Visual Studio Code 1.124 brings smarter agent sessions and better window management
Visual Studio Code 1.124 shifts focus from raw performance to managing the growing complexity of AI agent workflows. The update introduces a dedicated Agents window, background session queuing, and a new Autopilot mode that actually tries to figure out when a task is finished. It also tacks on some practical touches like browser history and enterprise plugin policies.
Navigating agent sessions without the mouse
The new Agents window replaces the scattered chat interface with a companion grid that keeps multiple sessions visible at once. Background sending changes how developers queue up work by letting a prompt run while the input field resets immediately. Pressing Alt and Enter sends the request without blocking the next composition, which saves time when chaining related prompts together. Working with AI assistants means juggling half-finished refactors and dependency checks, so keeping the next prompt ready while the current one runs is actually useful instead of just another gimmick. Navigation gets a serious upgrade with a searchable picker that groups recent and older sessions, plus back and forward toggles that respect the visit history. Developers can jump directly to the nth session using Ctrl plus one through nine, or cycle through the visible grid with Alt plus the arrow keys. Reloading the window no longer wipes the layout, so pinned sessions and editor states survive crashes or manual refreshes. A close all sessions command finally cleans up cluttered workspaces without forcing a manual tab by tab purge.
Visual Studio Code 1.124 Autopilot improvements and diff handling
Autopilot runs by default now, which means agents can execute commands without waiting for a click on every single step. The advanced mode swaps out rigid rule sets for a lightweight utility model that reads the conversation transcript and decides whether the work is actually done. The system caps the loop at three iterations to prevent runaway token consumption, and it shows the current objective in a tooltip so developers know what the agent is chasing. The three-loop cap feels like a necessary leash, though it might cut off complex debugging sequences that need more than three tool calls. It is a blunt instrument for a nuanced problem. For code review, the Changes view now respects a single-file diff preference through a simple configuration toggle. Developers tired of scrolling through multi-file diffs just to spot one changed function can finally isolate the relevant changes without extra clicks. Collapsing the auxiliary bar through a chevron in the editor title bar also gives the main pane more breathing room when reading diffs or writing prompts.
Browser history and enterprise plugin controls round out the release
The integrated browser keeps a local history of visited pages that surfaces as suggestions in the address bar. Hitting Ctrl plus H opens the history manager, and admins can cap the stored entries through a dedicated setting. Toolbar customization expands beyond the old restricted actions, letting users pin any overflow item to the right side of the bar with a simple right-click. Agentic text entry gets a minor but welcome speed boost by combining page typing and form submission into a single tool call. On the editor side, creating a folder directly from the simple file dialog removes the awkward workflow of opening a file, realizing the parent directory is missing, and switching to a system file picker. Enterprise admins gain actual control over Copilot plugins through a shared policy file that syncs with the CLI configuration. An allowlist for plugin IDs, extra marketplace URLs, and a strict marketplace enforcement flag keep unauthorized extensions out of developer workstations without requiring local config files.
Downloads
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The update is a solid step toward making AI-assisted development feel less like juggling multiple chat windows and more like a cohesive workspace. Give the Agents window a spin and see if the background queuing saves your sanity during long refactors. Happy coding.
