Can VS Code API Replace Copilot Chat Sidebar with Custom View?

[John0079]

Hello VS Code community,

I’m working on a custom extension and would like to replace the default Copilot Chat sidebar with my own chat plugin, integrated with a custom AI service. I’m seeking guidance on the feasibility and best practices.

Background

I want to create a custom sidebar view in VS Code using the Extension API, providing a similar user experience (e.g., chat interface, code context support) while disabling or overriding the default Copilot Chat view.

What I’ve Tried

• I’ve explored the VS Code Extension API and experimented with registerWebviewViewProvider to create a custom sidebar view.
• I can disable the Copilot Chat extension manually, but I’m unsure how to fully override its sidebar position.
• My original Issue (#257927 in vscode-copilot-chat) was submitted earlier today but is now inaccessible (404 error as of 09:40 PM HKT, July 26, 2025).

Questions

• Can the VS Code API (e.g., registerWebviewViewProvider) be used to programmatically replace the default Copilot Chat sidebar with a custom view?
• Are there any official examples, documentation, or community resources (e.g., code snippets) that demonstrate overriding the sidebar layout or integrating a custom chat plugin?

Additional Info

• VS Code version: Upgrading to 1.102.2 as suggested.
• Could anyone clarify why #257927 disappeared, or suggest where to look?

Looking forward to your insights! Thank you!

[alefragnani]

Hi @John0079 ,

I don't think you could replace the Copilot Chat sidebar the way you are describing, unless the Copilot Chat extension itself allows such customization, and provide API for that. Instead, if you want to create your own Copilot like extension, you simply create your own Sidebar (using viewsContainers contribution point) with your own webview created with registerWebviewViewProvider API, as you already tried.

On the other hand, if what you are asking for is to be able to put your custom Sidebar view in the Secondary Side Bar, like GitHub Copilot Chat does, there is no API available yet, but someone else already opened an issue in the VS Code repo, so you could upvote (microsoft/vscode#240368), so the VS Code team could take a look for future release.

About your disappeared issue (#257927), it was, in fact, registered in the VS Code repo, not in the GitHub Copilot Chat repo, as you may see here microsoft/vscode#257927.

Hope this helps

[John0079]

@alefragnani Thank you for the clear guidance! I’ve found #257927 in microsoft/vscode and upvoted #240368 for the Secondary Side Bar API, though I now understand the current API limitations prevent placing a custom view there. I’ll focus on creating a standalone sidebar using viewsContainers and registerWebviewViewProvider instead. Any tips on integrating code context or a sample extension for this approach would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!

[John0079]

@alefragnani @justschen Thank you for your insights! I’ve upvoted #240368 to support opening the Secondary Side Bar API. I’d like to share some thoughts on why this could be valuable.

Currently, Copilot Chat focuses on code-related tasks, but many users, including myself, have diverse needs—e.g., editing images, generating charts, or other non-coding workflows. For instance, I’d like to integrate a custom view for image editing or chart customization, which Copilot doesn’t support. I see Copilot as a potential intelligent agent, acting as a bridge between large language models and users’ specific tasks. With thousands of unique workflows, it’s challenging for VS Code developers to anticipate every use case.

Opening the Secondary Side Bar API would empower the community to build tailored solutions, enhancing VS Code’s versatility. Could the team consider this for future releases? I’d be happy to provide more examples or collaborate on use cases. Thanks!

[alefragnani]

@John0079 ,

These are interesting scenarios, and I guess GitHub Copilot Chat could indeed be a big part of it.

I would suggest you to take a look at the Chat Participants API, which allows you to create specialized assistants in the chat with domain-specific experts. One example of such chat participant is mermAid. I guess it would be a good start.

If it doesn't fit your need, I would suggest you to open issues either in the GitHub Copilo Chat extension (if you need some customization in the extension itself), or in the VS Code repo, in case you need more powerfull APIs, so the VS Code team could take a look

Hope this helps