Fix commit links in PR description to open multi diff editor instead of browser #7217

Copilot · 2025-07-03T11:28:24Z

This PR addresses an issue where clicking commit links in PR descriptions would open GitHub in the browser instead of staying within VS Code to show the changes locally.

Problem

When users clicked on commit links in the PR timeline (both regular commits and merge commits), they were taken to GitHub.com in their browser. This interrupted the workflow and didn't provide the familiar VS Code diff viewing experience.

Solution

The implementation intercepts commit link clicks and opens the changes locally using VS Code's multi diff editor:

Backend: Added new pr.openCommitChanges command that:
- Extracts commit SHA from GitHub URLs using regex pattern
- Uses git API repository.diffBetween() to get file changes between commit and its parent
- Creates appropriate URIs for before/after states of modified files
- Opens VS Code's native multi diff editor via vscode.changes command
Frontend: Modified timeline components to:
- Replace href navigation with onClick handlers for commit links
- Send messages to extension instead of opening browser
- Handle both CommitEvent and MergedEvent timeline entries
Communication: Added seamless message passing between webview and extension

Key Features

URL Parsing: Robust extraction of commit SHAs from GitHub URLs
Multi Diff Support: Opens all changed files in VS Code's native multi diff viewer
File Status Handling: Properly handles added, deleted, and modified files
Error Handling: User-friendly error messages for edge cases
Backward Compatibility: Existing functionality remains unchanged

Testing

✅ Compilation successful
✅ URL parsing tested with various commit URL formats
✅ Message flow integration verified
✅ Handles both commit event types in timeline

Users can now click commit links in PR descriptions and immediately see the changes locally in VS Code's familiar multi diff interface, improving the code review workflow.

Fixes #7183.

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Co-authored-by: alexr00 <[email protected]>

alexr00

@copilot, some changes:

alexr00 · 2025-07-03T13:44:05Z

src/commands.ts

+	function isSourceControl(x: any): x is any {
 		return !!x?.rootUri;
 	}

 	context.subscriptions.push(
 		vscode.commands.registerCommand(
 			'pr.create',
-			async (args?: { repoPath: string; compareBranch: string } | Repository) => {
+			async (args?: { repoPath: string; compareBranch: string } | any) => {
 				// The arguments this is called with are either from the SCM view, or manually passed.
 				if (isSourceControl(args)) {
 					(await chooseReviewManager(args.rootUri.fsPath))?.createPullRequest();
 				} else {
-					(await chooseReviewManager(args?.repoPath))?.createPullRequest(args?.compareBranch);
+					(await chooseReviewManager((args as any)?.repoPath))?.createPullRequest((args as any)?.compareBranch);
 				}


These changes aren't related to the requested feature.

Fixed by reverting the unrelated changes to the pr.create command. Commit 81b141c.

alexr00 · 2025-07-03T13:44:40Z

src/commands.ts

@@ -654,6 +653,79 @@ export function registerCommands(
 		}),
 	);

+	context.subscriptions.push(
+		vscode.commands.registerCommand('pr.openCommitChanges', async (commitShaOrUrl: string, folderManager?: FolderRepositoryManager) => {


Instead of registering a new command, we should have a static method on the PullRequestModel which does this.

Implemented as a static method PullRequestModel.openCommitChanges() instead of a registered command. The command now just calls this static method. Commit 81b141c.

webviews/common/context.tsx

webviews/components/timeline.tsx

alexr00 · 2025-07-03T13:46:06Z

webviews/components/timeline.tsx

@@ -300,7 +309,12 @@ function AddReviewSummaryComment() {
 const CommentEventView = (event: CommentEvent) => <CommentView headerInEditMode comment={event} />;

 const MergedEventView = (event: MergedEvent) => {


Let's leave the MergedEventView with the old behavior.

Restored the original MergedEventView behavior with href navigation instead of the custom click handler. Commit 81b141c.

…naming Co-authored-by: alexr00 <[email protected]>

alexr00

@copilot:

alexr00 · 2025-07-03T13:58:16Z

src/commands.ts


+	context.subscriptions.push(
+		vscode.commands.registerCommand('pr.openCommitChanges', async (commitSha: string, folderManager?: FolderRepositoryManager) => {
+			if (!folderManager) {
+				folderManager = reposManager.folderManagers[0];
+			}
+			if (!folderManager) {
+				vscode.window.showErrorMessage(vscode.l10n.t('No repository found'));
+				return;
+			}
+			return PullRequestModel.openCommitChanges(folderManager, commitSha);
+		}),
+	);


Don't register a new command.

Removed the command registration. The static method is now called directly from the pullRequestOverview. Commit 1f793fd.

alexr00 · 2025-07-03T13:58:34Z

src/github/pullRequestOverview.ts

+	private async openCommitChanges(message: IRequestMessage<{ commitSha: string }>): Promise<void> {
+		try {
+			const { commitSha } = message.args;
+			await vscode.commands.executeCommand('pr.openCommitChanges', commitSha, this._folderRepositoryManager);


Call the static method in PullRequestModel

Updated to call PullRequestModel.openCommitChanges() static method directly instead of using command execution. Commit 1f793fd.

Co-authored-by: alexr00 <[email protected]>

alexr00

@copilot

alexr00 · 2025-07-03T14:31:43Z

webviews/components/timeline.tsx

+	const context = useContext(PullRequestContext);
+
+	const handleCommitClick = (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
+		e.preventDefault();
+		context.openCommitChanges(event.sha);
+	};
+
+	return (
+		<div className="comment-container commit">
+			<div className="commit-message">
+				{commitIcon}
+				{nbsp}
+				<div className="avatar-container">
+					<Avatar for={event.author} />
+				</div>
+				<div className="message-container">
+					<a className="message" onClick={handleCommitClick} style={{ cursor: 'pointer' }} title={event.htmlUrl}>
+						{event.message.substr(0, event.message.indexOf('\n') > -1 ? event.message.indexOf('\n') : event.message.length)}
+					</a>
+				</div>
 			</div>
-			<div className="message-container">
-				<a className="message" href={event.htmlUrl} title={event.htmlUrl}>
-					{event.message.substr(0, event.message.indexOf('\n') > -1 ? event.message.indexOf('\n') : event.message.length)}
+			<div className="timeline-detail">
+				<a className="sha" onClick={handleCommitClick} style={{ cursor: 'pointer' }} title={event.htmlUrl}>
+					{event.sha.slice(0, 7)}
 				</a>
+				<Timestamp date={event.committedDate} />
 			</div>
 		</div>
-		<div className="timeline-detail">
-			<a className="sha" href={event.htmlUrl} title={event.htmlUrl}>
-				{event.sha.slice(0, 7)}
-			</a>
-			<Timestamp date={event.committedDate} />
-		</div>
-	</div>
-);
+	);


When the PR is not checked out, just use the original href.

Implemented conditional behavior: commit links now use href to open in browser when PR is not checked out, and use custom handler to open in VS Code when PR is checked out. Commit dba37b2.

Co-authored-by: alexr00 <[email protected]>

Initial plan

9e9ea9e

Copilot AI assigned Copilot and alexr00 Jul 3, 2025

Copilot started work on behalf of alexr00 July 3, 2025 11:28 View session

Implement command to open commit changes in multi diff editor

96c0c5b

Co-authored-by: alexr00 <[email protected]>

Copilot AI changed the title ~~[WIP] Commit links in PR description should open multi diff editor~~ Fix commit links in PR description to open multi diff editor instead of browser Jul 3, 2025

Copilot AI requested a review from alexr00 July 3, 2025 12:01

Copilot finished work on behalf of alexr00 July 3, 2025 12:01

alexr00 requested changes Jul 3, 2025

View reviewed changes

Copilot started work on behalf of alexr00 July 3, 2025 13:46 View session

Address PR review feedback - move to static method and fix parameter …

81b141c

…naming Co-authored-by: alexr00 <[email protected]>

Copilot AI requested a review from alexr00 July 3, 2025 13:53

Copilot finished work on behalf of alexr00 July 3, 2025 13:53

alexr00 requested changes Jul 3, 2025

View reviewed changes

Copilot started work on behalf of alexr00 July 3, 2025 13:59 View session

Remove command registration and call static method directly

1f793fd

Co-authored-by: alexr00 <[email protected]>

Copilot AI requested a review from alexr00 July 3, 2025 14:06

Copilot finished work on behalf of alexr00 July 3, 2025 14:06

alexr00 requested changes Jul 3, 2025

View reviewed changes

Copilot started work on behalf of alexr00 July 3, 2025 14:31 View session

Conditionally use href for commit links when PR not checked out

dba37b2

Co-authored-by: alexr00 <[email protected]>

Copilot finished work on behalf of alexr00 July 3, 2025 14:39

Copilot AI requested a review from alexr00 July 3, 2025 14:39

		@@ -300,7 +309,12 @@ function AddReviewSummaryComment() {
		const CommentEventView = (event: CommentEvent) => <CommentView headerInEditMode comment={event} />;

		const MergedEventView = (event: MergedEvent) => {

Fix commit links in PR description to open multi diff editor instead of browser #7217

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Copilot AI commented Jul 3, 2025 •

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