refactor(storage): add non-creating path resolution for settings dir; use no-create in migrations and instructions to avoid side effects

Author: daniel-lxs

src/core/prompts/instructions/create-mode.ts

@@ -2,13 +2,14 @@ import * as path from "path"
 import * as vscode from "vscode"
 
 import { GlobalFileNames } from "../../../shared/globalFileNames"
-import { getSettingsDirectoryPath } from "../../../utils/storage"
+import { getStorageBasePath } from "../../../utils/storage"
 
 export async function createModeInstructions(context: vscode.ExtensionContext | undefined): Promise<string> {
 	if (!context) throw new Error("Missing VSCode Extension Context")
 
-	// Use getSettingsDirectoryPath to respect custom storage path setting
-	const settingsDir = await getSettingsDirectoryPath(context.globalStorageUri.fsPath)
+	// Resolve settings directory without creating it (avoid side effects for help text)
+	const basePath = await getStorageBasePath(context.globalStorageUri.fsPath, false)
+	const settingsDir = path.join(basePath, "settings")
 	const customModesPath = path.join(settingsDir, GlobalFileNames.customModes)
 
 	return `

src/utils/migrateSettings.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import * as path from "path"
 import * as fs from "fs/promises"
 import { fileExistsAtPath } from "./fs"
 import { GlobalFileNames } from "../shared/globalFileNames"
-import { getSettingsDirectoryPath } from "./storage"
+import { getStorageBasePath } from "./storage"
 import * as yaml from "yaml"
 
 const deprecatedCustomModesJSONFilename = "custom_modes.json"
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ export async function migrateSettings(
 	]
 
 	try {
-		// Use getSettingsDirectoryPath to respect custom storage path
-		const settingsDir = await getSettingsDirectoryPath(context.globalStorageUri.fsPath)
+		// Resolve settings directory without creating it to preserve early-return behavior
+		const basePath = await getStorageBasePath(context.globalStorageUri.fsPath, false)
+		const settingsDir = path.join(basePath, "settings")
 
 		// Check if settings directory exists first
 		if (!(await fileExistsAtPath(settingsDir))) {

src/utils/storage.ts

@@ -11,7 +11,13 @@ import { t } from "../i18n"
  * If a custom path is configured, uses that path
  * Otherwise uses the default VSCode extension global storage path
  */
-export async function getStorageBasePath(defaultPath: string): Promise<string> {
+/**
+ * Gets the base storage path for conversations
+ * If a custom path is configured, uses that path
+ * Otherwise uses the default VSCode extension global storage path
+ * Optionally avoid creating the directory (create = false) for pure path resolution.
+ */
+export async function getStorageBasePath(defaultPath: string, create = true): Promise<string> {
 	// Get user-configured custom storage path
 	let customStoragePath = ""
 
@@ -30,11 +36,12 @@ export async function getStorageBasePath(defaultPath: string): Promise<string> {
 	}
 
 	try {
-		// Ensure custom path exists
-		await fs.mkdir(customStoragePath, { recursive: true })
-
-		// Check directory write permission without creating temp files
-		await fs.access(customStoragePath, fsConstants.R_OK | fsConstants.W_OK | fsConstants.X_OK)
+		// When create is requested, ensure the custom path exists and is accessible
+		if (create) {
+			await fs.mkdir(customStoragePath, { recursive: true })
+			// Check directory write permission without creating temp files
+			await fs.access(customStoragePath, fsConstants.R_OK | fsConstants.W_OK | fsConstants.X_OK)
+		}
 
 		return customStoragePath
 	} catch (error) {