Vscode: Move Extensions activity bar icon to the bottom with the gear menu

[eamodio]

I think it would be great to separate the extensions view icon from the others at the top of the activity bar and instead have it at the bottom above the gear menu. To me the extensions are part of vscode like the gear menu, while the other icons are about what I'm working on (or helping along those lines).

[vscodebot[bot]]

(Experimental duplicate detection)
Thanks for submitting this issue. Please also check if it is already covered by an existing one, like:

• Bottom left "action" (gear icon) menu not scrolling (MacOS) (#40262)
• Extension context menu should appear on right click (#52842)
• Suggestion: Add Release Notes to Settings Gear (#32785)
  

[ramya-rao-a]

You are right that the rest of the icons help with the day to day workflow and the extensions are more of a customization of VS Code. To that end, the gear menu already has an entry for it. Look for Manage Extensions.

Having said that, I dont believe we will go down the route of getting rid of the extensions icon link from the activity bar altogether any time soon. It is an integral part of the product design. We will definitely re-considers this if the Mangae Extensions gear menu item gains more traction or when we consider a major re-design of the product.

Regardless, as a user you can hide the icon. Right click => Hide

[eamodio]

To be clear, I don't want the icon removed -- I just want it moved to the bottom of the side bar rather than the top with the other icons.

[ramya-rao-a]

My apologies. You clearly said "and instead have it at the bottom above the gear menu" and I totally missed that!

[eamodio]

No worries! Thank you!

[misolori]

I don't mind this at all, I've seen apps group similar "system" actions together:

I'll bring this up with the team.

[bpasero]

-1 for such a change. the top left icons in the activity bar are the toggles for the sidebar. taking some of the icons to a different place while still opening extensions in the side bar seems wrong to me. If we however decided to open extensions in a dedicated view (e.g. modal on top of everything), it would make sense to me.

[misolori]

We brought this up to the team and as @bpasero mentions, the only way this can work is if we have a consistent way of displaying "system" actions (i.e. a modal). Since there are no current plans to do so, will be closing this as out of scope.

[xgdgsc]

I want the opposite, I feel it should always be at the bottom of the icons. I move it manully every time a new icon is installed.