Add autoScrollOutput configuration option to automatically reveal and scroll output channel when new logs are added, final fixes before publishing v2.4.0

Author: Al-rimi

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 ### Added
 - Implemented on-demand access logging for Tomcat with dynamic log file watching
 - Added retry mechanism for EBUSY errors during deployment (kills Tomcat process before retry)
+- Add `tomcat.autoScrollOutput` configuration option to automatically reveal and scroll output channel when new logs are added
 - Introduced syntax highlighting rules for Tomcat HTTP logs and admin actions
 
 ### Fixed

README.md

@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ Access via <kbd>Ctrl+,</kbd> → Search "Tomcat"
 | `tomcat.browser`      | `Google Chrome`   | Browser for app launch & debug (`Google Chrome`, `Microsoft Edge`, `Firefox`, `Safari`, `Brave`, `Opera`) |
 | `tomcat.port`                | `8080`            | Tomcat server listen port (valid range: `1024`-`65535`)                                  |
 | `tomcat.protectedWebApps`             | `["ROOT", "docs", "examples", "manager", "host-manager"]`     | List of protected web apps during cleanup operations                                     |
+| `tomcat.autoScrollOutput`    | `true`            | Automatically reveal and scroll output channel when new logs are added                   |
 
 > ℹ️ `tomcat.home` and `tomcat.javaHome` are now auto-detected and hidden from user settings.
 
@@ -173,6 +174,9 @@ For technical implementation details and contribution guidelines, see:
 - **HTTP Traffic Insights**  
   New real-time access log monitoring with dynamic file watching capabilities
 
+- **Enhanced Debugging Experience**  
+  Added `tomcat.autoScrollOutput` setting to automatically scroll output channel logs disable if it interferes with your workflow
+
 - **Enhanced Deployment Reliability**  
   Added automatic retry mechanism for busy resource errors with process cleanup
 

package.json

@@ -166,6 +166,11 @@
           "errorMessage": "Port must be between 1024-49151",
           "description": "The port number for the Tomcat server, allowed range is 1024-49151."
         },
+        "tomcat.autoScrollOutput": {
+          "type": "boolean",
+          "default": true,
+          "description": "Automatically reveal and scroll output channel when new logs are added. Disable to prevent automatic panel focus changes."
+        },
         "tomcat.home": {
           "type": "string",
           "default": "",

src/extension.ts

@@ -70,14 +70,11 @@ import { Browser } from './utils/Browser';
  *   - Environment information
  */
 export function activate(context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
-    // Initialize core services using singleton pattern
     const builder = Builder.getInstance();
     const tomcat = Tomcat.getInstance();
 
-    // Configure editor syntax highlighting
     addSyntaxColoringRules();
 
-    // Register command palette entries
     context.subscriptions.push(
         vscode.commands.registerCommand('tomcat.start', () => tomcat.start(true)),
         vscode.commands.registerCommand('tomcat.stop', () => tomcat.stop(true)),
@@ -143,7 +140,6 @@ export function deactivate() {
  *   - Scope metadata
  */
 function updateSettings(event: vscode.ConfigurationChangeEvent) {
-    // Cascading configuration updates based on changed settings
     if (event.affectsConfiguration('tomcat.home')) {
         Tomcat.getInstance().findTomcatHome();
         Builder.getInstance().updateConfig();
@@ -164,5 +160,8 @@ function updateSettings(event: vscode.ConfigurationChangeEvent) {
 
     } else if (event.affectsConfiguration('tomcat.browser')) {
         Browser.getInstance().updateConfig();
+
+    } else if (event.affectsConfiguration('tomcat.autoScrollOutput')) {
+        Logger.getInstance().updateConfig();
     }
 }

src/utils/Logger.ts

@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ export class Logger {
     private static instance: Logger;
     private tomcatHome: string;
     private autoDeployMode: string;
+    private autoScrollOutput: boolean;
     private outputChannel: vscode.OutputChannel;
     private statusBarItem?: vscode.StatusBarItem;
     private currentLogFile: string | null = null;
@@ -84,7 +85,8 @@ export class Logger {
      */
     private constructor() {
         this.tomcatHome = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration().get<string>('tomcat.home', '');
-        this.autoDeployMode = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration().get<string>('tomcat.autoDeployMode', 'Disabled');    
+        this.autoDeployMode = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration().get<string>('tomcat.autoDeployMode', 'Disabled'); 
+        this.autoScrollOutput = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration().get<boolean>('tomcat.autoScrollOutput', true);   
         this.outputChannel = vscode.window.createOutputChannel('Tomcat', 'tomcat-log'); 
     }
 
@@ -116,6 +118,7 @@ export class Logger {
     public updateConfig(): void {
         this.tomcatHome = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration().get<string>('tomcat.home', '');
         this.autoDeployMode = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration().get<string>('tomcat.autoDeployMode', 'Disabled');
+        this.autoScrollOutput = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration().get<boolean>('tomcat.autoScrollOutput', true);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -445,10 +448,8 @@ export class Logger {
         const timestamp = new Date().toLocaleString();
         const formattedMessage = `[${timestamp}] [${level}] ${message}`;
 
-        // Write to output channel
         this.outputChannel.appendLine(formattedMessage);
 
-        // Conditionally show UI notification
         if (showUI) {
             showUI(message).then(selection => {
                 if (selection) {
@@ -457,8 +458,7 @@ export class Logger {
             });
         }
 
-        // Automatically show errors in output channel
-        if (level === 'ERROR' || level === 'WARN') {
+        if (this.autoScrollOutput || level === 'ERROR' || level === 'WARN') {
             this.outputChannel.show(true);
         }
     }