vscode-user-settings-symlink

name: vscode-user-settings-symlink description: Protocol for relocating VS Code Insiders User folder to configurations-private and creating a direct symlink without intermediate subdirectories. category: VSCode-Configuration

VS Code User Settings Symlink Protocol

This skill automates the relocation of the VS Code Insiders User settings folder from the macOS Application Support directory to a portable configurations-private location, with a direct symlink for seamless IDE functionality.

1. Protocol & Logic

1.1 Source & Destination Definition

• Source Symlink Path: /Users/dk/Library/Application Support/Code - Insiders/User
• Target Destination: /Users/dk/Lab_Data/configurations-private/vscode-insiders-configuration/visual-studio-code-user-settings
• Symlink Target: The symlink MUST point DIRECTLY to the destination (no intermediate "User" subfolder)
• Platform: macOS (zsh shell)

1.2 Relocation Workflow

1. Source Verification: Verify the original source folder exists at ~/Library/Application Support/Code - Insiders/User
2. Destination Preparation: Create the destination directory if it does not exist
3. Content Migration: If the destination contains a nested User subfolder:
   • Move all contents from destination/User/* to destination/
   • Remove empty User subfolder
4. Symlink Recreation:
   • Remove the existing symlink at source
   • Create a new symlink pointing directly to the destination (not /destination/User)
5. Verification: Confirm the symlink resolves correctly

1.3 Path Standards

• The destination MUST contain VS Code settings files directly (e.g., settings.json, keybindings.json, snippets/, extensions/)
• There MUST NOT be a nested User folder inside the destination
• The symlink MUST point to the destination folder directly

2. Commands & Implementation

2.1 Verification Commands

ls -la "/Users/dk/Library/Application Support/Code - Insiders/User"
ls -la /Users/dk/Lab_Data/configurations-private/vscode-insiders-configuration/visual-studio-code-user-settings/

2.2 Migration Commands

# Step 1: Verify source exists
ls -la "/Users/dk/Library/Application Support/Code - Insiders/User"

# Step 2: Create destination if needed
mkdir -p /Users/dk/Lab_Data/configurations-private/vscode-insiders-configuration/visual-studio-code-user-settings

# Step 3: Move nested User contents up (if exists)
mv /path/to/destination/User/* /path/to/destination/
rmdir /path/to/destination/User

# Step 4: Remove old symlink and recreate pointing to destination
rm "/Users/dk/Library/Application Support/Code - Insiders/User"
ln -s /Users/dk/Lab_Data/configurations-private/vscode-insiders-configuration/visual-studio-code-user-settings "/Users/dk/Library/Application Support/Code - Insiders/User"

# Step 5: Verify symlink resolves
ls -la "/Users/dk/Library/Application Support/Code - Insiders/User"

2.3 Symlink Validation

The symlink output MUST show:

lrwxr-xr-x@ ... -> /Users/dk/Lab_Data/configurations-private/vscode-insiders-configuration/visual-studio-code-user-settings

The symlink MUST NOT contain /User at the end of the target path.

3. Verification Protocol

3.1 Structural Check

• Destination folder exists at the defined path
• Destination contains VS Code settings files directly (no nested User folder)
• Symlink exists at source path
• Symlink points directly to destination (no intermediate User)

3.2 Functional Check

• VS Code Insiders opens without errors
• Settings are loaded correctly from the new location
• Extensions and snippets are accessible

4. Traceability

• Created: 2026-04-24
• Context: Relocation of VS Code Insiders User settings for portability across machines