Flashback
A while back I created a theme for VS Code called Winter is Coming. I learned how to do this by reading this great guide on theming in the VS Code docs. I still use it today (I love the dark versions). It taught me a lot about how to customize colors in VS Code. I then started using this to help solve another problem I had: quickly and visually differentiating between VS Code instances
I'm often working on multiple code projects an articles I am writing in markdown. My worflow is to open different separate VS Code instances for each, as they are often unrelated to each other. As my mind shifts between the work, I find myself cycling through the instances and it takes me a bit of time to identify which instance I want to in focus.
About Last Night
I was working on 4 apps at once last night, along with several articles in I am crafting in markdown using VS Code. This motivated me to complete this project
After I had a working extension completed, I created a simple animated gif and shared it on twitter to see if anyone else was interested. Then I went to bed.
I woke up this morning to more positive reactions than from the community (thank you). I also received many great contributions already (thank you again!).
- credit to @josephrexme for the name and icon for Peacock
- credit to @codebeast for the CLI suggestions
- credit to @_clarkio and @burkeholland for several issues/ideas
Special credit to the VS Code team and their incredibly helpful guide for creating extensions
Try Peacock Out
If you are interested in trying out Peacock, you can find it here in the marketplace. It is currently in preview, which means there may be dragons ahead.
Worst case, this extension is just something I'll use, and that's OK. But if you like it too, please give it a try and submit feedback in GitHub. You can open issues or grab an open issue and help contribute.
Thanks!
Cross posted to johnpapa.net
Top comments (22)
Man I was looking for something exactly like this! Worst was when I had multiple rails console opened at each tab and they all look identical.
Have a question though, does it work if I have my VS Code in full screen? (Mac)
Not yet. Preview just does title bar. I have an open issue on the repository to consider what other settings should be applied.
Can you style the status bar? That might be a (perhaps better) alternative!
Yes - there is an open issue where I am gathering ideas for what should be colored. Please add your thoughts.
... and ... version 0.0.7 now has more options for coloring
I love it! I manage websites for multiple companies and often keep multiple windows open at a time. Makes switching so much easier. TY for sharing :)
Thanks! I'm happy you like it
That plugin you did looks great men, but atm am not that pro and i work on a single App at once.
I will sure download it once im ready to work on different projects at the same time.
Have you tried using VS Code to edit text files too? Articles, notes for you todo's for the day, etc? Just curious. I love it for all text editing
I havent tried it yet, sounds like a good idea, how do you normally wirte up this text files?, do you write the challenges for the day, or something like that?
I Use markdown in vs code for articles.
For daily notes I use markdown or it could just be text.
And often thought the day I have ideas one notirs I want to store.
Looks really cool and useful! Thank you for building it and sharing! 😀👍
Thanks for this. It's really useful. Cheers! :)
you're welcome, cheers
Love the coloration of the theme!
Thanks!
Nice! Simple and intuitive.
I don't think I will ever use Peacock mainly because I don't ever have multiple windows like that.
BUT, I love the theme and am totally using it now.
No worries :)
Thanks for using the theme
you're welcome
Thanks a lot for this...i was actually looking for something like this!!!