Workbench Tour
Learn the main regions of the Shape workbench and how they fit together.
The workbench is Shape's main editing surface. Everything you do, from editing files to running Git and chatting with AI, happens inside this layout.
Layout overview
Shape divides the window into five regions:
- Activity bar: narrow strip on the far left; switches sidebar views and opens Browser or Settings
- Primary sidebar: file tree, search, Git, outline, and more
- Editor: tabbed Monaco code area in the center (also Browser, Settings, and diffs)
- Secondary sidebar: AI chat on the right
- Bottom panel: terminal and diagnostic views
Titlebar
The titlebar holds:
- Menus: File, Edit, View, Go, Terminal, Window, Help
- Sidebar toggle: show or hide the primary sidebar
- Scripts dropdown: npm scripts for the open project
- Panel toggle: terminal and bottom views
- AI Chat toggle: right sidebar
- Settings and Reset Layout buttons
- Avatar menu: Shape account and GitHub sign-in
Drag the titlebar to move the window (on Windows, outside the menu buttons).
Window → Git Manager opens a separate window for PRs, Actions, and checks. View → Preview opens the Browser tab.
When no project is open
Without a folder open, the editor area shows the welcome screen with Open Project, Clone Repository, Terminal, and AI Chat shortcuts. See Quick Start.
When a project is open
With a folder open but no file selected, the center prompts you to pick a file from the Explorer or press Ctrl+P.
Collapsing regions
Every major region can be hidden for focus:
| Region | How to toggle |
|---|---|
| Primary sidebar | Titlebar sidebar button, or click the active activity bar icon again |
| Bottom panel | Titlebar panel button, View → Terminal, or Ctrl+` |
| AI chat | Titlebar chat button, or View → AI Chat |
| All chrome | Zen Mode with Ctrl+K Z |
Use Reset Layout in the titlebar to restore the default arrangement.
Settings and release notes as tabs
Settings and Keyboard Shortcuts open as editor tabs instead of separate windows when launched from the activity bar or menu. Close them like any other tab with Ctrl+W.