extension.js

const vscode = require('vscode');
const shelljs = require('shelljs');

// This extension is a hack to explore a possible VsCode way to search
// for a directory name.
//
// In IntelliJ you can search for a directory by ending the search string with '/'.
// In Vim, you can `:call fzf#run({'source': 'fd -t d', 'sink': 'NERDTreeFind'})`
//
// But VsCode doesn't seem to provide an API to open the current
// explorer on a given folder.
//
// Related issue: 
// https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/issues/10026#issuecomment-441833246  

function activate(context) {
  vscode.window.showInformationMessage("ACTIVATE");

  let cwd  = process.cwd();
  let root = vscode.workspace.rootPath;

  // create a picklist object 
  function picklist_item(path, dir) {
    return {
      'label': path,
      'description': dir,
      'detail': ''
    }
  }

  // return a list of directories (picklist objects)
  function dirLst() {
    shelljs.cd(root);
    // generate a list of non-hidden directories
    let dlst = shelljs.find('.').filter((el) => {
      return shelljs.test('-d', el) && el[0] != '.'
    });
    // map paths to picklist objects
    dlst.forEach((path, idx) => {dlst[idx] = picklist_item(path)});
    // we always put 'cwd' on top of the list
    // this allows returning to the home directory
    return [picklist_item('cwd', cwd)].concat(dlst);
  }

  // open the explorer window at a directory
  // it changes the root-path of the explorer to `dir`
  // `vscode.openFolder` is not exactly what I want
  // but comes closest to the desired solution
  function exploreOpen(dir) {
    let path = dir.description || root + '/' + dir.label
    let uri = vscode.Uri.parse('file:' + path);
    vscode.commands.executeCommand('vscode.openFolder', uri, false);
  }
    
  // the extension command : starts a directory picklist
  function cmd() {
    let dlst = dirLst();
    let opts = {
      placeHolder: 'Enter directory name',
      ignoreFocusOut: true,
      matchOnDescription: true,
      matchOnDetail: false
    }
    vscode.window.showQuickPick(dlst, opts).then((opt) => {exploreOpen(opt)});
  }

  let ext = vscode.commands.registerCommand("ext.fuzDir", cmd);
  context.subscriptions.push(ext);
}
exports.activate = activate;

function deactivate() {}
exports.deactivate = deactivate;