Shortcut for running terminal command in VS code

Question

Is there a way to make a hotkey for running specific command in terminal? Say I want to compile my TypeScript files by hotkey and not to type to terminal "tsc" or any other variation of that command. (Edit: I know it is possible to recompile TS on save, but the question is still the same)

Answer 1

Typically you would set up a build or another task or an npm script and then trigger that with a hotkey.

There is another new way to do it with send text to the terminal.

For example, try this in your keybindings (Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts (JSON)):

{
  "key": "ctrl+alt+u",
  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",
  "args": {
    "text": "node -v\u000D"
  }
}

for an npm script:

{
  "key": "ctrl+alt+u",
  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",
  "args": {
    "text": "npm run-script test\u000D"
  }
}

The first will run the node -v command (the \u000D is a return so it runs). I still recommend actually setting up a build task though, and then there are keychords for running your build task: Ctrl-shift-B. Or an npm script.

For example, if you had a more complex script to run, see how to bind a task to a keybinding or how to keybind an external command.

---

EDIT: As of v1.32 you can now do something like this:

{
  "key": "ctrl+shift+t",
  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",
  "args": { "text": "tsc '${file}'\u000D" }
}

You can now use the built-in variables, like ${file}, with the sendSequence command in a keybinding. I wrapped ${file} in single quotes in case your directory structure has a folder with a space in the name. And \u000D is a return.