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VS Code users struggle with cursor placement around gutters and folds

Developers using VS Code report that the narrow space beside the gutter makes it easy to miss the start of a line, and that moving around folded code can reopen folds unexpectedly. Some compensate with careful clicking, arrow keys, or Vim keybindings. Requests for inline folding point to a broader desire for more capable folding, though they may require editor changes an extension cannot provide.

For VS Code developers who use code folding. Mentioned from Apr 2019 to Mar 2024 on GitHub.

4 different people described this problem in 4 separate discussions.

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What people said

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  1. So if you want to click to place the cursor before the first character (or to begin selecting text from the first character), you often end up missing and clicking the gutter instead
    dschil138 on GitHub (microsoft/vscode)Mar 2024+40 upvotesAsked for a toolHas a workaround
  2. i unfortunately do use code folding.. so been trying to condition myself to click between the 1st and 2nd character and then lift hand off mouse and use arrow key on keyboard and back to mouse. seems "faster" than all the swearing i end up doing by getting it in the right spot
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