Commands for MRU-cycling tabs (Most Recently Used)

[jubr]

Check for existing issues

• Completed

Describe the feature

Since #5244 (which can be closed) cycling tabs L+R has been implemented with pane::ActivateNextItem and pane::ActivatePrevItem.

But I'd like to request MRU-cycling through tabs, so I can quickly switch between non-adjacent tabs with cmd-tab and cmd-shift-tab. I often have a lot of files open, having to use the mouse to switch or performing 10 consecutive L or R operations is not efficient.

Basically how VSCode does it. Here's some pre-work describing the behavior hoping it can jump-start implementation:

Generic wishlist

• two new commands, say
  • pane::ActivateMruPrevItem and
  • pane::ActivateMruNextItem
• on command activation
  • show a popup list with all opened files sorted by MostRecentlyUsed (like Command Palette, without the text entry)
  • item m-1 (for Prev) or m+1 (for Next) is selected
  • popup list is shown as long as the first modifier-key is held
• on subsequent command Prev or Next activations with first modifier-key still held
  • select the next or prev file in the popup list, m++ or m--
• on release of first modifier-key
  • pane::ActivateItem m
  • close popup list

These commands can then be bound to for instance:

"bindings": {
    "cmd-tab": "pane::ActivateMruPrevItem",
    "cmd-shift-tab": "pane::ActivateMruNextItem"
}

Some UI thoughts

• Have the file list control always show up at the same location, so your eyes can always directly jump to the same point on the screen. Command Palette already does this nicely by essentially "dropping down" below the tab bar.

If applicable, add mockups / screenshots to help present your vision of the feature

[faheemmughal]

Cycling through MRU tabs are super critical to my workflow. IMO the only thing stopping me from switching to Zed right now.

[joshuawarner32]

Big plus one to this: everything else about zed is great, but I just can't shake my muscle memory from other editors of ctrl+tab'ing in MRU order.

[phwes]

I am able to switch between most recently used tabs by adding this to my keymap.json:

{
    "context": "Pane",
    "bindings": {
      "ctrl-shift-tab": "pane::GoBack",
      "ctrl-tab": "pane::GoForward",
    }
}

[jubr]

Thanks for the suggestion, @phwes, this is close, but not exactly the de-facto MRU behavior I am looking for.

Looks like interest is rising for this feature: #4772 + (semi-related) #5620

[phwes]

Yes, you are right @jubr. On both accounts!

[FlorianLoch]

Too me this is most likely one of the most used binding at all. I got so used to it, that I really do not understand why very common browsers and even editors that target especially the fans of bindings do not have this...

Anyway, I would love to see it implement 👍

[Moshyfawn]

Related #8757

[thuvasooriya]

sorry if this is not relevant here, but how can I set the keybinding to switch to the next tab in zed vim mode.