Vscode: auto-load workspace file if it is the only workspace file in the folder root

[cdaringe]

problem

i often cd /path/to/project && code . to launch vscode. it's easy to _forget_ to open the workspace, e.g. code blah.code-workspace. further, when contributors jump into your project, it'd be nice to auto onboard them if they are not aware of the workspace functionality.

discussion

~100% of the time, i want to use the .code-workspace file. i understand that in some cases you may want a native file browsing experience, i'm not sure how to handle that case, or if it should be handled.

i'd also be willing to sacrifice the ease of onboarding newcomers if i could alias code to be something akin to alias code="code --always-load-local-workspace" or similar.

thanks for the consideration!

[Yzrsah]

This is a common problem. I have this same problem when opening Folders in separate windows from inside of VSCode itself. Sometimes they have workspaces, and I have to deal with the prompt asking if I want to load the workspace? This is actually a very upsetting prompt.

Yes, I want to, Every Single Time

And I don't want it to be a 2 step process with the window loading, then having to load the window again.

[cdaringe]

and I have to deal with the prompt asking if I want to load the workspace? This is actually a very upsetting prompt.

you get a prompt? not fair! i'd be happy with a prompt :) but sure, a little user-settings thing to autoLoad would be handy to, as I, like you, would turn it on permanently at the users settings level

[melMass]

There is a prompt so the autodetection is there.
The dialog does not follow the

don't ask again => Auto add a new setting to either workspace or user

that many other VSCode prompts have.
It just asks you if you want to open the detected workspace.
We need that to be an option which is not the case for now (I think).

I like @cdaringe 's proposal but at settings level rather than adding a flag to code's executable. I don't mind the UI flashing ( while auto reloading on workspace detection ). We should then just post a new notification along the lines the Workspace **XXX** was detected and autoloaded

[cdaringe]

i started getting the prompt. for me personally, the prompt is sufficient. adding the setting would still be a nice-to-have, but i'm now content. will leave open for the other interested parties

[mugi-luffy]

definitely interested!
I'm using the Project-Manager extension to switch between my projects. But each time I have to click on the popup to load my workspace.
+1

[entozoon]

+1 for a "Don't ask me again" which enables a setting for this feature

[KPECTuK]

+1

[EthanNYT]

I switch between projects very, very often.

Every single one (~50) has no fewer than 1 or more than 1 .workspace files.

Waiting for VS Code to learn there's a workspace, animate in the prompt, and have me click it actually adds up to a lot of time over the day.

If we don't get the auto-load function, at least please stop animating the slide-in of the dialog, just have it appear instantly, and have and option to focus the Open Workspace button automatically.

That way I can just press Enter to load the workspace (which I do, every single time).

This is also the way Sublime handles .sublime-project files.

[ironcladlou]

Other ideas to throw on the pile:

• When auto-loading a workspace (whether this becomes the default, or whether it's driven by settings or flags), raise a short-lived notification indicating that the window is using an explicit workspace file.
• Add "something" to the UI which visually indicates when the window is using explicit workspace file.

[EthanNYT]

6 months after this was opened, just curious if the dev team has any interest in loading a workspace file automatically on page load? Or should I just keep my eyes peeled for an extension?

[cdaringe]

given that the team now gives a visual prompt reliably _and_ lets you open a project from the CLI, this may be actually better left open for user land to solve. perhaps thru a bash alias, perhaps through a vscode extension. I'm closing my issue in efforts to help the core team keep the noise down, and work on those sweet sweet juicy features in the roadmap!

[entozoon]

Closing the issue - fair enough, noise is noisy.
But just to clarify, for future ref, the prompt was present when the issue was created - in fact, this feature request is for it to allow auto-opening of the project workspace, and ideally prevent prompts thereafter.
Still something people very much want, and this issue hasn't been resolved by VSCode or a plugin.