[Feature]: Transfer files between local and remote machines through the Files pane

[matthewcheok]

Area

Files pane / remote environments / desktop

Problem or use case

I use T3 Code on my laptop connected to a remote environment over Tailscale. While browsing the remote project in the Files pane, I want to transfer files between my laptop and that project without switching to a separate file-transfer tool.

This is useful in both directions: bringing local assets or documents into the remote workspace, and saving files generated or edited remotely back onto my laptop.

Proposed behavior

• Upload: drag one or more files from Finder or File Explorer onto a folder in the remote Files pane to upload them into that folder. Highlight the destination before the drop.
• Download: drag one or more files from the remote Files pane into a local Finder or File Explorer folder to download them there.
• Show transfer progress, completion, and actionable errors.
• Ask before overwriting existing files where the application controls conflict handling.
• Offer Upload and Download actions as alternatives where native drag and drop is unavailable.

Transfers should use the existing authenticated environment connection, including connections reached over Tailscale.

Smallest useful scope

Start with individual files and multiple-file selections in the desktop app. Folder transfers, synchronization, and broader file-management operations can remain outside this proposal. Browser clients could use explicit Upload and Download actions where operating-system drag and drop is not supported.

Native drag-out of remote files may need desktop-specific handling; the intent is to agree on the workflow without prescribing an implementation.

Existing functionality and related discussions

Chat attachments already provide an upload path to the environment, but they do not provide direct placement into a chosen project folder through the Files pane.

Related: #6940 discusses folder import and broader folder management. This proposal focuses specifically on transferring files between the local machine and an existing remote project.

Contribution / request for direction

I would be interested in contributing this after agreeing on direction and scope. Does this workflow fit the project? Would you prefer upload and download support implemented together, or staged separately?

If an existing Files-pane workflow already covers this, guidance would also be appreciated.