VS Code Control Skill

Control Visual Studio Code from the command line. Open files, run commands, manage extensions, and automate editor tasks.

Open Files and Folders

Open a file

code /path/to/file.txt
code ~/project/src/main.py

Open file at specific line

code --goto /path/to/file.txt:42
code -g /path/to/file.txt:42:10  # line 42, column 10

Open folder/workspace

code /path/to/project
code .  # Current directory

Open in new window

code -n /path/to/project
code --new-window /path/to/file.txt

Open in existing window (reuse)

code -r /path/to/file.txt
code --reuse-window /path/to/project

Open multiple files

code file1.py file2.py file3.py

Compare/diff two files

code --diff file1.txt file2.txt
code -d original.py modified.py

Create and Edit Files

Create new untitled file

code --new-file

Create file with content (using stdin)

echo "print('Hello World')" | code -

Create file then open it

touch ~/project/newfile.py && code ~/project/newfile.py

Create file with content and open

cat > /tmp/script.py << 'EOF'
#!/usr/bin/env python3
def main():
    print("Hello from Friday!")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()
EOF
code /tmp/script.py

Quick edit with sed then open

sed -i 's/old_text/new_text/g' file.txt && code file.txt

Run VS Code Commands

Run any VS Code command

code --command "workbench.action.toggleSidebarVisibility"
code --command "editor.action.formatDocument"
code --command "workbench.action.files.save"

Common commands

# File operations
code --command "workbench.action.files.save"
code --command "workbench.action.files.saveAll"
code --command "workbench.action.closeActiveEditor"
code --command "workbench.action.closeAllEditors"

# Editor actions
code --command "editor.action.formatDocument"
code --command "editor.action.commentLine"
code --command "editor.action.selectAll"

# View/UI
code --command "workbench.action.toggleSidebarVisibility"
code --command "workbench.action.togglePanel"
code --command "workbench.action.toggleZenMode"
code --command "workbench.action.toggleFullScreen"

# Search
code --command "workbench.action.findInFiles"
code --command "editor.action.startFindReplaceAction"

# Git
code --command "git.commit"
code --command "git.push"
code --command "git.pull"
code --command "git.sync"

Integrated Terminal

Open VS Code terminal

code --command "workbench.action.terminal.new"

Run command in VS Code terminal

First open VS Code, then use xdotool to type in terminal:

code /path/to/project
sleep 2
# Open terminal
xdotool key ctrl+grave
sleep 0.5
# Type command
xdotool type "npm install"
xdotool key Return

Run task

code --command "workbench.action.tasks.runTask"

Extensions Management

List installed extensions

code --list-extensions

List with versions

code --list-extensions --show-versions

Install extension

code --install-extension ms-python.python
code --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode
code --install-extension GitHub.copilot

Install multiple extensions

code --install-extension ms-python.python \
     --install-extension ms-toolsai.jupyter \
     --install-extension GitHub.copilot

Uninstall extension

code --uninstall-extension extension.id

Disable all extensions (for troubleshooting)

code --disable-extensions

Install extension from VSIX

code --install-extension /path/to/extension.vsix

GitHub Copilot Integration

Ensure Copilot is installed

code --list-extensions | grep -i copilot
# If not installed:
code --install-extension GitHub.copilot
code --install-extension GitHub.copilot-chat

Open Copilot Chat

code --command "workbench.action.chat.open"

Trigger inline suggestion

code --command "editor.action.inlineSuggest.trigger"

Accept Copilot suggestion

code --command "editor.action.inlineSuggest.commit"

Open Copilot panel/chat via keyboard simulation

# Open VS Code first, then:
xdotool key ctrl+shift+i  # Open Copilot Chat (may vary)

Workspace and Settings

Open settings

code --command "workbench.action.openSettings"

Open settings JSON

code ~/.config/Code/User/settings.json

Open keybindings

code ~/.config/Code/User/keybindings.json

Export extensions list (for backup/sharing)

code --list-extensions > ~/vscode-extensions.txt

Install extensions from list

cat ~/vscode-extensions.txt | xargs -L 1 code --install-extension

Open workspace file

code project.code-workspace

Search and Navigation

Search in files (opens search panel)

code --command "workbench.action.findInFiles"

Go to file (quick open)

code --command "workbench.action.quickOpen"

Go to symbol

code --command "workbench.action.gotoSymbol"

Go to line

code --command "workbench.action.gotoLine"

Search with ripgrep from terminal, then open result

# Find and open first match
FILE=$(rg -l "search_term" | head -1) && code "$FILE"

# Find line number and open at that line
RESULT=$(rg -n "search_term" | head -1)
FILE=$(echo "$RESULT" | cut -d: -f1)
LINE=$(echo "$RESULT" | cut -d: -f2)
code -g "$FILE:$LINE"

Debugging

Start debugging

code --command "workbench.action.debug.start"

Stop debugging

code --command "workbench.action.debug.stop"

Toggle breakpoint

code --command "editor.debug.action.toggleBreakpoint"

Step over/into/out

code --command "workbench.action.debug.stepOver"
code --command "workbench.action.debug.stepInto"
code --command "workbench.action.debug.stepOut"

Git Integration

Open source control view

code --command "workbench.view.scm"

Stage all changes

code --command "git.stageAll"

Commit

code --command "git.commit"

Push/Pull/Sync

code --command "git.push"
code --command "git.pull"
code --command "git.sync"

View git log

code --command "git.viewHistory"

Advanced Automation

Focus VS Code window

wmctrl -a "Visual Studio Code"

Screenshot VS Code window

wmctrl -a "Visual Studio Code" && sleep 0.3 && scrot -u ~/Pictures/vscode-$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S).png

Type in VS Code (after focusing)

wmctrl -a "Visual Studio Code"
sleep 0.3
xdotool type "// This is a comment"

Save current file via keyboard

wmctrl -a "Visual Studio Code"
xdotool key ctrl+s

Open command palette

wmctrl -a "Visual Studio Code"
xdotool key ctrl+shift+p
sleep 0.3
xdotool type "Format Document"
xdotool key Return

Create new file in project

PROJECT=~/myproject
mkdir -p "$PROJECT/src"
cat > "$PROJECT/src/utils.py" << 'EOF'
def helper():
    pass
EOF
code "$PROJECT/src/utils.py"

Useful Workflows

Open project and install deps

code ~/project && cd ~/project && npm install

Create Python project structure

PROJECT=~/new-python-project
mkdir -p "$PROJECT"/{src,tests,docs}
touch "$PROJECT/src/__init__.py"
touch "$PROJECT/tests/__init__.py"
echo "# My Project" > "$PROJECT/README.md"
code "$PROJECT"

Open project with terminal ready

code ~/project
sleep 2
code --command "workbench.action.terminal.new"

Quick file from clipboard

xclip -selection clipboard -o > /tmp/from-clipboard.txt && code /tmp/from-clipboard.txt

VS Code Server (Remote)

Check if code-server is running

pgrep -f "code-server" && echo "Running" || echo "Not running"

Status

code --status

Version info

code --version

Verbose logging (for debugging)

code --verbose --log debug