In the latest update of Visual Studio Code (VSCode), the long-awaited feature of multiple floating editor windows has finally been delivered. This update, version 1.85, also includes clipboard support for the File Explorer, TypeScript 5.3 support, and several other enhancements.
One of the most significant additions in this release is the support for floating editor windows, also known as lightweight or “aux windows”. This feature allows developers to drag an open tab outside the main window, providing much-needed flexibility and better utilization of screen space. Additionally, developers can now float the VSCode terminal by using the “Move Terminal into Editor Area” option and then making it a separate window.
However, there are some peculiarities associated with the floating windows. For instance, closing a floating window causes it to reappear as a tab in the main window. Another anomaly is the “Copy into new window” option, which duplicates a tab in the floating window, and edits made in one window are echoed in the other. Furthermore, quitting and reopening VSCode with floating windows open does not preserve the layout, as all the auxiliary windows become tabs instead.
In addition to the floating editor windows, the update introduces the ability to paste files from the operating system into the VSCode File Explorer, specify auto-update for selected extensions, and sticky scroll in the terminal. The TypeScript support has been upgraded to version 5.3, bringing significant improvements. Furthermore, debugger enhancements include new support for visualizing V8 heap snapshots and debugging Rust compiled to WebAssembly.
While the introduction of floating editor windows is a welcome addition, it seems that there are some bugs that need to be addressed, such as the issue of “Copied terminal breaks when moved back to the main window.”
For more detailed information about the update, the full release notes can be found [here]
