VS Code keyboard shortcuts suggestion to learn

[gsipos]

Keyboard shortcuts are central part of VS Code, there are a lot of them and I think I use only a fraction of them. It would be awesome if VS Code could suggest what shortcut should I learn, based on how I use the app with mouse. For example if I click between editors a lot, then VS Code could somehow tell me to use ctrl+1 and ctrl+2. This way I could gradually learn shortcuts that would increase my productivity the most.

[ramya-rao-a]

cc @kieferrm

[Tyriar]

I was actually looking at building an extension for this a long time ago, we don't have the right extension points though. We would need an event for when any command is run and be able to determine the source of the command (menu, command palette, keybinding, etc.)

[Tyriar]

😄 #1775 #1431

[jcrben]

prior art: https://github.com/halirutan/IntelliJ-Key-Promoter-X

[bbohen]

I was actually looking at building an extension for this a long time ago, we don't have the right extension points though. We would need an event for when any command is run and be able to determine the source of the command (menu, command palette, keybinding, etc.)

I tried this over the weekend and hit the same limitations. Was thinking about it a bit and I think this could be a nice feature to add to vscode itself (disabled by default perhaps). Could be something to consider if for some reason the extension points themselves aren't desired. Would be happy to work on a PR to help if there is any interest.

[guider]

keep remain

[stansw]

Before extension points are added to listen for commands it might be possible to to use log stream to build a dataset for training such suggestions. Once proven that such suggestions can bring a lot of value it should be easier to prioritize the work in the extension surface.

Has anyone looked into telemetry emitted by VS Code with this scenario in mind?

[RJSonnenberg]

Anyone working on this? I haven't found anything similar to this yet in extensions or anything.

[pastuh]

Looks like no one :X

[lincolnaleixo]

Need more interest to catch their attention

[dahelg]

I am also looking forward to such a feature/extension.

[kbysiec]

I really miss this feature from WebStorm as well. It would be great to have it in VSC.

[alexdeveng]

I am also looking forward to such feature

[imWildCat]

Currently, do we have enough extension API to implement this feature?
If so, I can start to explore it.

[kbysiec]

I don't think so. And this is the main problem. There was a proposal API some time ago in Insiders version but it has been revoked and from that time the topic is suspended as I know.

[jt3k]

I am also looking forward to such feature

[JaqueLB]

Hey, I am also looking forward to this feature! Something similar as what I had with PHPStorm...

I would rather learn the VSCode Keybinds than to use of extensions to change the shortcuts, as these extensions sometimes leave some commands behind, and you end up not making the most of what the editor can do

[ArthurWietzorek]

I, too, think that such a feature would be a great addition to VSCode.

[ClausClaus]

I am also looking forward to such feature

[chrishna1]

#78091 (comment)

I have pushed 21de711 that removes the proposed API - as explained in my previous comment. This wasn't an easy decision but there were too many doubts around the usefulness of this API, the performance impact, and accidental leakage of arguments.

However, the internal API is there and we are open to accept features like the "keybindings teacher" or "macro recording" as a core contribution to VS Code.

[ztroop]

I would love to see this feature! IntelliJ IDEA has Key Promoter X and it's amazing.

[Vitaly-V]

I'm currently using Android Studio as my primary editor but I tend to migrate to VS Code.
And having the feature that will help me to learn VS Code shortcuts would make my transition between the editors easier.
Thanks in advance!

[andrei-micuda]

I am also looking for this feature, helped me loads while working with JetBrains products.

[JonLevin25]

I would also love this - Key Promoter X is very useful on IntelliJ products

[Michael-Nolan]

I would also really appreciate this feature. It's a huge productivity boost to know the keyboard shortcuts.

[oleg-korolenko]

+1

[StephenJBrasel]

I'd love for this to become a feature; I, too, miss Key Promoter X from IntelliJ/Webstorm.

[flipbit03]

Are we able to hook into the functions needed for this to happen at an Extension level or does this need work inside VSCode itself to enable these kinds of hooks? Sounds like a fun extension for a weekend project and I am interested in creating something along the lines of the excellent "Key Promoter X" which several people already use on IntelliJ-based IDEs.

Thanks in advance o/

[gsipos]

@flipbit03 There was a discussion about this. I believe here: #78091 (comment)
So it would be preferred to be in the core rather than an extension, if I understand it correctly.

[supervanya]

Seems like onDidExecuteCommand could be a possibility after all - VSCode team moved it to a backlog #135616

My friend and I started working on a plugin similar to Key Promoter X. I can share it here once we have a prototype.

[He110te4m]

It is a great idea

[barrynorman]

Seems like onDidExecuteCommand could be a possibility after all - VSCode team moved it to a backlog #135616

My friend and I started working on a plugin similar to Key Promoter X. I can share it here once we have a prototype.

As far as I understand it's not possible at the moment to create an extension like Key Promoter X. You would need some hook/listener like onDidExecuteCommand .

I guess the biggest chance is that it will be added to the core, even if onDidExecuteCommand won't be part of the extension API.

[QDEMANGE]

+1

[Alttaf]

+1

[YovelB]

Keep the pressure on VSCode, it should be an integral part of every IDE.

[kebuAAA]

I am also looking forward to such a feature/extension.

[iFission]

looking forward to have this feature in vscode, like key prompter x in intellij

[lobsterkatie]

@SamTobias - Just a friendly reminder that in general it's better to 👍🏻 the issue description than add a '+1' comment because a) the maintainers actually do pay attention to that count, and b) it saves the other 51 of us from getting our hopes up when we see this issue pop up in our notifications.

EDIT: Comment was removed. Thanks for taking the feedback, @SamTobias! 🙂

[ettubrute47]

Not sure if good or bad that my desire for something like this has been open and active since 2017...

My feature request is based on the same philosophy of making it easy to learn keybindings, but I have a slightly more aggressive variation. I think it would be good to have an option that specifically stops any commands which have an associated keybinding from being executed if done with the mouse, with a popup telling you the keybinding, so you have to execute the keybinding to actually do it. I think that's the fastest way to learn them.

I was going to look into making an extension, but I figured the ability to hook into the API at such a fundamental level is probably not supported - which I think this thread has pointed out. I don't have experience with buidling vscode extensions but I wonder if supporting a listener for commands that are specifically mapped to keybindings can be a middle-ground option? I know there are extensions which add keybindings and features along with it, so there is some support for keybindings, but if you can make a subset of commands which are 'bindable' and/or are 'binded' have a callback for when they're executed.

I'd love having a method for being able to interrupt those commands but I feel like that level of flexibility could just add a ton of risk to support...

Again not sure on the extension ecosystem, if its easy to support the necessary API's then I think that's the way to go, I think there are enough people that are interested in the keybinding 'game' that some good extensions would come through pretty quickly - I could see something like a 'tracker' for how well each keyboard shortcut is being learned - and maybe even an 'anki' like system for personalizing when keybinding popups are shown - targeting the ones you need to 'practice' the most. Customizing which keybindings you actually care about learning is probably something that'd be cool too - but to me more realistically would fit only in the domain of an extension.

[Darkzarich]

Looking forward to seeing this feature in vscode, would be really cool and productivity-growing 👍

[Darkzarich]

I was trying to make this extension the way it was made for WebStorm and the problem is there is no API for Visual Studio Code extensions to work with mouse events globally. And it was mentioned in this #47239 issue that they do not plan to add API for this. I guess there is nothing we can do for now

[alexdeveng]

I was trying to make this extension the way it was made for WebStorm and the problem is there is no API for Visual Studio Code extensions to work with mouse events globally. And it was mentioned in this #47239 issue that they do not plan to add API for this. I guess there is nothing we can do for now

Thank you for the information

[jt3k]

any updates ?

[gsipos]

I spotted this: https://code.visualstudio.com/updates/v1_75#_commonly-used-section-in-the-command-palette
Not exactly a solution, but if you turn on workbench.commandPalette.experimental.suggestCommands then at least you see some potentially useful command+shortcut pairs in the command palette

[NnicanBuak]

+1
It would be enough for me just a notification that you can use a hotkey when I repeatedly perform some action with the mouse and place the button in the notification itself, which no longer reminds me of a particular action with the mouse.

[ahmeducf]

Looking forward to this feature

[jt3k]

any updates ?

[howel52]

I am also looking forward to such a feature, any updates ?

[zhw-rneumann]

I would love this feature as well, missing it since leaving WebStorm.

[Sojborg]

+1 we need this feature. Rider/webstorm have it via plugins.

[riZZZhik]

Also looking forward for this feature!

[supervanya]

@jrieken I am going to take a crack at adding a "keyboard tutor" to the vscode under an experimental setting. I started digging into the code, currently trying to understand how to architect it and I have a couple of questions, where is the best place for me to ask them?

[zhw-rneumann]

Nice, will you keep us updated here when it's available?

[donebd]

New plugin for this purpose is already released!
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=donebd.vscode-keypromoter

[debu999]

wow guess its my lucky day. will try the vscode-keypromoter and share feedback may 2017 - dec 2023 quite a journey.