Installation Guide
Get File Insights up and running in your VS Code environment with our comprehensive installation guide.
VS Code Marketplace
RecommendedInstall directly from the VS Code Marketplace for automatic updates and seamless integration.
Method 1: Extensions View
- Open Visual Studio Code
- Click on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar (or press Ctrl+Shift+X)
- Search for "File Insights"
- Look for the extension by VijayGangatharan
- Click the Install button
Method 2: Quick Open
- Press Ctrl+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+P (macOS)
- Type:
ext install VijayGangatharan.file-insights - Press Enter
Method 3: Command Palette
- Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (macOS)
- Type:
Extensions: Install Extensions - Search for "File Insights"
- Install the extension by VijayGangatharan
Manual Installation
Download and install the VSIX package manually for offline environments or specific version control.
Download & Install
- Download the latest
.vsixfile from GitHub Releases - Open Visual Studio Code
- Press Ctrl+Shift+P to open Command Palette
- Type:
Extensions: Install from VSIX... - Select the downloaded
.vsixfile - Restart VS Code if prompted
System Requirements
Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements for optimal performance.
Visual Studio Code
Version 1.102.0 or higher
Latest stable version recommended
Operating System
- Windows 10/11
- macOS 10.15+
- Linux (Ubuntu 18.04+)
System Resources
RAM: 4GB minimum
Storage: 1MB extension size
Minimal system impact
Post-Installation Setup
Configure File Insights to match your development workflow preferences.
Verify Installation
After installation, open any file in VS Code. You should see the file size displayed in the status bar (bottom-right by default).
Access Commands
Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) and type "File Insights" to see all available commands:
Configure Settings
Customize File Insights through VS Code settings (Ctrl+,) by searching for "fileInsights":
| Setting | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
fileInsights.enabled |
Enable/disable the extension | true |
fileInsights.displayFormat |
Size display format (auto, bytes, kb, mb) | auto |
fileInsights.statusBarPosition |
Status bar position (left, right) | right |
fileInsights.showTooltip |
Show detailed tooltips | true |
fileInsights.refreshInterval |
Refresh interval in milliseconds | 500 |
fileInsights.maxFileSize |
Maximum file size to analyze (bytes) | 1073741824 |
Configuration Examples
Common configuration scenarios for different development workflows.
Performance Focused
Optimized for large files and minimal resource usage.
{
"fileInsights.refreshInterval": 1000,
"fileInsights.maxFileSize": 536870912,
"fileInsights.showTooltip": false,
"fileInsights.displayFormat": "auto"
}Detailed Information
Maximum information display with detailed tooltips.
{
"fileInsights.showTooltip": true,
"fileInsights.displayFormat": "bytes",
"fileInsights.refreshInterval": 250,
"fileInsights.statusBarPosition": "left"
}Minimal Display
Clean interface with essential information only.
{
"fileInsights.displayFormat": "auto",
"fileInsights.showTooltip": false,
"fileInsights.statusBarPosition": "right",
"fileInsights.refreshInterval": 750
}Troubleshooting
Common issues and solutions for File Insights installation and usage.
Extension Not Showing
File size is not displayed in the status bar after installation.
Solutions:
- Ensure you have opened a file (not just a folder)
- Check if the extension is enabled:
File Insights: Enable - Verify the file is not exceeding the size limit (1GB default)
- Try refreshing with
File Insights: Refresh
Configuration Issues
Settings changes are not taking effect.
Solutions:
- Ensure settings are in the correct JSON format
- Check for typos in setting names
- Reload VS Code window:
Developer: Reload Window - Reset to default settings and reconfigure
Performance Issues
VS Code feels slower after installing the extension.
Solutions:
- Increase refresh interval:
fileInsights.refreshInterval - Reduce max file size:
fileInsights.maxFileSize - Disable tooltips:
fileInsights.showTooltip: false - Check output logs:
File Insights: Show Output Channel