Explorer Left Sidebar

• Status: Implemented
• Date: 2026-03-22
• Decider: Architect

Context and Problem Statement

Agents often work within specific local directories, but there is currently no way for the user to visually browse the agent's workspace files within Wardian. A file explorer is a standard expectation for developer productivity tools.

Proposed Decision

Implement a File Explorer as the primary tab in the Left Sidebar.

1. Root Behavior

• Agent-Centric: When an agent is selected, the explorer roots itself in that agent's local directory (~/.wardian/agents/[UUID]/).
• System-Fallback: When no agent is selected, the explorer roots itself in the .wardian/ home directory for global management.

2. Implementation Architecture

• Backend: A Rust command get_directory_tree(path: String) that performs a recursive scan (with lazy-loading for large folders).
• Frontend: A recursive FileTree component in src/features/explorer/.
• Icons: Integration with Lucide icons for file-type associations.

3. Core Interactions (Right-Click Menu)

• Open Preview: A read-only plaintext viewer for quick inspection.
• Reveal in OS Explorer: Direct shortcut to the native file manager.
• Copy Path: Copies the absolute path to the clipboard.
• Delete: Physical file deletion (with a mandatory confirmation dialog).

4. Integration

• The Explorer will be placed as the first icon in the SidebarIconRail.
• Highlighting of modified files is deferred until Git Worktrees are implemented, following standard IDE patterns.

Consequences

• Positive: Provides a tactile way to inspect agent outputs and project structure.
• Positive: Aligns with the "Physical-First" brand principle.
• Negative: Increases backend I/O load during directory scans (mitigated by lazy-loading).