Classic Layout
Put the File Explorer back on its own beside a dedicated Editor — the split that existed before the File Tree + Editor workspace merged the two. Place the standalone explorer anywhere and the Editor drops its embedded tree to match.
Screenshot coming soon
Why You Need This
How this feature boosts your daily productivity
The composed File Tree + Editor workspace puts the tree inside the editor pane, which is tidy until you want the tree somewhere the editor isn't — pinned under your project list, or parked in the right-hand column while the editor holds the centre. Classic restores the older split: a standalone File Explorer panel and a dedicated Editor, each placeable on its own. The two coordinate rather than collide — the Editor drops its embedded tree the moment a standalone explorer appears anywhere in your layout, and takes it back when you remove the panel, so you can never end up with two file trees or none at all. The explorer keeps its own width and its own collapse state, and follows you across projects like every other panel.
How It Works
Get started in 4 simple steps
Choose Classic
Pick Classic from the layout picker in the header. The default merged workspace is untouched, so nothing moves unless you choose it.
The tree stands on its own
A standalone File Explorer sits under your project list on the left, with a dedicated Editor above the Terminals in the centre.
Put the explorer anywhere
From Settings → Layout, place the File Explorer in the left, centre or right slot. The Editor drops its embedded tree automatically wherever the explorer lands.
Undo it by removing the panel
Remove the standalone explorer and the Editor takes its tree back. The two can never both disappear, so you always have exactly one file tree.
Without 1DevTool
The manual way vs. the 1DevTool way
The Hard Way
The 1DevTool Way
Key Capabilities
Everything included with Classic Layout
Why It Matters
The productivity impact of having project management built into your workspace
The Tree Goes Where You Want It
A standalone explorer can sit under the project list, in the centre, or in the right column — places the tree could not reach while it lived inside the editor.
Never Two Trees, Never None
The Editor drops its embedded tree exactly when a standalone explorer exists and takes it back when you remove the panel. One of the two always has it.
Its Own Width, Its Own Collapse
The explorer is a real panel, so it keeps a width and a collapse state independent of the editor, and carries both across projects.
The Old Split, On The New System
This is the pre-workspace arrangement rebuilt on the current panel engine, so it gains per-panel persistence the original split never had.
More in Project Management
Other features in this category you might find useful
Multi-Project Workspace
Work on multiple projects simultaneously with instant switching. Entire workspace state is preserved per project.
Smart File Explorer
Real-time file tree with type icons, .gitignore filtering, search, and right-click context menus.
Per-Project Code Intelligence
Spawn real typescript-language-server, gopls, pyright, rust-analyzer, clangd, solargraph, intelephense, or sourcekit-lsp for the projects you opt into — with project-aware errors and zero false positives.
Color-Coded Projects
Assign accent colors to each project for instant visual identification across your workspace.
Ready to boost your workflow?
Download 1DevTool for free and experience Classic Layout along with 170 other features — all in one app.