omdsh-dev/DSH-better-sidebar

What it solves

dsh-better-sidebar is a service-oriented sidebar framework and workbench for DSH, designed to fill critical gaps in the official DSH sidebar. It transforms the read-only nature of the official document preview into an interactive environment, adding advanced file management, Git integration, and task monitoring capabilities that are not present in the native implementation.

How it works

The plugin integrates with DSH by registering its components as native tabs and providing a dedicated service (ctx.betterSidebar) that other plugins can use to register their own tabs and file viewers. It utilizes a dual-workbench layout consisting of the DSH native right sidebar and a custom-drawn bottom panel. Key technical implementations include a CodeMirror-based editor for editable files, a lazy-loading directory tree with real-time watching, and a custom diff renderer for tracking AI-driven and Git-based file changes.

Who it’s for

Developers and power users of DSH who need a more robust IDE-like experience, including the ability to edit code directly in the sidebar, manage complex file structures, and monitor background agent tasks.

Highlights

• Interactive Code Editor: Replaces read-only previews with an editable CodeMirror editor featuring syntax highlighting and saving capabilities.
• Enhanced File Explorer: Includes lazy-loading directory trees, real-time file watching, global filename search, and batch operations (copy, delete, ZIP download).
• Git & AI Change Tracking: A unified view for Git status (staging, committing, history) and a dedicated perspective for tracking files modified by the AI during a session.
• Task Management: Provides a real-time topology preview of sub-agents and a detailed list of background tasks with output and termination controls.
• Bottom Workbench: Adds a customizable, draggable bottom panel that can operate simultaneously with the native right sidebar.
• Side Conversations: Beta feature allowing independent Codex-style threads that inherit the main session context without polluting it.
• Extensible API: Offers registerTab and registerFileViewer to allow other plugins to build upon the framework, with over 28 ecosystem plugins already existing.