Vscode Ext Commands

VS Code extension command contribution

Add or update VS Code extension commands so package.json contributions expose clear Command Palette actions and correctly hidden Side Bar commands with titles, categories, icons, enablement, and menu placement.

When to invoke

• "Add a command to my VS Code extension."
• "Update command contributions in package.json."
• "Make this command appear in the Command Palette."
• "Add a Side Bar button command with an icon and when clause."

Command contribution rules

VS Code commands must always define a title, independent of category, visibility, or location.

Regular command pattern

• Define a user-facing title that starts with a verb.
• Define a category so Command Palette entries group under the extension name or feature area.
• Omit icon unless the command will be used in the Side Bar or another UI surface that displays icons.
• Keep command IDs stable; changing them breaks keybindings, menus, and user muscle memory.

Side Bar command pattern

• Name Side Bar commands with a leading underscore and #sideBar suffix, for example _extensionId.someCommand#sideBar.
• Its name follows a special pattern, starting with underscore (_) and suffixed with #sideBar, like _extensionId.someCommand#sideBar for instance. Must define an icon, and may or may not have some rule for enablement.
• Define an icon because Side Bar buttons often render as icon-only actions.
• Add enablement when the command should be disabled instead of hidden.
• Add a menu when condition so the command is visible only in the intended view or item state.
• When contributing to view/title or view/item/context, specify an order or position through group, using terms relative to other command/button placement when needed; this is the original order/position rule.
• Hide Side Bar exclusive commands from the Command Palette through an appropriate menus.commandPalette when condition.

Examples

Regular Command Palette command

{
  "contributes": {
    "commands": [
      {
        "command": "extensionId.refreshData",
        "title": "Refresh Data",
        "category": "Extension Name"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Side Bar exclusive command

{
  "contributes": {
    "commands": [
      {
        "command": "_extensionId.refreshView#sideBar",
        "title": "Refresh View",
        "icon": "$(refresh)"
      }
    ],
    "menus": {
      "view/title": [
        {
          "command": "_extensionId.refreshView#sideBar",
          "when": "view == extensionId.views.main",
          "group": "navigation@10"
        }
      ],
      "commandPalette": [
        {
          "command": "_extensionId.refreshView#sideBar",
          "when": "false"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Gotchas

• Do not omit title: every command contribution needs one even when the command is hidden or icon-only.
• Do not show Side Bar exclusive commands in the Command Palette: hide them explicitly when they only make sense in a view.
• Do not rely on menu position by accident: use group order such as navigation@10 when relative placement matters.
• Do not use Side Bar naming for regular commands: _...#sideBar communicates private UI placement.

Output template

## VS Code command contribution result

**Status:** ready | needs manifest context | blocked
**Command kind:** regular | Side Bar | view/title | view/item/context

| Command | Title | Category | Icon | Menu | Visibility |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `<command id>` | `<title>` | `<category or n/a>` | `<icon or n/a>` | `<menu>` | `<Command Palette / Side Bar / hidden>` |

**Manifest changes:** `<package.json contribution summary>`

Quality gate

• Every command defines a title.
• Regular commands define a category and remain accessible in the Command Palette.
• Side Bar command IDs start with _ and end with #sideBar, for example _extensionId.someCommand#sideBar.
• Side Bar commands define an icon.
• Side Bar exclusive commands are hidden from the Command Palette.
• view/title and view/item/context menu contributions include an appropriate when condition.
• Menu placement uses group when order or relative position matters.