Managing a working set in an integrated development environment

A method comprising:

• managing a working set of files for a development activity in an integrated development environment by a processor of a computing device by:
• detecting an action from a workflow process of the integrated development environment triggering previewing content of a file, the action triggering previewing content of a file is distinct from an action triggering fully opening a file, wherein the action triggering previewing content of the file is stepping into the file during debugging;
• previewing content of the file, wherein previewing content of the file does not add the previewed file to a working set of files for the development activity in response to selecting the previewed file;
• displaying content of the previewed file in a preview display, the preview display stylistically distinguishable from a display of content of a fully opened file;
• and providing a mechanism to add the previewed file to the working set;
• wherein a history for previewed files can be viewed separately from a history of fully opened files, wherein promoting a file from preview mode to durable file merges the previewed file history to the durable file history.

A computer-readable storage memory comprising computer-executable instructions which when executed cause at least one processor of a computing device to:

• monitor a workflow comprising a program development activity in an integrated development environment;
• in response to detecting an action triggering previewing content of a file in the monitored workflow, previewing content of the file and displaying content of the file in a preview file display, the preview file display differing stylistically from an appearance of a display of a fully opened file, the action triggering previewing content of a file is distinct from an action triggering fully opening a file, wherein the action triggering previewing content of the file is stepping into the file during debugging;
• providing a mechanism allowing promotion of the previewed file to a fully opened file, wherein promotion of the previewed file to a fully opened file adds the promoted previewed file to a working set of files associated with the program development activity;
• wherein a history for previewed files can be viewed separately from a history of fully opened files, wherein promoting a file from preview mode to durable file merges the previewed file history to the durable file history.