Quick native picker for opening recent VS Code projects on Windows
Opens recent Visual Studio Code projects instantly via a native Windows picker that reads VS Code's internal database and presents a searchable list. Created by Caleb Robinson, the tool targets Windows developers and power users who prefer keyboard-driven workflows and taskbar hotkeys. It uses asynchronous parsing for fast startup, supports remote URIs such as WSL and SSH, and keeps the runtime compact as a single, dependency-free executable following system theme settings.
How the tool finds and launches your recent projects
VS Recent reads the VS Code shared storage database (state.vscdb) using the system's winsqlite3.dll, parses recent-folder entries asynchronously, and shows them in a keyboard-searchable list. The tool preserves local and remote folder URIs, including WSL and SSH, so selecting an entry opens that recorded workspace directly in the installed VS Code instance. The Win+1 through Win+9 taskbar pin shortcuts give one-press launching for pinned slots.
How it affects system behaviour during use
The executable is a small, self-contained Rust binary that uses built-in Windows DLLs only, so startup is near-instant and the tool does not require an external runtime. Asynchronous database parsing reduces blocking on the desktop, which explains the product's fast launch times compared with opening the full IDE first. The picker follows system light or dark theme settings, so it integrates visually without extra background services.
Safety, access levels, and permission model
The picker operates by reading the shared storage database rather than modifying it, which means it works in read-only fashion for retrieving the recent list. It requires an installed VS Code to populate state.vscdb, and it supports complex remote development URIs such as Dev Containers and GitHub tunnels. The project includes an optional AutoHotkey script for a dedicated global shortcut, which runs separately from the main executable.
Who benefits and how steep the learning curve is
The tool suits developers who switch projects frequently and prefer keyboard navigation: it provides case-insensitive filtering of labels, URIs, and remote names, and visual colour-coding to distinguish connection types. Installation can be via the Windows Package Manager or by dropping the executable into a folder, so technical setup is brief. Users who rely on mouse-driven, in-IDE navigation gain less from the tiny, focused workflow this tool offers.
Best fit and a practical limitation
The tool is a focused productivity utility for developers who want faster access to VS Code workspaces from the desktop; it reads the IDE database directly and launches entries without loading the full editor first. One trade-off is its narrow scope: it only surfaces the recent-history picker and does not replace VS Code's full project management. Recommended.
