Display search results in a tab instead of the side bar
Problem
I was talking to a colleague the other day and the only reason he's not using VS Code is because of how the search is implemented in VS Code and I have to agree with his opinion. Both Sublime Text (which I'm used to) and Atom (the editor my colleague is using) feature a search tab. A search tab displays the results much more clearly given that there's much more space available to display them. Instead, VS Code displays them in a "small" side bar. Yes, we can resize back and forth the side bar, but that's a bit annoying. It would be nice to have the search results displayed in a new tab similar to Sublime Text and Atom.
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1 Fix
Implement Search Results Tab in VS Code
The current implementation of the search feature in VS Code utilizes a sidebar that limits the display area for search results. This design choice may hinder usability, especially for users accustomed to editors like Sublime Text and Atom, which provide a dedicated tab for search results, allowing for better visibility and interaction with the results.
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- 1
Create a New Tab for Search Results
Modify the VS Code UI to include a new tab specifically for displaying search results. This will involve updating the layout configuration to allow for a tabbed interface where search results can be displayed.
typescriptconst searchResultsTab = new Tab('Search Results'); searchResultsTab.setContent(searchResults); addTab(searchResultsTab); - 2
Update Search Functionality
Refactor the existing search functionality to populate the new search results tab instead of the sidebar. Ensure that the search logic remains intact while redirecting the output to the new tab.
typescriptfunction performSearch(query) { const results = executeSearch(query); searchResultsTab.setContent(results); } - 3
Implement Tab Navigation
Add functionality to allow users to easily switch between the search results tab and other tabs in the editor. This will enhance user experience by providing seamless navigation.
typescriptfunction switchToSearchTab() { activateTab(searchResultsTab); } - 4
Test the New Search Tab Feature
Conduct thorough testing to ensure that the new search results tab works as intended. Verify that search results are displayed correctly and that navigation between tabs is smooth.
typescript// Test search functionality performSearch('test query'); assert(searchResultsTab.isActive());
Validation
To confirm the fix worked, perform a search in VS Code and verify that the results are displayed in the new search results tab. Ensure that the tab can be activated and deactivated without issues and that results are clear and accessible.
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Environment
Submitted by
Alex Chen
2450 rep