Can I automatically start a task when a folder is opened?

Question

Does VS code support starting a gulp-watch task on startup? I'd like to start the watcher when I open the editor.

Answer 1

This functionality was added in v1.30: Release notes: run task on folder open

Run on folder open

If you have a task that you always run when you open a folder, you can configure it to run automatically when that folder is opened by configuring its "runOn" property. We found this useful for making sure no one breaks our new strict null checks in the VS Code repository. By adding "runOn": "folderOpen", everyone who allows tasks to be run automatically will get markers when they violate the strict null check:

Example:

{
    "type": "npm",
    "script": "strict-null-check-watch",
    "label": "TS - Strict Null Checks",
    "isBackground": true,
    "problemMatcher": {
        "base": "$tsc-watch",
        "owner": "typescript-strict-null",
        "applyTo": "allDocuments"
    },
    "runOptions": {
        "runOn": "folderOpen"
    }
}

Example 2:

{
  "label": "Tasks: copy3",
  "type": "shell",
  "command": "gulp",
  "args": [
    "copy3",
    "--file",
    "${fileBasename}"
  ],
  "problemMatcher": [],
  "runOptions": {
    "runOn": "folderOpen"
  }
},

Answer 2

I create an extension that can do it. It is "Blade Runner". Try this! Blade Runner on Visual Studio Code Market Place

Answer 3

This is an old thread, but the question is still up to date. Blade Runner did not suit my needs, nor did any other extension.

I created an extension AutoLaunch that can run a specific task from tasks.json or launch a specific debug configuration from launch.json.