VS Code side panel for Devfile Commands

[azatsarynnyy]

Is your enhancement related to a problem? Please describe

Currently, the Devfile Commands are translated to VS Code Tasks. A typical way to run such a Task is using the Commands Palette. Although it is the only way provided by VS Code, it's not the best UX. Especially for the users who are not very familiar yet with the VS Code.

Describe the solution you'd like

It would be great to add a side panel with the Devfile Commands listed. It can provide:

• an easy way to find it in the UI
• a simple way for running a Devfile Command
• additional features, like opening the command's output, terminating or rerunning, etc.

Describe alternatives you've considered

No response

Additional context

VS Code provides Tasks API for the extensions:
https://code.visualstudio.com/api/references/vscode-api#tasks

[che-bot]

Issues go stale after 180 days of inactivity. lifecycle/stale issues rot after an additional 7 days of inactivity and eventually close.

Mark the issue as fresh with /remove-lifecycle stale in a new comment.

If this issue is safe to close now please do so.

Moderators: Add lifecycle/frozen label to avoid stale mode.

[azatsarynnyy]

With the extensions like Task Manager the UX for running the Devfile Commands is a bit better. Nevertheless, there're much more we can do for making it much more convenient. So, reopening the issue.

[azatsarynnyy]

/remove-lifecycle stale

[ddoan]

Does reopening this issue have any indication on when it will be prioritized? I'd like to add a vote for it.

[azatsarynnyy]

AFAIK, it's not among the nearest priorities of our team. But contributions are welcomed, of course )
I've reopened it just to reflect that it's still relevant.

[che-bot]

Issues go stale after 180 days of inactivity. lifecycle/stale issues rot after an additional 7 days of inactivity and eventually close.

Mark the issue as fresh with /remove-lifecycle stale in a new comment.

If this issue is safe to close now please do so.

Moderators: Add lifecycle/frozen label to avoid stale mode.

[azatsarynnyy]

/remove-lifecycle stale

[Mbd06b]

Took me a while to figure out how to access devfile defined commands from the VS Code editor default. Just an alternative, a little higher-visibility on some documentation somewhere might help too.

[azatsarynnyy]

Thanks @Mbd06b. It's a good point. I reopened #21835 and #21841.

[azatsarynnyy]

I've just come up with an idea on how to make it as simple as possible, probably.
@Mbd06b WDYT if we add a new command to the Eclipse Che menu

which is opened by clicking the bottom-left button

The command would be Eclipse Che: Run Devfile Command...
It would open the list of the Devfile Commands

already filtered by devfile type.
It would do the same as the Terminal > Run Task... > devfile, but the user can find it in a much more expected place.

[Mbd06b]

Sorry it's been a long time replying. I think that finding links to those built-in commands was what I was expecting by default from the che menu. Even if it links over to some kind of context as to how those are defined or triggered would be helpful, so the UI helps self-document how predefined devfile commands can be used.