VirtualTabs is a VS Code extension that provides custom "Virtual File Directories" outside of your native file system. Unlike standard directories, VirtualTabs helps you create independent logical file groups based on your current development theme, while also providing AI-Ready Coding Context for quick copying. It is perfectly suited for Monorepo projects or large-scale applications using MVVM or MVC architectures.
| Feature | Native VS Code Tabs | VirtualTabs Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Persistence | Cleared on session close | Saved permanently per workspace |
| Grouping | Folder-based only | Logic-based (Cross-directory support) |
| AI Context | Hard to gather manually | One-click context generation for LLMs |
In MVC/MVVM or large-scale projects, related files are often scattered across deep directory structures, making switching a repetitive chore:
❌ Traditional File Structure:
├── config.json (Root Config)
├── styles/theme.css (Style Layer)
├── src/components/ (View Layer)
├── tests/__tests__/ (Testing Layer)
✅ Theme-Based Virtual Directory:
📁 Feature: Theme System
├── 📁📚 Configuration
│ └── config.json
├── 📁📚 Style Definitions
│ └── theme.css
├── 📁📚 Components (View Layer)
│ └── ThemeProvider.tsx
│ └── 🔖 Line 45: Context setup
└── 📁📚 Unit Tests (Logic/Testing)
│ └── theme.test.ts
- Open VS Code.
- Press
Ctrl+Shift+X(orCmd+Shift+X). - Search for VirtualTabs and click Install.
- Click the VirtualTabs icon in the Activity Bar (left sidebar).
- Right-click in the panel → Create New Group.
- Drag files from Explorer into your group.
- Cross-Directory Grouping — Organize files from anywhere, breaking free from folder constraints.
- Task-Oriented Bookmarks — Mark specific lines of code within your groups for quick navigation.
- Sub-Groups & Nesting — Create hierarchical structures for better organization.
- AI Context Export — One-click copy all files as LLM-ready context.
- Portable Config — Settings saved to
.vscode/virtualTab.jsonfor team sharing. - AI Agent Integration (MCP) — Connect AI agents (Cursor, Claude, etc.) to manage groups programmatically.
- Auto Reveal & Sync — Automatically focus active files and sync with native editor groups.
- Send to... — Quickly send selected files or groups to pre-configured destinations.
- File Reordering — Custom manual ordering via Drag & Drop or keyboard shortcuts.
- Smart Copy Menu — Unified copy options for names, paths, and total file content.
- Directory Drag & Drop — Drag folders to add all files recursively.
- Clipboard Operations — Full Cut/Copy/Paste support for files and groups.
- Smart Organization — Auto-group by extension, date, or sort by various criteria.
- Create/Rename: Right-click panel or groups to manage.
- Sub-Groups: Right-click a group → Add Sub-Group (or drag one group into another).
- Auto-Sync: The built-in "Open Editors" group automatically tracks your native tabs.
- Drag & Drop:
- Files: Drag files from Explorer into groups.
- Folders: Drag folders to recursively add all files inside.
- Multi-select: Hold
Ctrl/Cmdto drag multiple files at once.
- Right-click any line of code → Add Bookmark to VirtualTabs.
- The bookmark appears nested under the file in your group.
- Click to jump instantly to that exact line.
- Edit label/description to document why this line is important.
The "Killer Feature" for LLM workflows.
- Setup a group with all relevant files for your current task.
- Right-click the group → Copy... → Copy Context for AI.
- Paste into ChatGPT/Claude.
- Smart: Binary files are skipped; large files (>50KB) are flagged for review.
- Clean: All code is formatted in markdown blocks with file paths.
VirtualTabs provides full AI agent integration via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Let your AI assistant (Cursor, Antigravity, Kiro, etc.) manage your workspace groups programmatically.
-
🔌 Standardized Tools: Exposes 15+ tools for creating groups and explore the project.
-
🛡️ Safety Mode: Features a four-layer safety decision tree to prevent unintended disk changes.
-
⚙️ Easy Config: Use the MCP Config Panel (command:
VirtualTabs: Show MCP Config) to get ready-to-paste settings.
👉 See the MCP Setup Guide for detailed IDE configuration.
- Group by Task, Not Folder: Think about the feature you're working on.
- Use Bookmarks for Logic Flow: Mark key decision points in your code.
- Curate AI Context: Group only necessary files (5-10) to maximize LLM accuracy and reduce token noise.
- Share with Team: Commit
.vscode/virtualTab.jsonto share curated project views.
Q: I don't see the VirtualTabs panel?
Check if the extension is enabled and if you are using VS Code 1.75+. Look for the VirtualTabs icon in the Activity Bar.
Q: How does "Copy Context for AI" work?
It reads all files in the group, formats them as markdown code blocks, and copies them to the clipboard.
Q: Can I reorder groups manually?
Yes, right-click any group and use the Move Up/Down commands.
We welcome community contributions! Please check DEVELOPMENT.md for environment setup and debugging guides.
The perfect partner for VirtualTabs.
While VirtualTabs organizes your Context (Files), Quick Prompt organizes your Instructions (Prompts).
- VirtualTabs: Defines where the AI should look (File Groups).
- Quick Prompt: Defines what the AI should do (Prompt Management).
Together, they create the ultimate AI-coding workflow.
Get Quick Prompt on VS Code Marketplace | Open VSX Registry
👉 See CHANGELOG.md for full release history.
If you find this extension helpful, please consider supporting the development!
License: MIT
Organize smarter, code faster. 🚀