Project Explorer

The Project Explorer is your central hub for managing project files and navigating your codebase. It provides a familiar file tree interface with powerful features for organizing and accessing your work.

Opening a Project

To start working with Neova, you first need to open a project folder:

1. Click Load Folder in the Project Explorer
2. Select your project directory
3. If the folder doesn’t have a .neova folder yet, Neova will offer to set it up

Project Setup

When opening a folder without Neova configuration:

• Set up project: Creates a .neova folder with default configuration (stages, templates, and sample content)
• Cancel: Returns to the previous project or empty state

Tip

The .neova folder stores all your tasks, snippets, templates, and settings. It’s safe to commit to version control.

Recent Projects

Neova remembers your recently opened projects for quick access:

• Click the dropdown arrow next to Load Folder to see recent projects
• Click any project to switch to it instantly
• Projects are stored locally and persist across sessions

File Tree Navigation

The file tree displays your project structure with intuitive controls:

Expanding Folders

• Click the chevron icon to expand or collapse folders
• Folders load their contents on-demand for better performance with large projects
• Expansion state is preserved during your session

File Preview

Click any file to preview its contents in the right panel:

• Code files: Syntax-highlighted with language detection
• Images: Displayed inline (PNG, JPG, SVG, etc.)
• JSON files: Formatted and syntax-highlighted
• Markdown files: Rendered with formatting

Filtering Files

Use the search and filter controls to find files quickly:

Search

Type in the search box to filter the file tree. Matching files are shown in a flat list for easy access.

Limitation

Search currently matches file names only, not folder names.

Important Files

Mark frequently accessed files as “important” for quick filtering:

1. Hover over any file to reveal the star icon
2. Click the star to toggle importance
3. Click the Important button to show only starred files

Limitation

Important file markers are session-only and are not persisted when you close Neova.

Project Info Bar

The statistics bar at the bottom of the Project Explorer shows key metrics:

Statistic	Description
Tasks	Total tasks across all stages
Features	Number of features in your backlog
Snippets	Available snippets in your library
Templates	Activity templates configured

Click any statistic to navigate directly to that section.

Toolbar Actions

Sync Project

Click the refresh icon to reload the file tree. Use this when:

• Files were added or removed outside Neova
• You want to ensure the tree reflects the current filesystem state

Clear Project

Click the trash icon to close the current project and return to the welcome screen. This doesn’t delete any files—it simply unloads the project from Neova.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Action	Shortcut
Search files	Focus search box and type
Toggle important filter	Click Important button

Best Practices

Organizing Your Project

• Keep your .neova folder at the project root
• Use meaningful task titles that match your development goals
• Mark key configuration files as “important” for quick access

Large Projects

Neova handles large codebases efficiently:

• Folders load on-demand (lazy loading)
• Common directories like node_modules, dist, and build are hidden by default
• Hidden files (starting with .) are hidden except for .neova

Multiple Projects

When working across multiple projects:

• Use the recent projects dropdown for quick switching
• Each project maintains its own tasks, snippets, and templates
• Settings are project-specific, stored in .neova/