diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 17dc09c..3975810 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 
 ## ✨ 功能一览
 
-- **🗂️ 文件工作台**：资源管理器（懒加载目录树；软链接按目标类型展示——目录软链接可展开、失效链接标红）+ CodeMirror 编辑器；图片 / Markdown（含 Mermaid 图表，strict 安全渲染 + 点击放大；README 级内嵌 HTML——徽章墙 / `<details>` 折叠 / 表格内联标签经 DOMPurify 消毒真实渲染；浮动目录大纲一键跳转）/ HTML / PDF
+- **🗂️ 文件工作台**：资源管理器（懒加载目录树；软链接按目标类型展示——目录软链接可展开、失效链接标红；文件树与文件 tab 按扩展名显示图标——markdown / 图片 / PDF / 代码 / 配置 / 压缩包等各有 glyph，插件可经 `registerFileIcon` 注册自定义图标与目录图标）+ CodeMirror 编辑器；图片 / Markdown（含 Mermaid 图表，strict 安全渲染 + 点击放大；README 级内嵌 HTML——徽章墙 / `<details>` 折叠 / 表格内联标签经 DOMPurify 消毒真实渲染；浮动目录大纲一键跳转）/ HTML / PDF
 - **🌐 内嵌浏览器**：多开网页 tab，后退 / 前进 / 刷新；内容运行在沙箱 iframe；外链默认按协议分流——HTTP 在侧边栏打开、HTTPS 走系统浏览器（设置页可分别调整）
 - **💻 真实终端**：xterm.js + node-pty 真实 shell，断线重连回放；可选为模型注入 `terminal_*` 工具
 - **📂 模型侧边栏打开（可选）**：全局设置开启后注入 `sidebar_open` 工具——模型可主动在侧边栏打开文件 / 文件夹（树以该目录为根）/ HTTP(S) 网页
@@ -328,6 +328,10 @@ GitHub topic [`dsh-better-sidebar`](https://github.com/topics/dsh-better-sidebar
 
 - 真机挂载冒烟门禁钉 0.1.5-alpha.1，e2e 增加「展开原生栏 → 经引导页逐个打开插件 tab 类型」的巡检；typecheck / lint / 单测 / 挂载车道全绿。
 
+### v0.19.0（未发布）
+
+- 🎨 **文件图标多样化 + 对外图标注册 API（[file-icons.tsx](./src/client/file-icons.tsx)）**：文件树与编辑器文件 tab 不再是单一 `VscFile`——markdown / 图片媒体 / PDF / JSON / 40+ 代码扩展 / 配置 / 数据库 / lock / 压缩包各有专属 glyph（VSCodicons 单色 `currentColor`，遵循皮肤契约），未知扩展回退通用图标。`ctx.betterSidebar` 新增 `registerFileIcon`（`features` 含 `'fileIcons'`）：按扩展名注册自定义图标（彩色 ReactNode 亦可，颜色责任在注册方），`exts: []` 为全局默认（只兜内置 glyph 没认领的扩展，不吞掉内置多样性），保留扩展名 `'folder'` / `'folder-open'` 可换目录行图标；`fileIcon` / `folderIcon` 为权威解析器（完整回退链 + 逐工厂崩溃隔离），注册/注销即时生效。接入示例见[外部插件指南 §7](./docs/external-plugin-guide.md)。
+
 ### v0.18.1
 
 > 📌 **正式版**（npm `latest`）：DSH 基线不变（**0.1.2-rc.1+**，peer 下限 `^0.1.2-rc.1`）——本版是 v0.18.0 之后的增量发布：变更面板预览能力增强、文件树可写，以及五项修复。
@@ -589,7 +593,7 @@ GitHub topic [`dsh-better-sidebar`](https://github.com/topics/dsh-better-sidebar
 
 ## 🔌 服务化扩展
 
-从 v0.4.0 起暴露 `ctx.betterSidebar` 服务，其他插件可注册侧边栏页面与文件预览器（内置 8 tab + 6 viewer 亦通过同一服务注册）。v0.12.1 补齐基座能力（完整类型导出、能力探测、状态订阅、tab 角标、生命周期回调、定向打开、插件自有设置等）。
+从 v0.4.0 起暴露 `ctx.betterSidebar` 服务，其他插件可注册侧边栏页面与文件预览器（内置 8 tab + 6 viewer 亦通过同一服务注册）。v0.12.1 补齐基座能力（完整类型导出、能力探测、状态订阅、tab 角标、生命周期回调、定向打开、插件自有设置等）。v0.19.0 起新增文件图标注册：`registerFileIcon` 按扩展名（或保留的 `'folder'` / `'folder-open'` 目录扩展名、`exts: []` 全局默认）替换文件树与文件 tab 的图标，彩色 ReactNode 亦可——内置消费、注册即生效，无需自己接线。
 
 完整接入文档（全字段、匹配算法、HMR 陷阱、声明式设置、版本探测、原生栏承载面与皮肤契约）：**[`docs/external-plugin-guide.md`](./docs/external-plugin-guide.md)**；仓库开发规则（硬约束 / CI / 发版）见 [`AGENTS.md`](./AGENTS.md)。
 
diff --git a/docs/external-plugin-guide.md b/docs/external-plugin-guide.md
index f986841..f7edaa7 100644
--- a/docs/external-plugin-guide.md
+++ b/docs/external-plugin-guide.md
@@ -583,10 +583,28 @@ interface BetterSidebarService {
   registerTab(descriptor: TabDescriptor): () => void
   /** 注册文件预览器；返回 disposer */
   registerFileViewer(descriptor: FileViewerDescriptor): () => void
+  /** 注册自定义文件树/文件 tab 图标（v0.19.0+，features 含 'fileIcons'）；返回 disposer */
+  registerFileIcon(descriptor: FileIconDescriptor): () => void
   /** 当前已注册的 tab 描述符快照（同步，供 useSyncExternalStore 用；含被设置页禁用的类型） */
   getTabs(): readonly TabDescriptor[]
   /** 当前已注册的 file viewer 描述符快照（含被设置页禁用的 viewer） */
   getFileViewers(): readonly FileViewerDescriptor[]
+  /** 当前已注册的文件图标描述符快照（v0.19.0+） */
+  getFileIcons(): readonly FileIconDescriptor[]
+  /** 按 path 匹配**具体扩展名**注册（priority 降序、注册序；不查 catch-all
+   *  与 folder 保留值）。消费方一般直接用 fileIcon/folderIcon 全链解析器。 */
+  matchFileIcon(path: string): FileIconDescriptor | undefined
+  /** 匹配目录行注册（'folder'/'folder-open' 保留扩展名；priority 降序、注册序；
+   *  返回 undefined = 回退内置 VscFolder/VscFolderOpened） */
+  matchFolderIcon(open: boolean): FileIconDescriptor | undefined
+  /** 文件图标权威解析器（v0.19.0+），完整回退链：
+   *  ① 具体扩展名注册 → ② 内置 glyph（md/媒体/pdf/json/代码/配置/数据库/lock/压缩包）
+   *  → ③ 最优 catch-all 注册（exts: []，即全局默认）→ ④ 通用 VscFile。
+   *  任一注册工厂抛错都会被吞（console.error 后跳下一级），永远返回有效 ReactNode。 */
+  fileIcon(path: string, size: number): ReactNode
+  /** 目录图标解析器：注册的 'folder'（闭合）/'folder-open'（展开）图标 →
+   *  内置 VscFolder/VscFolderOpened；path 为目录自身路径（主题可按目录变化）。 */
+  folderIcon(path: string, open: boolean, size: number): ReactNode
   /** 按 id 查 tab 描述符 */
   getTab(id: string): TabDescriptor | undefined
   /** 某个 tab 类型是否在 Side card 设置中启用（v0.4.1+；缺省 = 启用） */
@@ -621,7 +639,8 @@ interface BetterSidebarService {
   /** 能力清单（只增不删，唯一例外：v0.19.0 删除了 'floatWindows'）：
    *  'badge' | 'tabLifecycle' | 'updateTab' | 'openFile' | 'targetedOpen' |
    *  'stateSubscription' | 'tabMeta' | 'pluginSettings' | 'urlTarget' |
-   *  'settingSelect' ——用 `features.includes('xxx')` 按能力 gate。 */
+   *  'settingSelect' | 'fileIcons'
+   *  ——用 `features.includes('xxx')` 按能力 gate。 */
   readonly features: readonly string[]
   /** 当前快照：激活 sessionId + 其状态（面板几何/打开的 tabs/展开集）+ prefs。
    *  session 未激活时 state/sessionId 为 undefined。 */
@@ -652,8 +671,65 @@ interface OpenTabSeed {
    *  undefined = 不改，null = 显式清除 */
   meta?: unknown
 }
+
+/** 文件图标注册描述符（v0.19.0+，features 含 'fileIcons'）。 */
+interface FileIconDescriptor {
+  /** 唯一 id（如 'my-plugin:icons'） */
+  id: string
+  /** 小写扩展名、不带前导点（如 ['csv','tsv']）。两个**保留值**认领目录行
+   *  而非文件扩展名：'folder'（闭合目录）、'folder-open'（展开目录）——
+   *  它们不会匹配真实文件（名为 x.folder 的文件不受影响）。
+   *  [] = catch-all 全局默认：只兜内置 glyph 没认领的扩展名（注册的具体
+   *  扩展名与内置 glyph 永远优先于它）。 */
+  exts: readonly string[]
+  /** priority 高者胜，缺省 0（同级按注册先后） */
+  priority?: number
+  /** 尺寸感知的图标工厂（文件树/文件 tab 当前以 size=14 渲染）。
+   *  与内置图标（currentColor 单色，遵循皮肤契约）不同，注册图标可以是
+   *  任意 ReactNode——包括彩色图标；颜色在皮肤间的表现由注册方自行负责。 */
+  icon: (path: string, size: number) => ReactNode
+}
 ```
 
+**图标注册示例**（v0.19.0+；一次注册可同时覆盖具体扩展名、目录与全局默认）：
+
+```ts
+if (ctx.betterSidebar.features.includes('fileIcons')) {
+  ctx.effect(() =>
+    ctx.betterSidebar.registerFileIcon({
+      id: 'my-plugin:icons',
+      exts: ['csv', 'tsv'],
+      icon: (path, size) => <MyCsvIcon size={size} />, // 彩色也可以
+    })
+  )
+  ctx.effect(() =>
+    ctx.betterSidebar.registerFileIcon({
+      id: 'my-plugin:folders',
+      exts: ['folder'], // 闭合目录行；['folder-open'] 认领展开行——
+      icon: (path, size) => <MyFolderIcon size={size} />, // 开/合图标不同就注册两条
+    })
+  )
+  ctx.effect(() =>
+    ctx.betterSidebar.registerFileIcon({
+      id: 'my-plugin:default', // 全局默认：只兜内置 glyph 没认领的文件
+      exts: [],
+      icon: (path, size) => <MyGenericFileIcon size={size} />,
+    })
+  )
+}
+```
+
+**消费表面与回退链**（由本插件内置消费，插件无需自己接线）：
+
+- 文件树文件行 / 编辑器文件 tab（每个文件独立窗口）：`fileIcon(path, size)`
+  ——具体扩展名注册 → 内置 glyph（markdown/媒体/pdf/json/代码/配置/数据库/lock/压缩包）
+  → catch-all 全局默认 → 通用 `VscFile`。
+- 文件树目录行（含根行）：`folderIcon(path, open, size)`——`'folder'`/`'folder-open'`
+  注册 → 内置 `VscFolder`/`VscFolderOpened`。
+
+注册/注销即时生效（文件树与 tab 栏订阅注册表变化自动重渲染）；图标工厂抛错会被吞掉
+（console.error 后跳到回退链下一级），不会空白行。
+
 **版本与能力探测**（v0.12.0+）：消费插件先查能力再使用新 API，老版本（或旧 DSH）下优雅降级：
 
 ```ts
diff --git a/src/client/EditorHost.tsx b/src/client/EditorHost.tsx
index e5421d9..2181739 100644
--- a/src/client/EditorHost.tsx
+++ b/src/client/EditorHost.tsx
@@ -401,6 +401,7 @@ export function EditorHost(props: {
           onReferenceFile={onReferenceFile}
           onPathRenamed={onPathRenamed}
           onPathDeleted={onPathDeleted}
+          service={ctx.get('betterSidebar')}
         />
       </div>
     )
@@ -525,6 +526,7 @@ export function EditorHost(props: {
               onReferenceFile={onReferenceFile}
               onPathRenamed={onPathRenamed}
               onPathDeleted={onPathDeleted}
+              service={ctx.get('betterSidebar')}
             />
           </div>
         )}
diff --git a/src/client/FileTree.tsx b/src/client/FileTree.tsx
index d080d18..ef09235 100644
--- a/src/client/FileTree.tsx
+++ b/src/client/FileTree.tsx
@@ -28,15 +28,17 @@ import {
   IconEditOutline16, IconLinkOutline16, IconTrashOutline16, Menu, Modal, type MenuEntry, type MenuItem, writeClipboard,
 } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-client-ui-primitives'
 import { SiCursor, SiZedindustries } from 'react-icons/si'
-import { VscFile, VscFolder, VscFolderOpened, VscLinkExternal, VscPin, VscPinned } from 'react-icons/vsc'
+import { VscFolderOpened, VscLinkExternal, VscPin, VscPinned } from 'react-icons/vsc'
 import { api, downloadUrl, isOutsideWorkspaceMessage, type FsEntry } from './api.ts'
 import { FenceErrorNotice } from './FenceErrorNotice.tsx'
+import { builtinFileIcon, builtinFolderIcon } from './file-icons.tsx'
 import { IconUploadOutline16, IconVscode16 } from './icons.tsx'
 import { isImeComposition } from './ime-guard.ts'
 import { useSubmenuFlip } from './menu-flip.ts'
 import type { OpenWithTarget } from './open-with.ts'
 import { relativeTo } from './paths.ts'
 import { t } from './locales.ts'
+import type { BetterSidebarService } from './service.ts'
 import type { SidebarStore } from './state.ts'
 import { uploadItemsFromDrop, uploadItemsFromFiles, type UploadItem } from './upload.ts'
 import css from './sidebar.module.css'
@@ -145,9 +147,41 @@ export function FileTree(props: {
   onUploadRequest: (dir: string, items: UploadItem[]) => void
   /** True while an upload is in flight (drops are ignored). */
   busy: boolean
+  /**
+   * The sidebar registry service: when present, externally registered file
+   * icons (`registerFileIcon`) outrank the built-in glyph map on file rows.
+   * Absent → the built-ins alone (the host always passes it today).
+   */
+  service?: BetterSidebarService
 }) {
-  const { sessionId, cwd, store, expanded, revealed, onToggle, onOpenFile, onOpenFileNewTab, onOpenFileSide, openWithTargets, openWithPinned, openWithSsh, onOpenWith, onToggleOpenWithPin, onReferenceFile, onPathRenamed, onPathDeleted, refreshTick, onUploadRequest, busy } = props
+  const { sessionId, cwd, store, expanded, revealed, onToggle, onOpenFile, onOpenFileNewTab, onOpenFileSide, openWithTargets, openWithPinned, openWithSsh, onOpenWith, onToggleOpenWithPin, onReferenceFile, onPathRenamed, onPathDeleted, refreshTick, onUploadRequest, busy, service } = props
   const [data, setData] = useState<Record<string, LevelData>>({})
+  /**
+   * Registry revision for the file-icon feature: bumps on ANY registry
+   * change (register/dispose of tabs, viewers, or icons — one listener
+   * set) so rows re-resolve their icons. The value itself is unread; the
+   * state bump IS the re-render trigger.
+   */
+  const [, setIconsVersion] = useState(0)
+  useEffect(
+    () => service?.subscribe(() => { setIconsVersion(version => version + 1) }),
+    [service],
+  )
+  /**
+   * One file row's leading glyph. The service resolver owns the whole
+   * chain (registered specific ext → built-in glyph map → registered
+   * global default → stock VscFile, with per-factory crash isolation);
+   * without a service the built-in map alone applies.
+   */
+  const fileRowIcon = (path: string): ReactNode =>
+    service !== undefined ? service.fileIcon(path, 14) : builtinFileIcon(path, 14)
+
+  /**
+   * One directory row's leading glyph: the registered `'folder'` /
+   * `'folder-open'` icon when present, else the built-in VSCodicons glyphs.
+   */
+  const dirRowIcon = (path: string, open: boolean): ReactNode =>
+    service !== undefined ? service.folderIcon(path, open, 14) : builtinFolderIcon(open, 14)
   const dataRef = useRef(data)
   /** The row whose path was just copied ("copied" label replaces its button). */
   const [copiedPath, setCopiedPath] = useState<string | null>(null)
@@ -546,8 +580,8 @@ export function FileTree(props: {
       style={{ paddingLeft: depth * 22 + 6 }}
     >
       {entry.isDir
-        ? (expandedSet.has(entry.path) ? <VscFolderOpened size={14} /> : <VscFolder size={14} />)
-        : <VscFile size={14} />}
+        ? dirRowIcon(entry.path, expandedSet.has(entry.path))
+        : fileRowIcon(entry.path)}
       <input
         ref={renameInputRef}
         className={css.explorerRenameInput}
@@ -625,7 +659,7 @@ export function FileTree(props: {
               onDrop={(event) => { handleDirDrop(event, entry.path) }}
               onContextMenu={(event) => { openRowMenu(event, entry.path, true) }}
             >
-              {isOpen ? <VscFolderOpened size={14} /> : <VscFolder size={14} />}
+              {dirRowIcon(entry.path, isOpen)}
               <span className={css.explorerName}>{entry.name}</span>
               {entry.isSymlink && <IconLinkOutline16 size={12} className={css.explorerSymlink} />}
               {rowActions(entry)}
@@ -658,7 +692,7 @@ export function FileTree(props: {
           onDrop={(event) => { handleFileDrop(event, entry.path) }}
           onContextMenu={(event) => { openRowMenu(event, entry.path, false) }}
         >
-          <VscFile size={14} />
+          {fileRowIcon(entry.path)}
           <span className={css.explorerName}>{entry.name}</span>
           {entry.isSymlink && <IconLinkOutline16 size={12} className={css.explorerSymlink} />}
           {rowActions(entry)}
@@ -703,7 +737,7 @@ export function FileTree(props: {
             onDrop={(event) => { handleDirDrop(event, root) }}
             onContextMenu={(event) => { openRowMenu(event, root, true) }}
           >
-            <VscFolderOpened size={14} />
+            {dirRowIcon(root, true)}
             <span className={css.explorerName}>{baseName(root)}</span>
             {copiedPath === root
               ? <span className={css.explorerCopied}>{t('copied')}</span>
diff --git a/src/client/Sidebar.tsx b/src/client/Sidebar.tsx
index f73f4dd..96f7014 100644
--- a/src/client/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/src/client/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -628,8 +628,17 @@ export function Sidebar(props: { ctx: Context; store: SidebarStore }) {
     service.openTab({ type: optionId, title, target: 'bottom' }, { sessionId, cwd })
   }
 
-  /** The tab icon from the tab-type registry. */
+  /**
+   * The tab icon from the tab-type registry. An editor tab WITH a file path
+   * (the per-path windows of split mode — `meta.dir` marks folder windows,
+   * which keep the folder glyph) shows the same file icon the tree row shows
+   * (`fileIcon`, feature `fileIcons`); every other tab uses its tab-type
+   * descriptor icon.
+   */
   const tabIconOf = (tab: SidebarTab): ReactNode => {
+    if (tab.type === 'editor' && tab.path !== undefined && (tab.meta as { dir?: boolean } | undefined)?.dir !== true) {
+      return ctx.get('betterSidebar')?.fileIcon(tab.path, 14) ?? null
+    }
     const descriptor = ctx.get('betterSidebar')?.getTab(tab.type)
     if (descriptor === undefined) return null
     return typeof descriptor.icon === 'function' ? descriptor.icon(14) : descriptor.icon
diff --git a/src/client/TreePanel.tsx b/src/client/TreePanel.tsx
index e0b0309..8134ac1 100644
--- a/src/client/TreePanel.tsx
+++ b/src/client/TreePanel.tsx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import { useEffect, useRef, useState, type InputHTMLAttributes } from 'react'
 import clsx from 'clsx'
 import { IconFolderOpen16, IconRefreshOutline16 } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-client-ui-primitives'
 import { api } from './api.ts'
+import type { BetterSidebarService } from './service.ts'
 import type { SidebarStore } from './state.ts'
 import { FileTree } from './FileTree.tsx'
 import { IconUploadOutline16 } from './icons.tsx'
@@ -70,8 +71,10 @@ export function TreePanel(props: {
   /** Full-window presentation: the panel fills its host instead of docking
    *  at a fixed width. */
   full?: boolean
+  /** The sidebar registry service (file-icon registrations; passed through to FileTree). */
+  service?: BetterSidebarService
 }) {
-  const { sessionId, cwd, store, expanded, revealed, onToggle, onOpenFile, onOpenFileNewTab, onOpenFileSide, openWithTargets, openWithPinned, openWithSsh, onOpenWith, onToggleOpenWithPin, onReferenceFile, onPathRenamed, onPathDeleted, full } = props
+  const { sessionId, cwd, store, expanded, revealed, onToggle, onOpenFile, onOpenFileNewTab, onOpenFileSide, openWithTargets, openWithPinned, openWithSsh, onOpenWith, onToggleOpenWithPin, onReferenceFile, onPathRenamed, onPathDeleted, full, service } = props
   const [query, setQuery] = useState('')
   const [results, setResults] = useState<{ matches: string[]; truncated: boolean } | null>(null)
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
@@ -261,6 +264,7 @@ export function TreePanel(props: {
           refreshTick={refreshTick}
           onUploadRequest={startUpload}
           busy={busy}
+          service={service}
         />
       ) : (
         <div className={css.explorerBody}>
diff --git a/src/client/file-icons.tsx b/src/client/file-icons.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7b8a1fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/file-icons.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/**
+ * Built-in per-extension file glyphs for the file tree (feature: file icons).
+ *
+ * All glyphs are VSCodicons consumed as `currentColor` monochrome — the same
+ * skin contract as every other icon this plugin draws (visual values ride the
+ * `--dsw-alias-*` tokens, never hardcoded colors). External plugins that want
+ * colorful icons register their own `FileIconDescriptor`s through
+ * `ctx.betterSidebar.registerFileIcon` (they own their colors); this map is
+ * only the fallback nobody claimed.
+ */
+import type { ReactNode } from 'react'
+import {
+  VscDatabase, VscFile, VscFileCode, VscFileMedia, VscFilePdf, VscFileZip,
+  VscFolder, VscFolderOpened, VscJson, VscLock, VscMarkdown, VscSettings,
+} from 'react-icons/vsc'
+import { extOf } from './paths.ts'
+
+/** One glyph shared by a group of extensions. */
+type GlyphFactory = (size: number) => ReactNode
+
+/** The generic file glyph — the fallback for every unclaimed extension. */
+export function fallbackFileIcon(size: number): ReactNode {
+  return <VscFile size={size} />
+}
+
+/** The built-in directory glyphs (what a folder row shows unregistered). */
+export function builtinFolderIcon(open: boolean, size: number): ReactNode {
+  return open ? <VscFolderOpened size={size} /> : <VscFolder size={size} />
+}
+
+/** One glyph shared by a group of extensions. */
+type GlyphGroup = [readonly string[], GlyphFactory]
+
+/**
+ * Extension → glyph groups. Extensions are lowercase without the leading dot,
+ * matched case-insensitively by the caller's normalization. Group order is
+ * documentation only: the flattened lookup below is a Map, so every extension
+ * key must stay unique (a duplicate would be last-write-wins). The reserved
+ * folder values (`'folder'`/`'folder-open'`) never appear here — directories
+ * resolve through `builtinFolderIcon`.
+ */
+const GROUPS: readonly GlyphGroup[] = [
+  [['md', 'markdown', 'mdx'], (size) => <VscMarkdown size={size} />],
+  [['png', 'jpg', 'jpeg', 'gif', 'webp', 'svg', 'bmp', 'ico', 'avif', 'tiff'], (size) => <VscFileMedia size={size} />],
+  [['pdf'], (size) => <VscFilePdf size={size} />],
+  [['json', 'jsonc', 'json5'], (size) => <VscJson size={size} />],
+  [['html', 'htm', 'xhtml', 'xml', 'jsx', 'tsx'], (size) => <VscFileCode size={size} />],
+  [['css', 'scss', 'sass', 'less', 'styl'], (size) => <VscFileCode size={size} />],
+  [['js', 'mjs', 'cjs', 'ts', 'mts', 'cts', 'py', 'rs', 'go', 'java', 'kt', 'kts', 'swift', 'rb', 'php', 'c', 'h', 'cpp', 'hpp', 'cs', 'm', 'mm', 'scala', 'sh', 'bash', 'zsh', 'fish', 'lua', 'pl', 'r', 'jl', 'dart', 'ex', 'exs', 'erl', 'hs', 'clj', 'cljs', 'vb', 'fs'], (size) => <VscFileCode size={size} />],
+  [['yml', 'yaml', 'toml', 'ini', 'cfg', 'conf', 'properties', 'editorconfig'], (size) => <VscSettings size={size} />],
+  [['sql', 'db', 'sqlite', 'sqlite3'], (size) => <VscDatabase size={size} />],
+  [['lock'], (size) => <VscLock size={size} />],
+  [['zip', 'tar', 'gz', 'tgz', 'bz2', 'xz', '7z', 'rar'], (size) => <VscFileZip size={size} />],
+]
+
+const LOOKUP: ReadonlyMap<string, GlyphFactory> = new Map(
+  GROUPS.flatMap(([exts, glyph]) => exts.map((ext) => [ext, glyph] as const)),
+)
+
+/**
+ * The built-in glyph FACTORY claiming a path's extension, or undefined when
+ * the extension is unclaimed (the caller decides the fallback — the generic
+ * `VscFile` or a registered catch-all). Exposed as a separate function so
+ * the service's resolver can distinguish "builtin claims it" from "builtin
+ * is just its own fallback" without comparing ReactNodes by reference.
+ */
+export function builtinFileIconOf(path: string): GlyphFactory | undefined {
+  return LOOKUP.get(extOf(path))
+}
+
+/**
+ * The built-in glyph for a path: its extension's group glyph, or the generic
+ * `VscFile` when nothing claims it. Pure and synchronous — callers run this
+ * on every render, so it stays a Map lookup. The no-service fallback path
+ * for surfaces without the registry (and the last-but-one link of the
+ * service's `fileIcon` chain).
+ */
+export function builtinFileIcon(path: string, size: number): ReactNode {
+  const glyph = LOOKUP.get(extOf(path))
+  return glyph === undefined ? fallbackFileIcon(size) : glyph(size)
+}
diff --git a/src/client/service.ts b/src/client/service.ts
index 3a0403a..bb72b36 100644
--- a/src/client/service.ts
+++ b/src/client/service.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
   type SidebarSnapshot, type SidebarState, type SidebarStore, type SidebarTab, type TabType,
 } from './state.ts'
 import { extOf } from './paths.ts'
+import { builtinFileIconOf, builtinFolderIcon, fallbackFileIcon } from './file-icons.tsx'
 import type { SessionScope } from './api.ts'
 import type { SidebarPrefs } from '../prefs-shared.ts'
 
@@ -334,6 +335,41 @@ export interface FileViewerDescriptor {
   component: (props: FileViewerProps) => ReactNode
 }
 
+/**
+ * Describes one external file-icon registration (feature `fileIcons`).
+ * Registrations override the built-in per-extension glyph map for their
+ * extensions; unlike the built-ins (monochrome `currentColor` per the skin
+ * contract), a registration's icon may be ANY ReactNode — colored included —
+ * and the registering plugin owns how its colors behave across skins.
+ */
+export interface FileIconDescriptor {
+  /** Unique id (`'my-plugin:icons'`). */
+  id: string
+  /**
+   * Lowercase extensions without leading dot (`['csv','tsv']`). `[]` = the
+   * global default (catch-all): it only claims files the built-in glyph map
+   * does not cover — registered specifics and built-in glyphs always outrank
+   * it. Two values are RESERVED for directory rows (never matched against
+   * real file extensions): `'folder'` (a closed directory) and
+   * `'folder-open'` (an expanded directory) — see `FOLDER_EXT`.
+   */
+  exts: readonly string[]
+  /** Higher wins; default 0. Registered icons always outrank the built-in map. */
+  priority?: number
+  /** Size-aware icon factory (the tree and file tabs render at 14 today). */
+  icon: (path: string, size: number) => ReactNode
+}
+
+/**
+ * Reserved `exts` values that claim DIRECTORY rows instead of file
+ * extensions: `'folder'` matches a closed directory, `'folder-open'` an
+ * expanded one (`folderIcon(path, open)` resolves them). They are filtered out of
+ * real-extension matching, so a file literally named `x.folder` is NOT
+ * claimed by a folder registration.
+ */
+export const FOLDER_EXT = 'folder' as const
+export const FOLDER_OPEN_EXT = 'folder-open' as const
+
 /** One `openTab` request. */
 export interface OpenTabSeed {
   type: string
@@ -408,8 +444,43 @@ export interface SidebarSurface {
 export interface BetterSidebarService {
   registerTab(descriptor: TabDescriptor): () => void
   registerFileViewer(descriptor: FileViewerDescriptor): () => void
+  registerFileIcon(descriptor: FileIconDescriptor): () => void
   getTabs(): readonly TabDescriptor[]
   getFileViewers(): readonly FileViewerDescriptor[]
+  getFileIcons(): readonly FileIconDescriptor[]
+  /**
+   * Find a SPECIFIC registered file icon for a path (priority desc, then
+   * registration order). Catch-alls (`exts: []`) and folder registrations
+   * (`'folder'`/`'folder-open'`) are not consulted — this answers "did a
+   * registration claim this exact extension". Consumers should prefer
+   * `fileIcon`/`folderIcon`, which run the whole fallback chain.
+   */
+  matchFileIcon(path: string): FileIconDescriptor | undefined
+  /**
+   * Find the registered icon for DIRECTORY rows (priority desc, then
+   * registration order): `open` picks between the `'folder'` and
+   * `'folder-open'` reserved exts. Undefined = fall back to the built-in
+   * VSCodicons folder glyphs.
+   */
+  matchFolderIcon(open: boolean): FileIconDescriptor | undefined
+  /**
+   * The authoritative FILE icon for a path (feature `fileIcons`), running
+   * the whole chain with per-factory crash isolation:
+   * 1. a specific registered extension (priority desc, registration order),
+   * 2. the built-in monochrome glyph map (md/media/pdf/json/code/...),
+   * 3. the best registered global default (`exts: []`, priority desc),
+   * 4. the generic `VscFile`.
+   * A throwing factory is logged (console.error) and skipped — the caller
+   * always gets a valid ReactNode.
+   */
+  fileIcon(path: string, size: number): ReactNode
+  /**
+   * The authoritative DIRECTORY icon for a tree row: the registered
+   * `'folder'`/`'folder-open'` icon (priority desc), else the built-in
+   * `VscFolder`/`VscFolderOpened`. `path` is the directory's own path (a
+   * theme may vary icons per directory). Same crash isolation as `fileIcon`.
+   */
+  folderIcon(path: string, open: boolean, size: number): ReactNode
   /** Find a tab descriptor by id (undefined if not registered). */
   getTab(id: string): TabDescriptor | undefined
   /**
@@ -544,6 +615,8 @@ export const SIDEBAR_SERVICE_VERSION = '0.19.1'
  * - 'pluginSettings': SidebarSettingsDeclaration.pluginToggles/render
  * - 'urlTarget' (v0.13.0): TabDescriptor.urlTarget (external-link claims)
  * - 'settingSelect': SidebarSettingToggle type 'select' (options/multi)
+ * - 'fileIcons' (v0.19.0): registerFileIcon/getFileIcons/matchFileIcon —
+ *   external per-extension file-tree icons overriding the built-in glyphs.
  *
  * v0.19.0 REMOVED 'floatWindows': the free-window feature is gone (DSH 0.1.5
  * owns the right column, so the plugin keeps only its bottom workbench).
@@ -560,6 +633,7 @@ export const SIDEBAR_FEATURES = [
   'pluginSettings',
   'urlTarget',
   'settingSelect',
+  'fileIcons',
 ] as const
 
 /** Run one plugin callback; a throw is logged and never breaks the caller. */
@@ -579,6 +653,7 @@ function safeCall(fn: () => void): void {
 export function createBetterSidebarService(store: SidebarStore): BetterSidebarService {
   const tabs = new Map<string, TabDescriptor>()
   const viewers = new Map<string, FileViewerDescriptor>()
+  const fileIcons = new Map<string, FileIconDescriptor>()
   const listeners = new Set<() => void>()
   /** The native right-Sidebar write face, installed by the client half. */
   let surface: SidebarSurface | undefined
@@ -622,8 +697,98 @@ export function createBetterSidebarService(store: SidebarStore): BetterSidebarSe
 
   const getTabs = (): readonly TabDescriptor[] => Array.from(tabs.values())
   const getFileViewers = (): readonly FileViewerDescriptor[] => Array.from(viewers.values())
+  const getFileIcons = (): readonly FileIconDescriptor[] => Array.from(fileIcons.values())
   const getTab = (id: string): TabDescriptor | undefined => tabs.get(id)
 
+  const registerFileIcon = (descriptor: FileIconDescriptor): (() => void) => {
+    if (fileIcons.has(descriptor.id)) {
+      throw new Error(`[dsh-better-sidebar] file icons "${descriptor.id}" already registered`)
+    }
+    fileIcons.set(descriptor.id, descriptor)
+    notify()
+    return () => {
+      if (fileIcons.get(descriptor.id) === descriptor) {
+        fileIcons.delete(descriptor.id)
+        notify()
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Registrations in ranking order: priority desc, stable for equal
+  // priorities (insertion order) — the same ranking `matchFileViewer` uses.
+  const rankedFileIcons = (): FileIconDescriptor[] =>
+    Array.from(fileIcons.values()).sort((a, b) => (b.priority ?? 0) - (a.priority ?? 0))
+
+  // Specific registrations only: catch-alls (`exts: []`) and folder
+  // registrations (`'folder'`/`'folder-open'`) are skipped, and the reserved
+  // folder values never match a real file's extension. The built-in glyph
+  // map is not consulted here — an undefined result IS the "fall through"
+  // signal the `fileIcon` resolver acts on.
+  const matchFileIcon = (path: string): FileIconDescriptor | undefined => {
+    const ext = extOf(path)
+    // Reserved folder values never claim a real file: `x.folder` falls
+    // through to the built-in/catch-all chain like any unknown extension.
+    if (ext === FOLDER_EXT || ext === FOLDER_OPEN_EXT) return undefined
+    for (const d of rankedFileIcons()) {
+      if (d.exts.includes(ext)) return d
+    }
+    return undefined
+  }
+
+  // Directory rows have no extension: the reserved `'folder'`/`'folder-open'`
+  // exts are the only claim surface (a catch-all never claims a directory).
+  const matchFolderIcon = (open: boolean): FileIconDescriptor | undefined => {
+    const want = open ? FOLDER_OPEN_EXT : FOLDER_EXT
+    for (const d of rankedFileIcons()) {
+      if (d.exts.includes(want)) return d
+    }
+    return undefined
+  }
+
+  /** Run one registered factory; a throw is logged and returns undefined. */
+  const safeIcon = (d: FileIconDescriptor, path: string, size: number): ReactNode => {
+    try {
+      return d.icon(path, size)
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error(`[dsh-better-sidebar] file icon factory "${d.id}" error:`, error)
+      return undefined
+    }
+  }
+
+  // The authoritative file-icon chain (see the interface doc): specific
+  // registration → built-in glyph → best catch-all → stock VscFile. The
+  // catch-all ranks by priority desc then registration order (first wins);
+  // an unclaimed extension reaching it is exactly "nothing specified falls
+  // back to the (registered or stock) default".
+  const fileIcon = (path: string, size: number): ReactNode => {
+    const specific = matchFileIcon(path)
+    if (specific !== undefined) {
+      const icon = safeIcon(specific, path, size)
+      if (icon !== undefined) return icon
+    }
+    const builtin = builtinFileIconOf(path)
+    if (builtin !== undefined) return builtin(size)
+    for (const d of rankedFileIcons()) {
+      if (d.exts.length === 0) {
+        const icon = safeIcon(d, path, size)
+        if (icon !== undefined) return icon
+      }
+    }
+    return fallbackFileIcon(size)
+  }
+
+  // Directory rows: registered folder/folder-open icon, else the built-in
+  // VSCodicons glyphs. The row's path feeds the factory (a theme may vary
+  // icons per directory).
+  const folderIcon = (path: string, open: boolean, size: number): ReactNode => {
+    const registered = matchFolderIcon(open)
+    if (registered !== undefined) {
+      const icon = safeIcon(registered, path, size)
+      if (icon !== undefined) return icon
+    }
+    return builtinFolderIcon(open, size)
+  }
+
   // The enable switches come from the user's side card prefs (the shared
   // store the service is bound to): an absent key means enabled.
   const isTabEnabled = (id: string): boolean => store.getPrefs().tabsEnabled[id] !== false
@@ -907,8 +1072,14 @@ export function createBetterSidebarService(store: SidebarStore): BetterSidebarSe
   return {
     registerTab,
     registerFileViewer,
+    registerFileIcon,
     getTabs,
     getFileViewers,
+    getFileIcons,
+    matchFileIcon,
+    matchFolderIcon,
+    fileIcon,
+    folderIcon,
     getTab,
     isTabEnabled,
     isViewerEnabled,
diff --git a/tests/consumer-types.ts b/tests/consumer-types.ts
index 028097a..33f0457 100644
--- a/tests/consumer-types.ts
+++ b/tests/consumer-types.ts
@@ -12,12 +12,15 @@
  */
 import type {} from '../src/client/service.ts'
 import {
+  FOLDER_EXT,
+  FOLDER_OPEN_EXT,
   SIDEBAR_FEATURES,
   SIDEBAR_SERVICE_VERSION,
 } from '../src/client/service.ts'
 import type {
   BetterSidebarService,
   FileFetchStrategy,
+  FileIconDescriptor,
   FileViewerDescriptor,
   FileViewerProps,
   OpenTabSeed,
@@ -125,6 +128,23 @@ service.updateTab('tab:1', { title: 'T', path: '/p', meta: 1 })
 service.activateTab('tab:1')
 service.openFile({ sessionId: 's1', cwd: '/p' }, '/p/a.csv', 'Data')
 
+/** File-icon registration surface (feature `fileIcons`). */
+const icon: FileIconDescriptor = {
+  id: 'my-plugin:icons',
+  exts: ['csv', FOLDER_EXT, FOLDER_OPEN_EXT],
+  priority: 5,
+  icon: (path: string, size: number) => {
+    void path; void size
+    return null
+  },
+}
+service.registerFileIcon(icon)
+service.getFileIcons()
+service.matchFileIcon('/p/a.csv')
+service.matchFolderIcon(true)
+service.fileIcon('/p/a.csv', 14)
+service.folderIcon('/p', true, 14)
+
 /** Named state vocabulary stays importable (the pre-0.12 gap). */
 const diff: SidebarDiffRef = { kind: 'worktree', path: '/p/a.ts', staged: false }
 const prefs: SidebarPrefs = { ...({} as SidebarPrefs) }
diff --git a/tests/file-icons.spec.tsx b/tests/file-icons.spec.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..942cb32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/file-icons.spec.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,231 @@
+/**
+ * Tests for the file-icon feature: the external registration API
+ * (registerFileIcon — registry lifecycle, reserved folder exts, and the
+ * authoritative fileIcon/folderIcon resolver chains) and the built-in
+ * per-extension glyph map (extension normalization, group hits, and the
+ * generic VscFile fallback).
+ */
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { ReactElement, ReactNode } from 'react'
+import { VscFile, VscFileCode, VscFileMedia, VscFolder, VscFolderOpened, VscJson, VscMarkdown } from 'react-icons/vsc'
+
+// Mock browser globals (SidebarStore.reduce → schedulePersist uses window.setTimeout)
+const g = globalThis as Record<string, unknown>
+if (g.window === undefined) {
+  g.window = {
+    clearTimeout: () => {},
+    setTimeout: (_fn: () => void) => 0,
+    innerWidth: 1024,
+  }
+}
+if (g.localStorage === undefined) {
+  g.localStorage = {
+    getItem: () => null,
+    setItem: () => {},
+  }
+}
+
+import { createBetterSidebarService, SIDEBAR_FEATURES } from '../src/client/service.ts'
+import { createSidebarStore } from '../src/client/state.ts'
+import { builtinFileIcon, builtinFolderIcon, fallbackFileIcon } from '../src/client/file-icons.tsx'
+
+/** The component type of a rendered icon element (identity of the glyph). */
+const glyphOf = (node: ReactNode): unknown => (node as ReactElement).type
+
+/** A marker component standing in for a plugin's registered icon. */
+const marker = (): ReactNode => <span data-marker />
+
+/** A second marker with a DISTINCT element type, so `glyphOf` can tell the
+ *  two registrations apart in priority/ordering assertions. */
+const markerB = (): ReactNode => <b data-marker-b />
+
+describe('file icon registration API', () => {
+  it('registerFileIcon adds to the registry and dispose removes it', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    expect(service.getFileIcons()).toHaveLength(0)
+    const dispose = service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'test:icons', exts: ['csv'], icon: marker })
+    expect(service.getFileIcons()).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(service.matchFileIcon('/w/a.csv')?.id).toBe('test:icons')
+    dispose()
+    expect(service.getFileIcons()).toHaveLength(0)
+    expect(service.matchFileIcon('/w/a.csv')).toBeUndefined()
+  })
+
+  it('registerFileIcon throws on duplicate id', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'dup', exts: [], icon: marker })
+    expect(() => service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'dup', exts: [], icon: marker })).toThrow()
+  })
+
+  it('matchFileIcon matches by extension (case-insensitive), specifics only', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'csv', exts: ['csv'], icon: marker })
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'all', exts: [], icon: marker })
+    expect(service.matchFileIcon('/w/data.csv')?.id).toBe('csv')
+    expect(service.matchFileIcon('/w/DATA.CSV')?.id).toBe('csv')
+    // The catch-all never answers matchFileIcon (it lives in fileIcon's chain).
+    expect(service.matchFileIcon('/w/a.tsv')).toBeUndefined()
+  })
+
+  it('higher priority wins on extension conflict; ties keep registration order', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'low', exts: ['csv'], icon: marker })
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'high', exts: ['csv'], priority: 10, icon: marker })
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'tie', exts: ['csv'], icon: marker })
+    expect(service.matchFileIcon('/w/a.csv')?.id).toBe('high')
+    const fresh = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    fresh.registerFileIcon({ id: 'first', exts: ['csv'], icon: marker })
+    fresh.registerFileIcon({ id: 'second', exts: ['csv'], icon: marker })
+    expect(fresh.matchFileIcon('/w/a.csv')?.id).toBe('first')
+  })
+
+  it('the feature is advertised in SIDEBAR_FEATURES', () => {
+    expect(SIDEBAR_FEATURES.includes('fileIcons')).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('register and dispose notify subscribers (mounted rows re-resolve, no reload)', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    let notified = 0
+    const unsubscribe = service.subscribe(() => { notified += 1 })
+    const dispose = service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'test:icons', exts: ['csv'], icon: marker })
+    expect(notified).toBe(1)
+    dispose()
+    expect(notified).toBe(2)
+    // A second dispose is a no-op — no spurious notification.
+    dispose()
+    expect(notified).toBe(2)
+    unsubscribe()
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'test:other', exts: ['tsv'], icon: marker })
+    expect(notified).toBe(2)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('fileIcon resolver chain (specific → builtin → catch-all → VscFile)', () => {
+  it('a specific registration beats the builtin glyph', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'md', exts: ['md'], icon: marker })
+    expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/README.md', 14))).toBe('span')
+  })
+
+  it('the builtin glyph beats a registered catch-all (the default only claims unclaimed extensions)', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'all', exts: [], icon: marker })
+    expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/README.md', 14))).toBe(VscMarkdown)
+    expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/logo.png', 14))).toBe(VscFileMedia)
+    // An extension the builtin map does not cover reaches the catch-all.
+    expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/Makefile', 14))).toBe('span')
+  })
+
+  it('the best (priority desc) catch-all wins among several', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'all-a', exts: [], icon: marker })
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'all-b', exts: [], priority: 5, icon: markerB })
+    // markerB ('b') is the higher-priority catch-all — not merely "some span".
+    expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/Makefile', 14))).toBe('b')
+    const tie = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    tie.registerFileIcon({ id: 'first', exts: [], icon: marker })
+    tie.registerFileIcon({ id: 'second', exts: [], icon: markerB })
+    // Equal priority keeps registration order (the first-registered wins).
+    expect(glyphOf(tie.fileIcon('/w/Makefile', 14))).toBe('span')
+  })
+
+  it('a factory returning undefined declines that link and the chain continues', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'md-decline', exts: ['md'], icon: () => undefined })
+    // The specific registration declined → the built-in glyph claims it.
+    expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/README.md', 14))).toBe(VscMarkdown)
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'all-decline', exts: [], priority: 10, icon: () => undefined })
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'all-take', exts: [], icon: marker })
+    // The declining catch-all is skipped, the next one takes the row.
+    expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/Makefile', 14))).toBe('span')
+  })
+
+  it('with no registration at all the chain is the built-in one', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/pkg.json', 14))).toBe(VscJson)
+    expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/main.ts', 14))).toBe(VscFileCode)
+    expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/Makefile', 14))).toBe(VscFile)
+  })
+
+  it('a throwing factory is skipped at every level (console.error, next link wins)', () => {
+    const errorSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'error').mockImplementation(() => {})
+    try {
+      const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+      service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'boom-md', exts: ['md'], icon: () => { throw new Error('boom') } })
+      // Specific throws → falls to the builtin glyph.
+      expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/README.md', 14))).toBe(VscMarkdown)
+      service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'boom-all', exts: [], priority: 10, icon: () => { throw new Error('boom') } })
+      // Catch-all throws → falls to the stock VscFile.
+      expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/Makefile', 14))).toBe(VscFile)
+      expect(errorSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    } finally {
+      errorSpy.mockRestore()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('reserved folder exts never claim a real file named x.folder', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'folders', exts: ['folder', 'folder-open'], icon: marker })
+    expect(service.matchFileIcon('/w/x.folder')).toBeUndefined()
+    // The real file falls through to the stock default, not the folder icon.
+    expect(glyphOf(service.fileIcon('/w/x.folder', 14))).toBe(VscFile)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('folderIcon resolver (registered folder/folder-open → builtin glyphs)', () => {
+  it('unregistered directories show the builtin glyphs', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    expect(glyphOf(service.folderIcon('/w/src', false, 14))).toBe(VscFolder)
+    expect(glyphOf(service.folderIcon('/w/src', true, 14))).toBe(VscFolderOpened)
+    expect(glyphOf(builtinFolderIcon(false, 14))).toBe(VscFolder)
+    expect(glyphOf(builtinFolderIcon(true, 14))).toBe(VscFolderOpened)
+  })
+
+  it('folder / folder-open registrations replace the dir glyphs (priority desc)', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'closed', exts: ['folder'], icon: marker })
+    expect(glyphOf(service.folderIcon('/w/src', false, 14))).toBe('span')
+    // The OPEN row is a separate reserved ext — still the builtin here.
+    expect(glyphOf(service.folderIcon('/w/src', true, 14))).toBe(VscFolderOpened)
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'open', exts: ['folder-open'], icon: markerB })
+    expect(glyphOf(service.folderIcon('/w/src', true, 14))).toBe('b')
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'closed-hi', exts: ['folder'], priority: 3, icon: markerB })
+    // The higher-priority registration ('b') takes the closed row.
+    expect(glyphOf(service.folderIcon('/w/src', false, 14))).toBe('b')
+  })
+
+  it('a catch-all registration never claims a directory', () => {
+    const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+    service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'all', exts: [], icon: marker })
+    expect(glyphOf(service.folderIcon('/w/src', false, 14))).toBe(VscFolder)
+  })
+
+  it('a throwing folder factory falls back to the builtin glyph', () => {
+    const errorSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'error').mockImplementation(() => {})
+    try {
+      const service = createBetterSidebarService(createSidebarStore())
+      service.registerFileIcon({ id: 'boom', exts: ['folder'], icon: () => { throw new Error('boom') } })
+      expect(glyphOf(service.folderIcon('/w/src', false, 14))).toBe(VscFolder)
+      expect(errorSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    } finally {
+      errorSpy.mockRestore()
+    }
+  })
+})
+
+describe('built-in glyph map (builtinFileIcon)', () => {
+  it('maps representative extensions to their group glyph', () => {
+    expect(glyphOf(builtinFileIcon('/w/README.md', 14))).toBe(VscMarkdown)
+    expect(glyphOf(builtinFileIcon('/w/logo.png', 14))).toBe(VscFileMedia)
+    expect(glyphOf(builtinFileIcon('/w/logo.SVG', 14))).toBe(VscFileMedia)
+    expect(glyphOf(builtinFileIcon('/w/pkg.json', 14))).toBe(VscJson)
+    expect(glyphOf(builtinFileIcon('/w/main.ts', 14))).toBe(VscFileCode)
+    expect(glyphOf(builtinFileIcon('/w/main.py', 14))).toBe(VscFileCode)
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to the generic VscFile for unknown extensions and paths without one', () => {
+    expect(glyphOf(builtinFileIcon('/w/data.xyzunknown', 14))).toBe(VscFile)
+    expect(glyphOf(builtinFileIcon('/w/Makefile', 14))).toBe(VscFile)
+    expect(glyphOf(fallbackFileIcon(14))).toBe(VscFile)
+  })
+})