Currently, when files are attached or opened in Cursor’s editor tabs, only the filename is displayed (e.g., “route.ts”). This makes it difficult to distinguish between files that share the same name, which is common in modern web applications (e.g., multiple route.ts files in different directories).
Current Behavior:
- Only the filename is shown in editor tabs (e.g., “route.ts”)
- No indication of the file’s location in the project structure
- Makes it difficult to distinguish between similarly named files
Desired Behavior:
- Show either the complete path or at least the parent directory in the tab
- Examples:
- Complete path: “src/app/api/shipping/quick-quote/route.ts”
- Or partial path: “shipping/quick-quote/route.ts”
- Or parent directory: “quick-quote/route.ts”
Why This Matters:
- Improves navigation efficiency when working with multiple files of the same name
- Reduces cognitive load - no need to check file explorer to verify which file you’re editing
- Particularly important in projects using Next.js App Router or similar architectures where multiple files share common names (route.ts, page.tsx, layout.tsx)
Suggested Implementation:
- Could be configurable in settings to show:
- Full path
- Partial path (last N directories)
- Parent directory only
- Could use path truncation (…) for very long paths
- Could show full path on hover even if showing truncated version in tab
Additional Context:
This is particularly important when working with:
- Next.js App Router projects
- Monorepos
- Large projects with similar file naming conventions
- Microservice architectures