In VS Code, how can I open the same file in multiple tabs of the same editor group?

Question

Sometimes I want to open the same file multiple tabs, each tab focusing on a different line/method, in Eclipse this is easy, but I haven't found a way to do it in VS Code? screenshot from Eclipse doing it:

Split view isn't enough, right now I'm on a 14" laptop with no extra display available, the laptop screen is too small to comfortably use split view.

Answer 1

There is a clunky workaround in the feature request:

1. In Explorer, right-click the target file, click "Select for Compare"
2. right-click the same file, click "Compare with Selected"
3. Toggle inline view for diff

Some links with visual guide to achieve this:

https://www.mytecbits.com/microsoft/dot-net/compare-contents-of-two-files-in-vs-code https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/tips-and-tricks#_diffs

P.S. This workaround however can only open 2 tabs of the same file concurrently within the same tab group

Answer 2

Since Microsoft has no plans to implement the feature request, an alternative solution is to create a symlink of the file: ln -s code.c code.ln.c and have *.ln.c in .git/info/exclude then VSCode threats them as 2 different files, even though editing 1 of them is instantly reflected in the second (-:

Edit: this also requires you to put in VSCode settings.json

"files.autoSave": "onFocusChange",