Task 2: File Explorer Sidebar

Build a VS Code-style file hierarchy viewer

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1. Frontend Structure Expansion

• Add a sidebar <div> next to the textarea
• Create nested HTML lists (<ul>, <li>) to represent folders/files
• Add folder (📁) and file (📄) icons with CSS

2. Backend Command

• Add a new Rust function:

  #[tauri::command]
  fn get_child_paths(path: String) -> Result<Vec<(String, bool)>, String>
  • Uses std::fs::read_dir to list directory contents
  • Returns tuples: (path, is_directory)
  • Sorts folders first, then files

3. Dynamic Hierarchy Rendering

• Modify "Open File" workflow:
  1. Get file path via dialog.open()
  2. Extract parent directory path
  3. Call get_child_paths to fetch siblings
  4. Render initial file tree in sidebar

4. Interactive Features

• Add click handlers for:
  • Folders: Expand/collapse with ▶/▼ arrows
  • Files: Load content into textarea
• Recursive directory loading (fetch children on expand)

5. Security & Error Handling, if needed

• Update tauri.conf.json to allow directory traversal:

  "fs": { "scope": ["$HOME/**"] }
• Handle Result errors from Rust in TypeScript

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Key Technical Requirements

Component	Technology/Package	Purpose
Hierarchy UI	Recursive DOM updates	Dynamic folder expansion
Backend	std::fs::read_dir	Directory content listing
State	Event delegation	Handle nested element clicks
Performance	On-demand loading	Only fetch visible directories

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Conclusion Task 2

You've transformed the basic editor into a file-centric IDE!
"Complexity is just simplicity with layers of intention."
— Next: Add a create new file button! 🚀

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