Closes #ISSUE
it is was still in
[discussion](https://github.com/zed-industries/zed/discussions/37983)
Release Notes:
- Added: `--reuse` (`-r`) CLI flag to replace the workspace in an
existing window instead of opening a new one
This PR adds a new `--reuse` (`-r`) CLI flag that allows users to
replace the workspace in an existing Zed window instead of opening a new
one or adding files to the current workspace.
### What it does
The `--reuse` flag finds an available local workspace window and
replaces its workspace with the newly specified paths. This provides a
third workspace opening mode alongside the existing `--add` and `--new`
flags.
### Implementation Details
- **CLI Flag**: Added `--reuse` (`-r`) flag with proper mutual exclusion
with `--add` and `--new`
- **Window Replacement**: Uses the existing `replace_window` option in
`workspace::OpenOptions`
- **Window Selection**: Reuses the first available local workspace
window
- **Fallback Behavior**: When no existing windows are found, creates a
new window
- **Test Coverage**: Added comprehensive test for the reuse
functionality
### Behavior
- `zed -r file.txt` - Replaces the workspace in an available window with
`file.txt`
- If no windows are open, creates a new window (same as default
behavior)
- Mutually exclusive with `-a/--add` and `-n/--new` flags
- Works with multiple files and directories
### Files Changed
- `crates/cli/src/cli.rs` - Added `reuse` field to `CliRequest::Open`
- `crates/cli/src/main.rs` - Added CLI argument definition and parsing
- `crates/zed/src/zed/open_listener.rs` - Implemented reuse logic and
added tests
- `crates/zed/src/zed/windows_only_instance.rs` - Updated for Windows
compatibility
### Testing
- ✅ Unit tests pass
- ✅ Manual testing confirms expected behavior:
- Works when no windows are open
- Replaces workspace in existing window
- Maintains compatibility with existing `-a` and `-n` flags
- Proper help text display
## Manual testing
#### In this first video we do a couple of tests:
* **1**: What happens if we use the -r flag when there are no windows
open?
- works as expected. It opens the files in a new window.
* **2**: Does it work as expected if there is already a window open.
Does it overrides the workspace?
- yes it does. When opening a different file it overrides the current
window instead of creating a new one.
* **3**: Does the -n flag still works as expected?
- yes, it creates the project in a new window
* **4**: What about the -a flag?
- yes, on the last accessed page
* **5**: we do the replace command. It overrides the first opened
window, do we want this behavior?
- It is good enough that it overrides one of the opened windows with the
new project. It still makes the user automatically go to the window with
the specified files
* **6**: we use the -r command again replacing the workspace with a new
one.
- this indeed worked as expected
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f1cd7f4b-f4af-4da2-a755-c0be7ce96c0d
#### In here the we check how the --help flag now displays the new
command. (Description was later updated)
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a8a7a288-d926-431b-a9f9-a8c3d909a2ec
4b489f4ce9