AutoHideSidebar is a Sublime Text 3 package that will automatically hide and show the sidebar as you type, save and navigate. Untested with ST2, but may work too.

AutoHideSidebar watches for modifications on the currently open file. After the current file is modified by a certain number of keystrokes (defaults to 10) the sidebar will automatically hide.

Once the sidebar is hidden, it will automatically be shown when:

• The current file is saved.
• A file is loaded or cloned.
• A new tab is opened.
• An open tab is closed.
• The Current active tab changes.
• The app gains or loses focus.

Only keystrokes that add, remove or change text in the current tab ("change" keystrokes) will hide the sidebar. Other keystrokes, such arrow keys, will not cause the sidebar to hide.

You can find the package in Sublime Package Control by searching for "Auto Hide Sidebar".

You can also install it by hand by downloading AutoHideSidebar.py in to the User Packages directory. On OS X this defaults to ~/Library/Application Support/Sublime Text 3/Packages/User but may vary on other operating systems.

The default behaviour can be overridden by settings in your preferences:

The number of change keystrokes required before the sidebar automatically hides. The default is 10. It can be changed like this:

{ "hide_sidebar_change_count_trigger": 5 }

Now the sidebar will hide after 5 change keystrokes.

If the sidebar is hidden, automatically show it when a file/tab gains focus. This will trigger when the currently open tab changes or when the app window itself gains or loses focus. Default is true, can be changed like this:

{ "show_sidebar_on_activated": false }

Now the sidebar will not automatically show when focus changes.

If the sidebar is hidden, automatically show it when a new file is created with File Menu -> New File or Command-N/Super-N/Ctrl-N. Default is true, can be changed like this:

{ "show_sidebar_on_new": false }

Now the sidebar will not automatically show when a new file is created.

If the sidebar is hidden, automatically show it when a clone is created from a file. Default is true, can be changed like this:

{ "show_sidebar_on_clone": false }

Now the sidebar will not automatically show when a file is cloned.

If the sidebar is hidden, automatically show it when a file is loaded with File Menu -> Open or Command-T/Super-T/Ctrl-T. Default is true, can be changed like this:

{ "show_sidebar_on_load": false }

Now the sidebar will not automatically show when a new file is created.

If the sidebar is hidden, automatically show it when a file is saved with File Menu -> Save or Command-S/Super-S/Ctrl-S or when "save_on_focus_lost" is triggered. Default is true, can be changed like this:

{ "show_sidebar_on_save": false }

Now the sidebar will not automatically show when a file is saved.

If the sidebar is hidden, automatically show it when an open file is closed with File Menu -> Close File or Command-W/Ctrl-F4. Default is true, can be changed like this:

{ "show_sidebar_on_close": false }

Now the sidebar will not automatically show when a file is closed.

Toggle event and debugging messages being written to the console. Default is false, can be changed like this:

{ "autohide_sidebar_verbose_logging": true }

1.0.1, Jan 15, 2016*

Fixed errant logging message that would print to the console regardless of the value of autohide_sidebar_verbose_logging.

Added documentation on the autohide_sidebar_verbose_logging config option.

Submitted to be included in Sublime Package Control.

1.0, July 31, 2014

Initial release.

Parts of this code are borrowed or based on Przemek Sobstel's SyncedSideBar package.

GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE v2.0