Showing the Output Channel after Debug Console does not refocus

[vjocw]

Hello,

I'm working on an extension that should be compatible with both VSCode and Theia. I noticed a difference in behavior when using debug.startDebugging and then OutputChannel.instance.show functions. In VSCode, the OutputChannel.instance.show will override the panel that is revealed but in Theia the focus to the OutputChannel will not refocus. Is this working as intended or a bug in Theia? If it is working as intended, how would we refocus back to the Output panel programmatically?

Below is the sample code that I used to repro and the corresponding GIF.

Thank you.

Code used:

import * as theia from '@theia/plugin';

export function start(context: theia.PluginContext) {
    context.subscriptions.push(theia.commands.registerCommand({
        id: 'start-debugging',
        label: 'Hello World: Start Debugging'
    }, async (...args: any[]) => {
        const testChannel = theia.window.createOutputChannel('test-channel');
        testChannel.appendLine('starting...');
        await theia.debug.startDebugging(theia.workspace.workspaceFolders![0], {
            "type": "node",
            "request": "launch",
            "name": "Launch Program",
            "program": "${workspaceFolder}/theia-hello-world-plugin/node-test/index.js",
        });
        testChannel.appendLine('running...');
        testChannel.appendLine('running...');
        testChannel.appendLine('running...');
        testChannel.show(); 
    }));

Theia:

[kittaakos]

What's your Theia version, @vincentjocodes?

[kittaakos]

Maybe we can align the Theia behavior with VS Code. Thoughts, @akosyakov?
Long story short: it's not an Output issue and we need to change the debug behavior.

I do not have any updates on this thread. I already added my findings.

[kittaakos]

VS Code does not focus the Debug Console, Theia does.

[akosyakov]

Theia does.

It seems only reveals, not activate (focus).

[vjocw]

@kittaakos @akosyakov So given that they both reveal, is the difference in behavior caused by how each handles asynchronous actions? Is there something that can be done to sync these behaviors? Thanks!

[vjocw]

Open a PR for review, please take a look!