feat: enhance VSCode layout with expanded view and responsive design; update sidebar visibility and settings for VSCode runtime

packages/vscode/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,3 +1,15 @@
+## [Unreleased]
+
+- Improved OpenCode server management to ensure it initializes within the workspace directory.
+- Enhanced extension startup with context-aware readiness checks for the current workspace.
+- Session tabs: fixed opening new session in editor tab; title bar button now opens new session tab, sidebar button opens current or new session.
+- Layout: added responsive expanded layout showing sessions sidebar + chat side-by-side when extension is wide enough (≥700px).
+- Layout: extension now opens to sessions list instead of new session draft.
+- Layout: compact header with reduced padding for better space efficiency.
+- Settings: hidden Git Identities tab, Git section, and Diff view settings (not applicable to VS Code).
+- Settings: hidden project switcher dropdown (VS Code uses workspace).
+- Shortcuts: disabled worktree session creation (Ctrl+Shift+N now opens standard session).
+
 ## [1.4.9] - 2026-01-14
 
 - Added session editor panel to view sessions alongside files.

packages/vscode/package.json

@@ -93,6 +93,21 @@
         "title": "Open Active Session in Editor",
         "icon": "$(link-external)"
       },
+      {
+        "command": "openchamber.openNewSessionInEditor",
+        "category": "OpenChamber",
+        "title": "Open New Session in Editor",
+        "icon": {
+          "light": "assets/icon.svg",
+          "dark": "assets/icon-titlebar.svg"
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "command": "openchamber.openCurrentOrNewSessionInEditor",
+        "category": "OpenChamber",
+        "title": "Open Session in Editor",
+        "icon": "$(link-external)"
+      },
       {
         "command": "openchamber.addToContext",
         "category": "OpenChamber",
@@ -136,7 +151,7 @@
       ],
       "editor/title": [
         {
-          "command": "openchamber.openSidebar",
+          "command": "openchamber.openNewSessionInEditor",
           "group": "navigation@1"
         }
       ],
@@ -147,7 +162,7 @@
           "group": "navigation@1"
         },
         {
-          "command": "openchamber.openActiveSessionInEditor",
+          "command": "openchamber.openCurrentOrNewSessionInEditor",
           "when": "view == openchamber.chatView",
           "group": "navigation@2"
         },

packages/vscode/src/SessionEditorPanelProvider.ts

@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ export class SessionEditorPanelProvider {
     private readonly _openCodeManager?: OpenCodeManager
   ) {}
 
+  public createOrShowNewSession(): void {
+    // Generate unique panel ID for new session drafts
+    const panelId = `new_${Date.now()}_${Math.random().toString(36).slice(2, 7)}`;
+    this._createPanel(panelId, 'New Session', null);
+  }
+
   public createOrShow(sessionId: string, title?: string): void {
     if (!sessionId || typeof sessionId !== 'string') {
       return;
@@ -39,11 +45,15 @@ export class SessionEditorPanelProvider {
       return;
     }
 
+    this._createPanel(sessionId, sessionTitle, sessionId);
+  }
+
+  private _createPanel(panelId: string, title: string, initialSessionId: string | null): void {
     const distUri = vscode.Uri.joinPath(this._extensionUri, 'dist');
 
     const panel = vscode.window.createWebviewPanel(
       SessionEditorPanelProvider.viewType,
-      sessionTitle,
+      title,
       vscode.ViewColumn.Beside,
       {
         enableScripts: true,
@@ -63,15 +73,15 @@ export class SessionEditorPanelProvider {
       sseHeartbeats: new Map(),
     };
 
-    this._panels.set(sessionId, state);
+    this._panels.set(panelId, state);
 
-    panel.webview.html = this._getHtmlForWebview(panel.webview, sessionId);
+    panel.webview.html = this._getHtmlForWebview(panel.webview, initialSessionId);
 
     void this.updateTheme(vscode.window.activeColorTheme.kind);
     this._sendCachedStateToPanel(state);
 
     panel.onDidDispose(() => {
-      this._disposePanel(sessionId);
+      this._disposePanel(panelId);
     }, null, this._context.subscriptions);
 
     panel.webview.onDidReceiveMessage(async (message: BridgeRequest) => {
@@ -354,7 +364,7 @@ export class SessionEditorPanelProvider {
     return { id, type, success: true, data: { stopped: true } };
   }
 
-  private _getHtmlForWebview(webview: vscode.Webview, sessionId: string) {
+  private _getHtmlForWebview(webview: vscode.Webview, sessionId: string | null) {
     const workspaceFolder = vscode.workspace.workspaceFolders?.[0]?.uri.fsPath || '';
     const initialStatus = this._cachedStatus;
     const cliAvailable = this._openCodeManager?.isCliAvailable() ?? false;
@@ -366,7 +376,7 @@ export class SessionEditorPanelProvider {
       initialStatus,
       cliAvailable,
       panelType: 'chat',
-      initialSessionId: sessionId,
+      initialSessionId: sessionId ?? undefined,
       viewMode: 'editor',
     });
   }

packages/vscode/src/extension.ts

@@ -198,6 +198,22 @@ export async function activate(context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
     })
   );
 
+  context.subscriptions.push(
+    vscode.commands.registerCommand('openchamber.openNewSessionInEditor', () => {
+      sessionEditorProvider?.createOrShowNewSession();
+    })
+  );
+
+  context.subscriptions.push(
+    vscode.commands.registerCommand('openchamber.openCurrentOrNewSessionInEditor', () => {
+      if (activeSessionId) {
+        sessionEditorProvider?.createOrShow(activeSessionId, activeSessionTitle ?? undefined);
+      } else {
+        sessionEditorProvider?.createOrShowNewSession();
+      }
+    })
+  );
+
   context.subscriptions.push(
     vscode.commands.registerCommand('openchamber.restartApi', async () => {
       try {