How to get nvim-tree to use the same (single) instance in all tabs?

[no-more-secrets]

Hi, ideally, when I open nvim-tree, I'd like it to be open in all tabs, and to be the same instance (buffer?) when viewed from any tab, basically simulating a persistent file tree view that you'd have in a dedicated IDE. Is there a way to do that with nvim-tree?

[eyalk11]

Why wont you solve it in other way, I have the \of mapping that fuzzy search buffers and adds an existing buffer as a splited-view . https://github.com/eyalk11/.vim

[alex-courtis]

Tracking at

• Multi Instance - Contributors Wanted - Please Take An Issue #2255

[mikew]

I have an example of this using my (not ready for prime-time) nvim-drawer: https://github.com/mikew/vimrc/tree/265cfd7f3d46971ce5f0af9d9f86c37420b9ee48/src/nvim/nvim-drawer#nvim-tree

Screen.Recording.2024-08-21.at.1.02.16.PM.mov.mp4

[mikew]

1. Hadn't heard of it but I'll check it out!
2. Technically yes, but not sure how to do it with nvim-tree.

WRT point 2, the drawer system itself can handle multiple drawers. Each drawer is given a unique prefix, that's how they're found / restored / saved (there's also a not-so-great "tab" system). However, in order to get nvim-tree to work, I had to let it totally own the buffer, and that drawer looks for buffers named NvimTree_. So, if the user has multiple nvim-tree drawers, and they're all named something like NvimTree_, it will get confused.

There's also other not-so-great things about the drawer. The order they're created in determines your window layout. I like a terminal across the whole width of the bottom of my window, and my tree on the side. So I define the tree drawer first, then my terminal drawer, and open them on VimEnter in that same order.

I tried to work in some sort of stretch = true option for drawers but couldn't figure it out.

[alex-courtis]

1. I'm not going to commit to winbuffix until it's stable and present.
2. This sounds great, it doesn't sound like any insurmountable technical problems, just conceptual ones.

We can definitely work with you on integration. Mulitple trees isn't real yet; we will have to come to a decision about buffer names etc.

You can look for NvimTree filetype to find all the tree buffers.

Do you want to get back to us when it's ready / somewhat stable? Maybe mention me in an issue in the repo when you create it.

[mikew]

I've just gone through a huge refactor and am pretty happy with where it is.

It now supports:

• Floating windows
• Remembers whichever buffers were open in drawers by default
  This was inspired by someone at work, they like to keep a notes.md file in their repositories. So now they can open a drawer, call :edit notes.md, and they have a nice drawer that will stick around as they navigate
• Removed anything relating to "splits", it now just deals with windows, and potentially creates buffers (because a window needs a buffer)

I did create a "potential usecase" tag, and created an nvim-tree tracking issue: mikew/nvim-drawer#2

FWIW, nvim-tree works fine with nvim-drawer, but there are some oddities mentioned in that issue linked above.

[alex-courtis]

Congratulations on publishing!

Could I please ask you to add nvim-drawer to the wiki? I've created an Integrations section: https://github.com/nvim-tree/nvim-tree.lua/wiki/Integrations-And-Extension-Plugins with a placeholder for you.

[mikew]

Appreciate that, I'll add it now