker.next",
                    "command": "editor.action.marker.next",
                    "icon": "fa fa-step-forward"
                }
            ],
            [
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.formatDocument",
                    "command": "editor.action.formatDocument",
                    "icon": "fa fa-list"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.organizeImports",
                    "command": "editor.action.organizeImports",
                    "icon": "fa fa-magic"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.rename",
                    "command": "editor.action.rename",
                    "icon": "fa fa-edit"
                },
                {
                    "id": "core.cut",
                    "command": "core.cut",
                    "icon": "fa fa-cut"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.clipboardCopyAction",
                    "command": "editor.action.clipboardCopyAction",
                    "icon": "fa fa-copy"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.clipboardPasteAction",
                    "command": "editor.action.clipboardPasteAction",
                    "icon": "fa fa-paste"
                },
                {
                    "id": "editor.action.addCommentLine",
                    "command": "editor.action.addCommentLine",
                    "icon": "fa fa-strikethrough"
                }
            ]
        ],
        "right": []
    }
}

[XeonG]

yeah not bad.. though weird they don't bother to include a better default toolbar setup themselves.

Msuck could learn a thing from that, they've sat on this UX request for over 5+years., every update some add useless shit a tiny minority wanted for some garbage language.