Workspaces
A workspace is a saved server plus a root folder on it, opened as a project: a file tree, a tabbed code editor and search across file names and contents. Edits are saved straight back to the server over SFTP.
Workspaces are listed in the Workspaces strip on the home screen, in the Workspaces area on desktop, and in each server’s sheet. On Free you can keep one workspace active. See PocketCmd Pro.
Requirements
Section titled “Requirements”Workspaces read and write files over SFTP, so the server needs SSH. That includes servers you connect to over Mosh or Eternal Terminal, since both start over SSH. Telnet servers can’t have workspaces.
Creating a workspace
Section titled “Creating a workspace”- Tap New workspace at the end of the Workspaces strip, or in a server’s sheet.
- Pick a server.
- Enter a Root folder (for example
~/projector/srv/app) or tap Browse folders. - Optionally adjust Editor settings, then tap Create.
If a workspace for the same folder on the same server already exists, PocketCmd offers to open that one instead.
The root folder bounds everything the workspace does. The tree, search and every file operation stay inside it.
Workspace options
Section titled “Workspace options”Long-press a workspace on the home screen for its options:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Open | Opens the workspace |
| Terminal here | Opens a terminal in the root folder |
| Add to session | Adds the workspace as a pane to an open session (Pro, see Split Screen) |
| Rename | Changes the label |
| Change root folder | Points the workspace at another folder |
| Tags | Assigns tags for the home screen’s filters |
| Settings | Opens the workspace settings |
| Add to Home Screen / Add Quick Action | Creates a quick link (Android and iOS) |
| Delete | Removes the workspace from this device and every synced device. Files on the server are not touched. |
The file tree
Section titled “The file tree”The tree loads one folder at a time as you expand it, so opening a large project doesn’t list it all up front. Tap a file to open it in a new tab. Long-press an entry, or use its More actions button, for:
| Action | Notes |
|---|---|
| Open | Opens the file in a new tab |
| Preview | Images and other non-text files |
| New file, New folder | Created in the selected folder |
| Rename, Duplicate | |
| Move… | Pick a destination. You can also drag an entry onto a folder. |
| Copy path | |
| Download | Queued in the transfer engine |
| Upload here | On desktop you can also drop files onto a folder |
| Permissions | Edit the mode bits |
| Compare with… | Diff against another file you pick |
| Reveal in SFTP browser | Opens the folder in the full file browser |
| Open terminal here | Opens a terminal in that folder |
| Delete | For a folder, everything inside is deleted too |
PocketCmd refuses to delete through the app a folder that holds a very large number of entries; delete those from a terminal instead.
Linked folders
Section titled “Linked folders”A symlink to a folder opens as a folder when Follow symlinks is on. When it’s off (the default), tapping a linked folder says so and offers Follow, which turns the setting on for this workspace and expands the folder.
Search
Section titled “Search”The search box above the tree finds files and content at the same time.
- Files. Every keystroke ranks the workspace’s file names, so matching files appear immediately. The file index is built the first time you search (“Indexing files…”).
- Content. After a short pause, or when you press Enter, PocketCmd searches inside files. Results are grouped by file; tap a hit to open the file at that line.
The Regex and Match case toggles sit inside the search field. Pressing Enter opens the highlighted file match; if no file name matches, it runs the content search.
Searches run find and grep on the server when it has them. Otherwise PocketCmd reads the files over SFTP itself, up to a size budget. The results say which method ran (Server-side or Client-side), how many files were scanned, and whether they’re Partial. Stop cancels a running search. When the results are cut off, PocketCmd tells you to narrow the search.
Quick open (the search icon in the toolbar on narrow screens, or the Quick open button when no file is open) jumps to this search box; on a phone it opens the file tree drawer first.
The editor
Section titled “The editor”Files open in tabs with syntax highlighting. The status line shows the cursor position (Ln 12, Col 4), the indentation (Spaces: 2 or Tabs), how many files are unsaved, and the connection: Connected, or Connected (shared SSH session) when the workspace shares a connection with a terminal session.
- Save all writes every unsaved tab.
- The tab strip’s menu has Close others, Close all and Close saved.
- Open tabs come back after a restart; each one loads when you switch to it.
- Hide file tree and Show file tree collapse the sidebar.
On a phone, the editor’s own keys take the row above the soft keyboard while the editor has focus. See Text Editor for the editor itself.
Drafts
Section titled “Drafts”Unsaved edits are not lost when a save fails or the app closes. They are kept as drafts, encrypted on the device. The next time the workspace opens, PocketCmd shows Unsaved changes recovered with Restore and Discard all. A draft never silently overwrites a newer version of the file on the server.
Drafts stay on the device that made them and are removed 30 days after they were rescued. Settings › Data › Unsaved drafts lists them and lets you delete them.
Workspace settings
Section titled “Workspace settings”Open Settings from the workspace’s options, or Workspace settings inside an open workspace. A live preview of a sample tree and file at the top of the sheet shows the effect of each change before you save it.
Editor
| Setting | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Text size | The editor text size for every workspace and editor on this device | |
| Tab size | Auto | Auto detects it per file, or 2, 4 or 8 |
| Indent with | Auto | Auto, Spaces or Tabs |
| Word wrap | Off | |
| Auto save | Off | Saves on tab switch and when the app goes to the background |
Files
| Setting | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Show hidden files | Off | Names that start with a dot |
| Follow symlinks | Off | Descend into linked folders. Off is safer. |
| Excluded names | .git, node_modules, .venv, __pycache__, .DS_Store |
Left out of the tree, file search and content search. Add a name or a glob such as *.log. Restore defaults appears once the list differs from the defaults. |
With sync set up, a workspace’s server, root folder, label, tags and settings sync to your other devices. Open tabs, unsaved drafts and when you last opened it stay on each device.
Workspaces belong to your personal vault and are listed there. To share one with a team, export it to a team vault from the vault; its server is copied with it. A workspace in a team vault is listed only on the vaults page and doesn’t count toward the Free limit. Import it into your personal vault to open it from the home screen.
If the workspace’s server is deleted, the workspace stays listed so you can delete it, and says that its server no longer exists.