nppGitClone

A lightweight Notepad++ plugin that allows you to clone GitHub repositories directly from the editor interface and seamlessly add them to your workspace without cluttering your tabs.

Features

• Intuitive UI: Simple input dialog to paste your public GitHub repository URL.
• Background Execution: Automated, non-blocking git clone process.
• Workspace Integration: Directly adds the cloned repository to the “Folder as Workspace” side panel via a simulated drag-and-drop mechanism.
• Smart Path Handling: Configurable destination directory via a native Windows folder browser.
• Multi-Architecture Support: Ready-to-use scripts for compiling in both Windows x64 and x86 environments using MSVC.

Installation

Manual Installation

1. Download the latest release: nppGitClone.zip
2. Unzip the archive to a temporary folder.
3. Navigate to your Notepad++ plugins directory (usually C:\Program Files\Notepad++\plugins\).
4. Create a new folder named exactly nppGitClone.
5. Copy all files from the temporary folder into this new plugins\nppGitClone\ directory.
6. Restart Notepad++ to activate the plugin.

Build Instructions

Prerequisites

• Visual Studio 2026 (with C++ Desktop Development build tools)
• Git for Windows (with git.exe added to your system PATH)
• Windows SDK

Building with Batch Files

Open your terminal or double-click the corresponding script depending on your target Notepad++ architecture:

• For a 64-bit (x64) build, run:

  build.bat
  
  

* For a **32-bit (x86)** build, run:
```bash
buildx86.bat

The compilation automation scripts will:

• Safely initialize the temporary MSVC developer environment.
• Compile all internal source files using the appropriate multi-threaded library flag (/MD).
• Link against essential Windows API libraries (user32, shell32, shlwapi, gdi32).
• Generate a standalone nppGitClone.dll compiled for your targeted architecture.

Usage

1. Launch Notepad++.
2. Navigate to the top menu: Plugins > nppGitClone > Clone Repository.
3. Enter the public GitHub HTTPS URL (e.g., https://github.com/username/repo.git).
4. Select your preferred local destination folder using the browser window.
5. Relax! The plugin handles the cloning and appends the root folder to your left workspace layout automatically.

Project Structure

nppGitClone/
├── src/
│   ├── PluginDefinition.h       # Plugin interface definitions
│   ├── PluginDefinition.cpp     # Plugin initialization & registration
│   ├── nppGitClone.cpp          # Main operational logic
│   ├── Dialogs.h                # Dialog UI windows declarations
│   ├── Dialogs.cpp              # Custom input and directory dialogue implementations
│   └── include/
│       ├── Notepad_plus_msgs.h  # Standard Notepad++ messaging API
│       ├── Scintilla.h          # Scintilla components integration keys
│       └── resource.h           # Win32 resource identifiers
├── build.bat                    # Native 64-bit automation script
├── buildx86.bat                 # Cross-compilation 32-bit automation script
├── README.md                    # Product manual (This file)
└── .gitignore                   # Workspace untracked file signatures

Troubleshooting

Build fails: “Could not find Visual Studio”

• Ensure that Visual Studio 2026 Build Tools are correctly deployed.
• Open build.bat or buildx86.bat and verify that the VS_PATH parameter reflects your actual IDE installation directory.
• Try running your terminal instance or the batch files as Administrator.

Plugin doesn’t appear in Notepad++

• Confirm the target installation folder layout matches: ...\Notepad++\plugins\nppGitClone\nppGitClone.dll.
• Check your exact Notepad++ architecture architecture via Help > About Notepad++. Loading an x86 DLL inside an x64 app layer will cause an silent initialization fault. Ensure you executed the correct compilation batch script.
• Always restart the host editor process completely after copying new assets.

Git clone fails

• Ensure Git is globally accessible. Try opening a standalone Command Prompt and type git --version to test your environment path.
• Check active network configurations and ensure the destination disk has write permissions.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

Author

gcyrillus