Recent Files Feature

Overview

The Recent Files feature provides quick access to recently opened files directly from the status bar. Clicking the file path in the status bar opens a popup showing the 5 most recently accessed files.

User Interface

Status Bar File Path

• Location: Left side of the bottom status bar
• Display: Shows current file path (or "Untitled" / "No file open")
• Clickable: When recent files exist, clicking opens the popup

Recent Files Popup

• Triggered by: Click on file path in status bar
• Shows: Up to 5 most recent files
• Display format: File name (bold) with parent directory below
• Hover info: Full path with usage instructions

Interaction Modes

Click (Open with Focus)

• Opens the file in a new tab
• Switches focus to the new tab immediately
• Default behavior for normal clicks

Shift+Click (Open in Background)

• Opens the file in a new tab
• Does not switch focus (stays on current tab)
• Shows toast message: "Opened in background: filename"
• Popup stays open - allows opening multiple files in sequence
• Useful for batch-opening multiple files quickly

Implementation

Files Modified

• src/state.rs - Added open_file_with_focus(path, focus: bool) method
• src/state.rs - Added show_recent_files_popup to UiState
• src/app.rs - Status bar file path button and popup UI

Key Components

AppState::open_file_with_focus(path, focus)

pub fn open_file_with_focus(&mut self, path: PathBuf, focus: bool) -> Result<usize, std::io::Error>

Opens a file with control over whether to switch focus:

• focus: true - Opens and switches to the new tab
• focus: false - Opens in background, current tab stays active
• Handles already-open files (returns existing tab index)
• Updates recent files list regardless of focus mode

UiState::show_recent_files_popup

Boolean flag controlling popup visibility. Toggled by:

• Click on status bar file path (toggles)
• Normal click on a file in the popup (closes)
• Shift+click on a file (stays open for batch opening)
• Clicking outside the popup (closes)

Popup UI Structure

┌─────────────────────────────────┐
│ Recent Files (bold header)      │
├─────────────────────────────────┤
│ document.md (bold)              │
│ C:\Users\name\Documents         │
│                                 │
│ notes.md (bold)                 │
│ G:\Projects\MyProject           │
│ ...                             │
└─────────────────────────────────┘

Data Storage

Recent files are stored in Settings.recent_files:

• Type: Vec<PathBuf>
• Maximum: 20 files (configurable via max_recent_files)
• Automatically updated on file open
• Persisted immediately to config file on every file open/save-as
• Stale path pruning: Non-existent files are automatically removed on app startup

Persistence Guarantees

The recent files list is designed to survive unexpected shutdowns:

• Settings are saved immediately after adding a file to the recent list
• Uses atomic writes (write-to-temp-then-rename pattern) to prevent corruption
• On load, files that no longer exist are automatically pruned from the list

Testing

Unit tests in src/state.rs:

• test_open_file_with_focus_true - Verifies focus behavior
• test_open_file_with_focus_false - Verifies background open
• test_open_file_already_open_with_focus - Handles duplicate opens
• test_open_file_already_open_without_focus - Background duplicate
• test_open_file_updates_recent_files - Recent files list updated

Unit tests in src/config/settings.rs:

• test_add_recent_file - Adding files, deduplication, and list trimming
• test_prune_stale_recent_files - Pruning non-existent files
• test_prune_stale_recent_files_empty_list - Edge case for empty list
• test_sanitize_recent_files - Settings sanitization includes recent files

Related Features

• Settings persistence: Recent files saved/loaded from config, with immediate save on file open
• Tab management: Opens in new tabs, reuses existing tabs for same file
• Toast messages: Feedback for background opens
• Atomic writes: Config file writes use temp-file-rename pattern (see docs/technical/config/config-persistence.md)