anthropics / anthropics/claude-code

Desktop app: open files in tabs instead of a single replacing side panel

Open
#92,117 0 comments 1 reaction 0 assignees View on GitHub
area:desktop enhancement platform:macos
Dominant language
Python
Stars
145k
Forks
23.1k
PR merge metrics
PR metrics pending

Description

## Problem

Reviewing a change across several files during one task is impractical: each newly opened file
replaces the previous one in the side panel. There is no way to keep two files open, switch
between them, or return to one after following a link, so the reader loses their place constantly.

## Desired behavior

Files open as tabs in the viewer, the way OpenAI Codex does it: several files open at once,
switching between them, and a tab stays until it is closed. A split view for comparing two files
would cover the remaining case.

## Acceptance criteria

- Opening a second file does not close the first.
- The user can switch between open files and close them individually.
- Reopening an already-open file focuses its tab instead of creating a duplicate.

## Environment

macOS (Darwin 25.6.0), Claude desktop app 1.44121.4, Claude Code 2.1.258.

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

Research direction

No implementation files, tests, or entry points are named. Start by locating the desktop viewer's file-opening flow and its current single-panel state, then trace how links open files; done means tabs remain available, can be switched and closed, and reopening a file focuses its existing tab without duplication.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
macos
Domain
desktop
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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