Quick Extension Manager

Efficiently manage VS Code extensions per workspace for optimal performance and focus

Quick Extension Manager provides a modern webview interface for managing workspace-specific extension profiles in Visual Studio Code. Enable or disable extensions per workspace to improve performance, reduce resource usage, and maintain focus on project-relevant tools.

Features

Modern Webview Interface

• Professional card-based UI with real extension icons, names, and descriptions
• Real-time search to filter extensions by name, ID, or description
• Smart filtering options to show All, Enabled, or Disabled extensions
• Interactive toggle switches for intuitive enable/disable controls
• Live status tracking with extension counts and pending changes indicator
• Responsive design that adapts to VS Code themes

Workspace Management

• Per-workspace configuration allowing different extension sets for each project
• Team collaboration through shareable .vscode/ext.config.json files
• Performance optimization by reducing VS Code startup time and memory usage
• Automatic activation when workspace contains configuration files
• Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux

Full Command Suite

• Interactive extension management through modern webview interface
• Direct enable/disable functionality for immediate control
• Marketplace integration with links for extension updates
• Quick access shortcuts to GitHub repository, settings, and issue reporting
• Comprehensive CLI integration using VS Code's official command-line interface

Quick Start

1. Install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace
2. Open Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (macOS)
3. Execute Quick Extension Manager: Manage Extensions
4. Use the webview interface to search, filter, and toggle extensions
5. Apply changes to save configuration and restart VS Code with new settings

Available Commands

Access all functionality through the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P):

Command	Description
Quick Extension Manager: Manage Extensions	Opens the modern webview interface for extension management
Quick Extension Manager: Enable Extension Manager	Activates the extension functionality
Quick Extension Manager: Disable Extension Manager	Temporarily disables the extension
Quick Extension Manager: Update Extension	Opens marketplace page to check for updates
Quick Extension Manager: Open GitHub Repository	View source code and contribute to the project
Quick Extension Manager: Open Settings	Access extension configuration options
Quick Extension Manager: Report Issue	Submit bug reports or feature requests

Primary Feature: Extension Management Interface

The "Workspace Extension Manager" opens in a dedicated webview panel with the following capabilities:

Visual Interface:

Key Capabilities:

• Authentic extension icons displaying actual logos from each extension
• Interactive toggle switches for immediate enable/disable functionality
• Real-time pending changes indicator before applying modifications
• Smart filtering that excludes built-in VS Code extensions from the list
• Team-friendly configuration saved to workspace folder for version control

Configuration

The extension automatically creates and manages a .vscode/ext.config.json file in your workspace root:

{
  "disabled": [
    "ms-python.python",
    "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
    "bradlc.vscode-tailwindcss"
  ],
  "autoReload": true,
  "openInNewWindow": true
}

Configuration Properties

Property	Type	Default	Description
disabled	string[]	[]	Array of extension IDs to disable for this workspace
autoReload	boolean	true	Automatically restart VS Code when applying changes
openInNewWindow	boolean	true	Open workspace in new window instead of reusing current window

Tip: Right-click on any extension in the Extensions view and select "Copy Extension ID" to get the exact identifier.

Usage Examples

Team Development Scenarios

1. Create project-specific configuration using the extension management interface
2. Commit .vscode/ext.config.json to your version control repository
3. Team members automatically inherit consistent extension setup
4. Maintain different profiles for different project types and requirements

Project-Specific Optimization

• Frontend Projects - Disable backend-focused extensions (Python, Java, C++)
• Backend Projects - Disable frontend tooling (React, Vue, Angular extensions)
• Documentation Projects - Keep only writing and markdown extensions active
• Mobile Development - Focus on platform-specific tooling only

Performance Benefits

• Large Codebases - Reduce extension overhead for faster workspace loading
• Remote Development - Minimize network traffic and latency issues
• Resource-Constrained Environments - Optimize memory and CPU usage
• Focused Development - Eliminate distractions from irrelevant extensions

Technical Implementation

This extension leverages VS Code's official Command Line Interface (CLI) for reliable extension management:

1. Configuration Detection - Automatically detects .vscode/ext.config.json in workspace
2. Command Construction - Builds CLI commands with --disable-extension flags
3. Process Execution - Launches new VS Code instance with modified extension state
4. Workspace Preservation - Maintains current workspace and window configuration

Architecture Overview

The extension follows a modular service-based architecture:

• ExtensionManagerWebviewService - Handles the modern UI interface
• ConfigurationService - Manages loading and validation of workspace settings
• WorkspaceService - Provides workspace path operations and validation
• CommandBuilderService - Constructs VS Code CLI commands with proper arguments
• ExecutionService - Handles command execution and VS Code process management
• UserInteractionService - Manages all user dialogs and notifications

Requirements

• VS Code Version: 1.58.0 or higher
• VS Code CLI Access: Command-line interface must be available in system PATH
• Workspace Context: Extension activates when workspace contains .vscode/ext.config.json
• Platform Support: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Installation

From VS Code Marketplace

1. Open VS Code
2. Navigate to Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X)
3. Search for "Quick Extension Manager"
4. Click Install

From Command Line

code --install-extension ToolsHive.vscode-quick-extension-manager

Manual Installation

1. Download the .vsix file from GitHub Releases
2. Run code --install-extension path/to/extension.vsix

Development and Contributing

Project Structure

src/
├── constants.ts              # Extension constants and configuration
├── types.ts                  # TypeScript interfaces and type definitions
├── extension.ts              # Main extension entry point
├── managers/
│   └── extensionManager.ts   # High-level extension orchestration
└── services/
    ├── configurationService.ts    # Configuration management
    ├── workspaceService.ts        # Workspace operations
    ├── commandBuilderService.ts   # CLI command construction
    ├── userInteractionService.ts  # User interaction handling
    ├── executionService.ts        # Command execution
    └── extensionManagerWebviewService.ts # Webview interface

Building from Source

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ToolsHive/Quick-Extension-Manager.git

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Build the extension
npm run build

# Package for distribution
npm run pkg:build

Contributing Guidelines

1. Fork the repository on GitHub
2. Create a feature branch from main
3. Make your changes with appropriate tests
4. Ensure all existing tests pass
5. Submit a pull request with detailed description

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Extension not activating

• Ensure .vscode/ext.config.json exists in workspace root
• Check that VS Code version meets minimum requirements (1.58.0+)

CLI command not found

• Verify VS Code CLI is installed and available in system PATH
• Follow the official setup guide

Configuration not saving

• Check workspace folder write permissions
• Ensure .vscode directory exists and is writable

Extensions not disabling properly

• Verify extension IDs are correct (right-click extension → "Copy Extension ID")
• Check that VS Code restarted completely after applying changes

Links and Resources

• GitHub Repository: ToolsHive/Quick-Extension-Manager
• VS Code Marketplace: Quick Extension Manager
• Issue Tracker: Report Issues
• Feature Requests: Submit Ideas
• VS Code CLI Documentation: Command Line Interface

Changelog

See CHANGELOG.md for detailed release notes and version history.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

Copyright (c) 2025 ToolsHive. All rights reserved.