How to open a file in read-only mode with VS Code

Question

I want to view some code files with VS Code and edit my own code to call them. I shouldn't change them (include the file mode) so it's best if I open those files in read-only mode.

In fact, I have met some trouble because of the modification by accident. So I think I should view those files in a safer way.

How to do it with VS code? I know PyCharm and Notepad++ have implented this function, so has VS Code? I haven't find it even on its official website.

Many thanks.

Answer 1

According to Visual Studio Code Feature Request #99322, https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/99322, this feature will not be implemented in VSCode. However the extension "Read-Only Mode Support" Attempts to implement some read-only functionality, but is not ideal. It appears to require modification of config files to automatically ignore edits, but with files outside of the root directory, it offers a popup to ignore changes when you save.

Answer 2

You can make the file read only in the file system.

Linux:

chmod -w filename

For Windows, from File Explorer, right click file, select Properties, then Read Only.

Then each time you modify the file VSCODE warns you "Failed to save 'filename': File is read-only. Select 'Overwrite' to attempt to make it writeable." There are options to Overwrite, Save As... or Discard.

Select Discard to undo your inadvertent changes.