File Explorer + native source code integration

[crutkas]

Suggested new feature or improvement

As a developer, information at a glance is critical. In git workflows, knowing the branch, the state of a file, and more helps you stay productive and engaged with the tools you care about.

This integration aims to allow you to quickly access information needed directly from File Explorer and get you into the tools you know and trust to do the work.

Additionally, this work is coupled with an initiative to improve the left-hand navigation pane for developers using git with:

• A library for quickly viewing and accessing all local git repositories
• Visually differentiation of git repository directory icons from normal folders
• Tooling that allows users to open git directories in their IDEs or source management tools of choice

This ships as a Dev Home extension with settings for the feature accessible within Dev Home itself.

Scenario

Using GitHub desktop and then being asked to go to File Explorer to see and interact with your files. This creates a torn experience - let's close the loop by providing tools for continuing this interaction and getting back into the flow.

Finding local git repositories on my device.

Additional details

No response

[riverar]

So what's the status of this feature? Is it still in design/planning? Engineering? Test?

Was the integration shown at Build 2023 fake/conceptual?

[krschau]

This will be available as an experimental feature that can be enabled in Dev Home version 0.1801.

[MaverickMartyn]

How does one actually get this feature? I'm on Windows 11 Insider Beta 22635.4300, and I have Dev Home Preview 0.1801.640.0, but the new Windows Explorer options in Dev Home aren't showing up. What am I missing?

[krschau]

@DefaultRyan or @ssparach Can you answer the above question?

[DefaultRyan]

How does one actually get this feature? I'm on Windows 11 Insider Beta 22635.4300, and I have Dev Home Preview 0.1801.640.0, but the new Windows Explorer options in Dev Home aren't showing up. What am I missing?

I'm the primary dev working on this feature, and I'm happy to answer. There are two pieces here.

1. In Dev Home, this feature is still Experimental while we test+polish+optimize. If your Windows build supports it, Dev Home -> Settings -> Experimental features will show "File Explorer Source Control Integration" as a feature you can enable. (If not shown here, see part 2 below). Once enabled, this will display the new options in Dev Home -> Windows customization -> File Explorer.
2. The Windows support is currently rolling out in the Beta/Dev channels. The majority of Beta/Dev machines should see the feature active, but not all of them will, due to the way Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) stages things. I can confirm that your build (Beta 22635.4300) is in the "majority of devices" stage. This support is planned to be enabled by default very soon, but I can't confirm a specific date or build number just yet. I'm writing myself a reminder to update this thread once that support hits public release.

By the way, thanks for looking at this! I'm eager for feedback once you try this out.

[JonathanBout]

Will this feature support wildcards or automatic repository discovery? Currently I have to add all repos manually, but it'd be nicer to be able to say "Search for repositories in E:\Projects"

[ExerciseBook]

I have been looking forward to this feature since 2023, is it possible to migrate to PowerToy?

[ogsadmin]

@DefaultRyan: Thanks for your work on making Windows Explorer a better tool for Developers!

I do have a few ideas/questions though:

• Is there any chance that there will be overlay icons showing local file change state similar to what TortoiseGit is able to do (is it on your list)?
• Or maybe think about fixing the Windows Explorer 15 overlay icons limit, which breaks TortoiseGit integration often (see https://tortoisegit.org/support/faq/#ovlnotall?

Thanks!

[kariudo]

@DefaultRyan: Thanks for your work on making Windows Explorer a better tool for Developers!

I do have a few ideas/questions though:

• Is there any chance that there will be overlay icons showing local file change state similar to what TortoiseGit is able to do (is it on your list)?
• Or maybe think about fixing the Windows Explorer 15 overlay icons limit, which breaks TortoiseGit integration often (see https://tortoisegit.org/support/faq/#ovlnotall?

Thanks!

I wouldn't expect much here, they already announced that DevHome is being deprecated. Dead before it really lived. RIP.

[MaverickMartyn]

What are the plans for this feature?
Will it be a built-in feature in Explorer, moved to PowerToys, or something else entirely?