feat: open session working directory in file manager

Add an `O` keybinding that opens the selected session's working directory in the system file manager. Reuses the platform opener (explorer, open, xdg-open) with a new OpenDir helper that validates the path is an existing directory before spawning, and reports the result through the status line.

Closes #197

Co-authored-by: Copilot App <[email protected]>

Author: jongio

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/), and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/).
 
+## [Unreleased]
+
+### Added
+- **Open working directory** (`O`) — open the selected session's working directory in the system file manager (Explorer, Finder, or the Linux file manager)
+
 ## [v0.13.0] — 2026-06-30
 
 ### Added

README.md

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ Dispatch reads your local Copilot CLI session store and presents every past sess
 - **Time range filtering** (`1`–`4`) — 1 hour, 1 day, 7 days, all
 - **Preview panel** (`p`) — metadata, chat-style conversation bubbles, checkpoints (up to 5), files (up to 5), refs (up to 5), scroll indicators. Toggle conversation sort order with `o`. Click the session ID row to copy it to clipboard
 - **Copy session ID** (`c`) — copy the selected session's ID to the system clipboard. Also available by clicking the ID row in the preview pane
+- **Open working directory** (`O`) — open the selected session's working directory in the system file manager (Explorer on Windows, Finder on macOS, the default file manager on Linux)
 - **Four launch modes** (`Enter` / `t` / `w` / `e`) — in-place, new tab, new window, split pane (Windows Terminal) with per-session overrides
 - **Multi-session open** (`Space` / `L` / `a` / `d`) — select multiple sessions with Space, launch all at once with L, select/deselect all with a/d. Shift+↑/↓ for range selection, Ctrl+click and Shift+click for mouse selection
 - **Attention indicators** — colored dots showing real-time session status: working (blue, executing tools), thinking (cyan, generating response), compacting (magenta, context compaction), waiting (purple), active (green), stale (yellow), interrupted (orange ⚡), idle (gray). Jump to next waiting session with `n`, resume interrupted sessions with `R`, filter by status with `!`
@@ -206,6 +207,7 @@ Run `dispatch doctor` to print setup checks for the config file, session store,
 | `v` | View plan in preview pane |
 | `o` | Toggle conversation sort order (oldest/newest first) |
 | `c` | Copy session ID to clipboard |
+| `O` | Open session working directory in file manager |
 | `PgUp` / `PgDn` | Scroll preview |
 | `r` | Refresh session store |
 | `,` | Open settings panel |

internal/platform/open.go

@@ -2,23 +2,46 @@ package platform
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"runtime"
 )
 
-// OpenFile opens the given file path using the platform default application.
-// On Windows it uses explorer.exe (avoids cmd.exe metacharacter injection),
-// on macOS "open", and on Linux "xdg-open".
-func OpenFile(path string) error {
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	var cmd *exec.Cmd
+// openCommand builds the platform command used to open a path with the
+// default handler: explorer.exe on Windows (which avoids cmd.exe
+// metacharacter injection), "open" on macOS, and "xdg-open" elsewhere.
+func openCommand(ctx context.Context, path string) *exec.Cmd {
 	switch runtime.GOOS {
 	case "windows":
-		cmd = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "explorer", path)
+		return exec.CommandContext(ctx, "explorer", path)
 	case "darwin":
-		cmd = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "open", path)
+		return exec.CommandContext(ctx, "open", path)
 	default:
-		cmd = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "xdg-open", path)
+		return exec.CommandContext(ctx, "xdg-open", path)
+	}
+}
+
+// OpenFile opens the given file path using the platform default application.
+// On Windows it uses explorer.exe (avoids cmd.exe metacharacter injection),
+// on macOS "open", and on Linux "xdg-open".
+func OpenFile(path string) error {
+	return openCommand(context.Background(), path).Start()
+}
+
+// OpenDir opens the given directory in the platform file manager. It returns
+// an error if the path is empty or is not an existing directory, so callers
+// can surface a clear message instead of spawning against a bad path.
+func OpenDir(path string) error {
+	if path == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("no directory to open")
+	}
+	info, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("directory not found: %s", path)
+	}
+	if !info.IsDir() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("not a directory: %s", path)
 	}
-	return cmd.Start()
+	return openCommand(context.Background(), path).Start()
 }

internal/platform/open_test.go

@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 package platform
 
 import (
+	"context"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
 	"testing"
 )
 
@@ -15,3 +19,52 @@ func TestOpenFile_NonExistentPath(t *testing.T) {
 	// We just verify no panic occurred.
 	_ = err
 }
+
+func TestOpenCommand_PerOS(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	cmd := openCommand(context.Background(), "/some/path")
+	if len(cmd.Args) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("expected command args")
+	}
+	var want string
+	switch runtime.GOOS {
+	case "windows":
+		want = "explorer"
+	case "darwin":
+		want = "open"
+	default:
+		want = "xdg-open"
+	}
+	if got := filepath.Base(cmd.Args[0]); got != want {
+		t.Errorf("openCommand on %s = %q, want %q", runtime.GOOS, got, want)
+	}
+	last := cmd.Args[len(cmd.Args)-1]
+	if last != "/some/path" {
+		t.Errorf("openCommand path arg = %q, want %q", last, "/some/path")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOpenDir_EmptyPath(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	if err := OpenDir(""); err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected error for empty path")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOpenDir_MissingPath(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	if err := OpenDir(filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "does-not-exist")); err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected error for missing path")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOpenDir_FileNotDir(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	f := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "file.txt")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(f, []byte("x"), 0o600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("write temp file: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := OpenDir(f); err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected error when path is a file, not a directory")
+	}
+}

internal/tui/handlers.go

@@ -145,6 +145,17 @@ func (m Model) handleFileOpened(msg fileOpenedMsg) (Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	return m, clearStatusAfter(2 * time.Second)
 }
 
+// ----- Directory opened result ---------------------------------------------
+
+func (m Model) handleDirOpened(msg dirOpenedMsg) (Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	if msg.err != nil {
+		m.statusErr = msg.err.Error()
+		return m, clearStatusAfter(2 * time.Second)
+	}
+	m.statusInfo = "Opened " + msg.path
+	return m, clearStatusAfter(2 * time.Second)
+}
+
 // ----- Pending click fire (single-click debounce) --------------------------
 
 func (m Model) handlePendingClickFire(msg pendingClickFireMsg) (Model, tea.Cmd) {

internal/tui/handlers_test.go

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package tui
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"testing"
 
 	tea "charm.land/bubbletea/v2"
@@ -9,6 +10,42 @@ import (
 	"github.com/jongio/dispatch/internal/tui/components"
 )
 
+var errTestOpenDir = errors.New("directory not found: /tmp/work")
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// handleDirOpened
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+func TestHandleDirOpened_Success(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTestModelWithSize(120, 30)
+	m2, cmd := m.handleDirOpened(dirOpenedMsg{path: "/tmp/work"})
+
+	if m2.statusErr != "" {
+		t.Errorf("statusErr should be empty on success, got %q", m2.statusErr)
+	}
+	if m2.statusInfo != "Opened /tmp/work" {
+		t.Errorf("statusInfo = %q, want %q", m2.statusInfo, "Opened /tmp/work")
+	}
+	if cmd == nil {
+		t.Error("expected a clear-status command")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHandleDirOpened_Error(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newTestModelWithSize(120, 30)
+	m2, cmd := m.handleDirOpened(dirOpenedMsg{path: "/tmp/work", err: errTestOpenDir})
+
+	if m2.statusInfo != "" {
+		t.Errorf("statusInfo should be empty on error, got %q", m2.statusInfo)
+	}
+	if m2.statusErr != errTestOpenDir.Error() {
+		t.Errorf("statusErr = %q, want %q", m2.statusErr, errTestOpenDir.Error())
+	}
+	if cmd == nil {
+		t.Error("expected a clear-status command")
+	}
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // handleBackgroundColor
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

internal/tui/keys.go

@@ -55,14 +55,15 @@ type keyMap struct {
 	ShiftDown         key.Binding
 	ViewSwitch        key.Binding
 	OpenFile          key.Binding
+	OpenDir           key.Binding
 	Timeline          key.Binding
 	Compare           key.Binding
 	CmdPalette        key.Binding
 }
 
 // ShortHelp returns a compact set of key bindings for the mini help bar.
 func (k keyMap) ShortHelp() []key.Binding {
-	return []key.Binding{k.Enter, k.LaunchWindow, k.LaunchTab, k.LaunchPane, k.LaunchAll, k.Search, k.Filter, k.Sort, k.Preview, k.ViewPlan, k.Timeline, k.Compare, k.Hide, k.Star, k.Note, k.CopyID, k.CopyPreview, k.Export, k.OpenFile, k.JumpNextAttention, k.FilterAttention, k.ResumeInterrupted, k.ScanWorkStatus, k.ExpandCollapseAll, k.ViewSwitch, k.CmdPalette, k.Config, k.Help, k.Quit}
+	return []key.Binding{k.Enter, k.LaunchWindow, k.LaunchTab, k.LaunchPane, k.LaunchAll, k.Search, k.Filter, k.Sort, k.Preview, k.ViewPlan, k.Timeline, k.Compare, k.Hide, k.Star, k.Note, k.CopyID, k.CopyPreview, k.Export, k.OpenFile, k.OpenDir, k.JumpNextAttention, k.FilterAttention, k.ResumeInterrupted, k.ScanWorkStatus, k.ExpandCollapseAll, k.ViewSwitch, k.CmdPalette, k.Config, k.Help, k.Quit}
 }
 
 // FullHelp returns grouped key bindings for the expanded help view.
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ func (k keyMap) FullHelp() [][]key.Binding {
 		{k.Space, k.LaunchAll, k.SelectAll, k.DeselectAll, k.ShiftUp, k.ShiftDown},
 		{k.Search, k.Escape, k.Filter},
 		{k.Sort, k.SortOrder, k.Pivot, k.PivotOrder, k.ExpandCollapseAll},
-		{k.Preview, k.PreviewPosition, k.PreviewScrollUp, k.PreviewScrollDown, k.ConversationSort, k.ViewPlan, k.Timeline, k.Compare, k.CopyID, k.CopyPreview, k.Export, k.OpenFile, k.Reindex, k.ScanWorkStatus, k.ViewSwitch, k.Config},
+		{k.Preview, k.PreviewPosition, k.PreviewScrollUp, k.PreviewScrollDown, k.ConversationSort, k.ViewPlan, k.Timeline, k.Compare, k.CopyID, k.CopyPreview, k.Export, k.OpenFile, k.OpenDir, k.Reindex, k.ScanWorkStatus, k.ViewSwitch, k.Config},
 		{k.Hide, k.ToggleHidden, k.Star, k.Note, k.JumpNextAttention, k.FilterAttention, k.ResumeInterrupted},
 		{k.TimeRange1, k.TimeRange2, k.TimeRange3, k.TimeRange4},
 		{k.Help, k.CmdPalette, k.Quit},
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@ var keys = keyMap{
 	ShiftDown:         key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("shift+down"), key.WithHelp("shift+\u2193", "extend select down")),
 	ViewSwitch:        key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("V"), key.WithHelp("V", "switch view")),
 	OpenFile:          key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("F"), key.WithHelp("F", "open file")),
+	OpenDir:           key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("O"), key.WithHelp("O", "open directory")),
 	Timeline:          key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("T"), key.WithHelp("T", "activity timeline")),
 	Compare:           key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("D"), key.WithHelp("D", "compare selected")),
 	CmdPalette:        key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys(":"), key.WithHelp(":", "command palette")),

internal/tui/messages.go

@@ -187,6 +187,12 @@ type fileOpenedMsg struct {
 	err  error
 }
 
+// dirOpenedMsg reports the result of opening a directory in the file manager.
+type dirOpenedMsg struct {
+	path string
+	err  error
+}
+
 // compareDetailMsg delivers two session details for side-by-side comparison.
 type compareDetailMsg struct {
 	left  *data.SessionDetail

internal/tui/model.go

@@ -483,6 +483,9 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	case fileOpenedMsg:
 		return m.handleFileOpened(msg)
 
+	case dirOpenedMsg:
+		return m.handleDirOpened(msg)
+
 	case compareDetailMsg:
 		return m.handleCompareDetail(msg)
 
@@ -1300,6 +1303,14 @@ func (m Model) handleKey(msg tea.KeyPressMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 		return m, nil
 
+	case key.Matches(msg, keys.OpenDir):
+		cwd := m.selectedSessionCwd()
+		if cwd == "" {
+			m.statusErr = "No working directory for this session"
+			return m, clearStatusAfter(2 * time.Second)
+		}
+		return m, m.openDirCmd(cwd)
+
 	case key.Matches(msg, keys.Space):
 		m.sessionList.ToggleSelected()
 		m.updateSelectionStatus()
@@ -3881,6 +3892,15 @@ func (m Model) openFileCmd(path string) tea.Cmd {
 	}
 }
 
+// openDirCmd opens a directory in the platform file manager. Validation of the
+// path lives in platform.OpenDir so the failure message is consistent.
+func (m Model) openDirCmd(path string) tea.Cmd {
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		err := platform.OpenDir(path)
+		return dirOpenedMsg{path: path, err: err}
+	}
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Group sorting helpers
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------