diff --git a/src/vs/vscode.proposed.d.ts b/src/vs/vscode.proposed.d.ts
index f72a9baa873..60d118eefc6 100644
--- a/src/vs/vscode.proposed.d.ts
+++ b/src/vs/vscode.proposed.d.ts
@@ -530,20 +530,20 @@ declare module 'vscode' {
 	export namespace window {
 
 		/**
-		 * Create a new [TreeView](#TreeView) instance.
+		 * Create a new explorer view.
 		 *
-		 * @param viewId A unique id that identifies the view.
-		 * @param provider A [TreeDataProvider](#TreeDataProvider).
-		 * @return An instance of [TreeView](#TreeView).
+		 * @param id View id.
+		 * @param name View name.
+		 * @param dataProvider A [TreeDataProvider](#TreeDataProvider).
+		 * @return An instance of [View](#View).
 		 */
-		export function createTreeView<T>(viewId: string, provider: TreeDataProvider<T>): TreeView<T>;
+		export function createExplorerView<T>(id: string, name: string, dataProvider: TreeDataProvider<T>): View<T>;
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * An source control is able to provide [resource states](#SourceControlResourceState)
-	 * to the editor and interact with the editor in several source control related ways.
+	 * A view to interact with nodes
 	 */
-	export interface TreeView<T> {
+	export interface View<T> {
 
 		/**
 		 * Refresh the given nodes
@@ -602,6 +602,14 @@ declare module 'vscode' {
 		 */
 		getHasChildren?(node: T): boolean;
 
+		/**
+		 * Provider a context key to be set for the node. This can be used to describe actions for each node.
+		 *
+		 * @param node The node from which the provider computes context key.
+		 * @return A context key.
+		 */
+		getContextKey?(node: T): string;
+
 		/**
 		 * Get the command to execute when `node` is clicked.
 		 *
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.api.impl.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.api.impl.ts
index 4b84e46809a..b1e56a9c7e1 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.api.impl.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.api.impl.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { ExtHostDocuments } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHostDocuments';
 import { ExtHostDocumentSaveParticipant } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHostDocumentSaveParticipant';
 import { ExtHostConfiguration } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHostConfiguration';
 import { ExtHostDiagnostics } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHostDiagnostics';
-import { ExtHostTreeView } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHostTreeView';
+import { ExtHostExplorerView } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHostExplorerView';
 import { ExtHostWorkspace } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHostWorkspace';
 import { ExtHostQuickOpen } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHostQuickOpen';
 import { ExtHostProgress } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHostProgress';
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ export function createApiFactory(
 	const extHostDocumentSaveParticipant = col.define(ExtHostContext.ExtHostDocumentSaveParticipant).set<ExtHostDocumentSaveParticipant>(new ExtHostDocumentSaveParticipant(extHostDocuments, threadService.get(MainContext.MainThreadWorkspace)));
 	const extHostEditors = col.define(ExtHostContext.ExtHostEditors).set<ExtHostEditors>(new ExtHostEditors(threadService, extHostDocumentsAndEditors));
 	const extHostCommands = col.define(ExtHostContext.ExtHostCommands).set<ExtHostCommands>(new ExtHostCommands(threadService, extHostHeapService));
-	const extHostTreeView = col.define(ExtHostContext.ExtHostTreeView).set<ExtHostTreeView>(new ExtHostTreeView(threadService, extHostCommands));
+	const extHostExplorerView = col.define(ExtHostContext.ExtHostExplorerView).set<ExtHostExplorerView>(new ExtHostExplorerView(threadService, extHostCommands));
 	const extHostConfiguration = col.define(ExtHostContext.ExtHostConfiguration).set<ExtHostConfiguration>(new ExtHostConfiguration(threadService.get(MainContext.MainThreadConfiguration), initData.configuration));
 	const extHostDiagnostics = col.define(ExtHostContext.ExtHostDiagnostics).set<ExtHostDiagnostics>(new ExtHostDiagnostics(threadService));
 	const languageFeatures = col.define(ExtHostContext.ExtHostLanguageFeatures).set<ExtHostLanguageFeatures>(new ExtHostLanguageFeatures(threadService, extHostDocuments, extHostCommands, extHostHeapService, extHostDiagnostics));
@@ -369,8 +369,8 @@ export function createApiFactory(
 			sampleFunction: proposedApiFunction(extension, () => {
 				return extHostMessageService.showMessage(Severity.Info, 'Hello Proposed Api!', {}, []);
 			}),
-			createTreeView: proposedApiFunction(extension, (providerId: string, provider: vscode.TreeDataProvider<any>): vscode.TreeView<any> => {
-				return extHostTreeView.createTreeView(providerId, provider);
+			createExplorerView: proposedApiFunction(extension, (id: string, name: string, provider: vscode.TreeDataProvider<any>): vscode.View<any> => {
+				return extHostExplorerView.createExplorerView(id, name, provider);
 			})
 		};
 
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.contribution.ts
index 2a0e9f87486..648e50ea3c1 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.contribution.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import { MainThreadDiagnostics } from './mainThreadDiagnostics';
 import { MainThreadDocuments } from './mainThreadDocuments';
 import { MainThreadEditors } from './mainThreadEditors';
 import { MainThreadErrors } from './mainThreadErrors';
-import { MainThreadTreeView } from './mainThreadTreeView';
+import { MainThreadExplorerView } from './mainThreadExplorerView';
 import { MainThreadLanguageFeatures } from './mainThreadLanguageFeatures';
 import { MainThreadLanguages } from './mainThreadLanguages';
 import { MainThreadMessageService } from './mainThreadMessageService';
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ export class ExtHostContribution implements IWorkbenchContribution {
 		col.define(MainContext.MainThreadDocuments).set(this.instantiationService.createInstance(MainThreadDocuments, documentsAndEditors));
 		col.define(MainContext.MainThreadEditors).set(this.instantiationService.createInstance(MainThreadEditors, documentsAndEditors));
 		col.define(MainContext.MainThreadErrors).set(create(MainThreadErrors));
-		col.define(MainContext.MainThreadExplorers).set(create(MainThreadTreeView));
+		col.define(MainContext.MainThreadExplorerViews).set(create(MainThreadExplorerView));
 		col.define(MainContext.MainThreadLanguageFeatures).set(create(MainThreadLanguageFeatures));
 		col.define(MainContext.MainThreadLanguages).set(create(MainThreadLanguages));
 		col.define(MainContext.MainThreadMessageService).set(create(MainThreadMessageService));
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.protocol.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.protocol.ts
index d4cd004550a..8a40eb6f740 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.protocol.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHost.protocol.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ import { IPickOpenEntry, IPickOptions } from 'vs/platform/quickOpen/common/quick
 import { SaveReason } from 'vs/workbench/services/textfile/common/textfiles';
 import { IApplyEditsOptions, IUndoStopOptions, TextEditorRevealType, ITextEditorConfigurationUpdate, IResolvedTextEditorConfiguration, ISelectionChangeEvent } from './mainThreadEditor';
 
-import { InternalTreeNodeContent } from 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/common/treeExplorerViewModel';
 import { TaskSet } from 'vs/workbench/parts/tasks/common/tasks';
 import { IModelChangedEvent } from 'vs/editor/common/model/mirrorModel';
 import { IPosition } from 'vs/editor/common/core/position';
@@ -155,14 +154,17 @@ export abstract class MainThreadEditorsShape {
 	$getDiffInformation(id: string): TPromise<editorCommon.ILineChange[]> { throw ni(); }
 }
 
-export abstract class MainThreadTreeViewShape {
-	$registerTreeDataProvider(providerId: string): void { throw ni(); }
-	$refresh(providerId: string, node: InternalTreeNodeContent): void { throw ni(); }
+export interface ITreeNode {
+	id: string;
+	label: string;
+	hasChildren: boolean;
+	clickCommand: string;
+	contextKey: string;
 }
 
-export abstract class MainThreadTreeShape {
-	$registerTreeExplorerNodeProvider(providerId: string, node: InternalTreeNodeContent): void { throw ni(); }
-	$refresh(providerId: string, node: InternalTreeNodeContent): void { throw ni(); }
+export abstract class MainThreadExplorerViewShape {
+	$registerView(id: string, name: string): void { throw ni(); }
+	$refresh(viewId: string, node: ITreeNode): void { throw ni(); }
 }
 
 export abstract class MainThreadErrorsShape {
@@ -366,15 +368,10 @@ export abstract class ExtHostDocumentsAndEditorsShape {
 }
 
 
-export abstract class ExtHostTreeViewShape {
-	$provideRootNode(providerId: string): TPromise<InternalTreeNodeContent> { throw ni(); };
-	$resolveChildren(providerId: string, node: InternalTreeNodeContent): TPromise<InternalTreeNodeContent[]> { throw ni(); }
-	$getInternalCommand(providerId: string, node: InternalTreeNodeContent): TPromise<modes.Command> { throw ni(); }
-}
-
-export abstract class ExtHostTreeShape {
-	$resolveChildren(providerId: string, node: InternalTreeNodeContent): TPromise<InternalTreeNodeContent[]> { throw ni(); }
-	$getInternalCommand(providerId: string, node: InternalTreeNodeContent): TPromise<modes.Command> { throw ni(); }
+export abstract class ExtHostExplorerViewShape {
+	$provideRootNode(viewId: string): TPromise<ITreeNode> { throw ni(); };
+	$resolveChildren(viewId: string, node: ITreeNode): TPromise<ITreeNode[]> { throw ni(); }
+	$getInternalCommand(viewId: string, node: ITreeNode): TPromise<modes.Command> { throw ni(); }
 }
 
 export abstract class ExtHostExtensionServiceShape {
@@ -465,7 +462,7 @@ export const MainContext = {
 	MainThreadDocuments: createMainId<MainThreadDocumentsShape>('MainThreadDocuments', MainThreadDocumentsShape),
 	MainThreadEditors: createMainId<MainThreadEditorsShape>('MainThreadEditors', MainThreadEditorsShape),
 	MainThreadErrors: createMainId<MainThreadErrorsShape>('MainThreadErrors', MainThreadErrorsShape),
-	MainThreadExplorers: createMainId<MainThreadTreeViewShape>('MainThreadTreeView', MainThreadTreeViewShape),
+	MainThreadExplorerViews: createMainId<MainThreadExplorerViewShape>('MainThreadExplorerView', MainThreadExplorerViewShape),
 	MainThreadLanguageFeatures: createMainId<MainThreadLanguageFeaturesShape>('MainThreadLanguageFeatures', MainThreadLanguageFeaturesShape),
 	MainThreadLanguages: createMainId<MainThreadLanguagesShape>('MainThreadLanguages', MainThreadLanguagesShape),
 	MainThreadMessageService: createMainId<MainThreadMessageServiceShape>('MainThreadMessageService', MainThreadMessageServiceShape),
@@ -490,7 +487,7 @@ export const ExtHostContext = {
 	ExtHostDocuments: createExtId<ExtHostDocumentsShape>('ExtHostDocuments', ExtHostDocumentsShape),
 	ExtHostDocumentSaveParticipant: createExtId<ExtHostDocumentSaveParticipantShape>('ExtHostDocumentSaveParticipant', ExtHostDocumentSaveParticipantShape),
 	ExtHostEditors: createExtId<ExtHostEditorsShape>('ExtHostEditors', ExtHostEditorsShape),
-	ExtHostTreeView: createExtId<ExtHostTreeViewShape>('ExtHostTreeView', ExtHostTreeViewShape),
+	ExtHostExplorerView: createExtId<ExtHostExplorerViewShape>('ExtHostExplorerView', ExtHostExplorerViewShape),
 	ExtHostFileSystemEventService: createExtId<ExtHostFileSystemEventServiceShape>('ExtHostFileSystemEventService', ExtHostFileSystemEventServiceShape),
 	ExtHostHeapService: createExtId<ExtHostHeapServiceShape>('ExtHostHeapMonitor', ExtHostHeapServiceShape),
 	ExtHostLanguageFeatures: createExtId<ExtHostLanguageFeaturesShape>('ExtHostLanguageFeatures', ExtHostLanguageFeaturesShape),
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostTreeView.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostExplorerView.ts
similarity index 66%
rename from src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostTreeView.ts
rename to src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostExplorerView.ts
index ec6318eec3a..cb2bd09645b 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostTreeView.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostExplorerView.ts
@@ -5,27 +5,28 @@
 'use strict';
 
 import { localize } from 'vs/nls';
-import { TreeView, TreeDataProvider } from 'vscode';
+import { View, TreeDataProvider } from 'vscode';
 import { defaultGenerator } from 'vs/base/common/idGenerator';
 import { TPromise } from 'vs/base/common/winjs.base';
 import { IThreadService } from 'vs/workbench/services/thread/common/threadService';
-import { MainContext, ExtHostTreeViewShape, MainThreadTreeViewShape } from './extHost.protocol';
-import { InternalTreeNode } from 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/common/treeExplorerViewModel';
+import { MainContext, ExtHostExplorerViewShape, MainThreadExplorerViewShape, ITreeNode } from './extHost.protocol';
 import { ExtHostCommands } from 'vs/workbench/api/node/extHostCommands';
 import { asWinJsPromise } from 'vs/base/common/async';
 import * as modes from 'vs/editor/common/modes';
 
-class InternalTreeNodeImpl implements InternalTreeNode {
+class TreeNodeImpl implements ITreeNode {
 
 	readonly id: string;
 	label: string;
 	hasChildren: boolean;
 	clickCommand: string = null;
+	contextKey: string;
 
 	constructor(readonly providerId: string, node: any, provider: TreeDataProvider<any>) {
 		this.id = defaultGenerator.nextId();
 		this.label = provider.getLabel ? provider.getLabel(node) : node.toString();
 		this.hasChildren = provider.getHasChildren ? provider.getHasChildren(node) : true;
+		this.contextKey = provider.getContextKey ? provider.getContextKey(node) : null;
 		if (provider.getClickCommand) {
 			const command = provider.getClickCommand(node);
 			if (command) {
@@ -35,13 +36,13 @@ class InternalTreeNodeImpl implements InternalTreeNode {
 	}
 }
 
-export class ExtHostTreeView extends ExtHostTreeViewShape {
-	private _proxy: MainThreadTreeViewShape;
+export class ExtHostExplorerView extends ExtHostExplorerViewShape {
+	private _proxy: MainThreadExplorerViewShape;
 
 	private _extNodeProviders: { [providerId: string]: TreeDataProvider<any> };
-	private _extViews: Map<string, TreeView<any>> = new Map<string, TreeView<any>>();
-	private _extNodeMaps: { [providerId: string]: { [id: string]: InternalTreeNode } };
-	private _mainNodesMap: Map<string, Map<any, InternalTreeNode>>;
+	private _extViews: Map<string, View<any>> = new Map<string, View<any>>();
+	private _extNodeMaps: { [providerId: string]: { [id: string]: ITreeNode } };
+	private _mainNodesMap: Map<string, Map<any, ITreeNode>>;
 	private _childrenNodesMap: Map<string, Map<any, any[]>>;
 
 	constructor(
@@ -50,11 +51,11 @@ export class ExtHostTreeView extends ExtHostTreeViewShape {
 	) {
 		super();
 
-		this._proxy = threadService.get(MainContext.MainThreadExplorers);
+		this._proxy = threadService.get(MainContext.MainThreadExplorerViews);
 
 		this._extNodeProviders = Object.create(null);
 		this._extNodeMaps = Object.create(null);
-		this._mainNodesMap = new Map<string, Map<any, InternalTreeNode>>();
+		this._mainNodesMap = new Map<string, Map<any, ITreeNode>>();
 		this._childrenNodesMap = new Map<string, Map<any, any[]>>();
 
 		commands.registerArgumentProcessor({
@@ -68,39 +69,39 @@ export class ExtHostTreeView extends ExtHostTreeViewShape {
 		});
 	}
 
-	createTreeView<T>(providerId: string, provider: TreeDataProvider<T>): TreeView<T> {
-		this._proxy.$registerTreeDataProvider(providerId);
-		this._extNodeProviders[providerId] = provider;
-		this._mainNodesMap.set(providerId, new Map<any, InternalTreeNode>());
-		this._childrenNodesMap.set(providerId, new Map<any, any>());
+	createExplorerView<T>(viewId: string, viewName: string, provider: TreeDataProvider<T>): View<T> {
+		this._proxy.$registerView(viewId, viewName);
+		this._extNodeProviders[viewId] = provider;
+		this._mainNodesMap.set(viewId, new Map<any, ITreeNode>());
+		this._childrenNodesMap.set(viewId, new Map<any, any>());
 
-		const treeView: TreeView<T> = {
+		const treeView: View<T> = {
 			refresh: (node: T) => {
-				const mainThreadNode = this._mainNodesMap.get(providerId).get(node);
-				this._proxy.$refresh(providerId, mainThreadNode);
+				const mainThreadNode = this._mainNodesMap.get(viewId).get(node);
+				this._proxy.$refresh(viewId, mainThreadNode);
 			},
 			dispose: () => {
-				delete this._extNodeProviders[providerId];
-				delete this._extNodeProviders[providerId];
-				this._mainNodesMap.delete(providerId);
-				this._childrenNodesMap.delete(providerId);
-				this._extViews.delete(providerId);
+				delete this._extNodeProviders[viewId];
+				delete this._extNodeProviders[viewId];
+				this._mainNodesMap.delete(viewId);
+				this._childrenNodesMap.delete(viewId);
+				this._extViews.delete(viewId);
 			}
 		};
-		this._extViews.set(providerId, treeView);
+		this._extViews.set(viewId, treeView);
 		return treeView;
 	}
 
-	$provideRootNode(providerId: string): TPromise<InternalTreeNode> {
+	$provideRootNode(providerId: string): TPromise<ITreeNode> {
 		const provider = this._extNodeProviders[providerId];
 		if (!provider) {
 			const errMessage = localize('treeExplorer.notRegistered', 'No TreeExplorerNodeProvider with id \'{0}\' registered.', providerId);
-			return TPromise.wrapError<InternalTreeNode>(errMessage);
+			return TPromise.wrapError<ITreeNode>(errMessage);
 		}
 
 		return asWinJsPromise(() => provider.provideRootNode()).then(extRootNode => {
-			const extNodeMap: { [id: string]: InternalTreeNode } = Object.create(null);
-			const internalRootNode = new InternalTreeNodeImpl(providerId, extRootNode, provider);
+			const extNodeMap: { [id: string]: ITreeNode } = Object.create(null);
+			const internalRootNode = new TreeNodeImpl(providerId, extRootNode, provider);
 
 			extNodeMap[internalRootNode.id] = extRootNode;
 			this._extNodeMaps[providerId] = extNodeMap;
@@ -110,15 +111,15 @@ export class ExtHostTreeView extends ExtHostTreeViewShape {
 			return internalRootNode;
 		}, err => {
 			const errMessage = localize('treeExplorer.failedToProvideRootNode', 'TreeExplorerNodeProvider \'{0}\' failed to provide root node.', providerId);
-			return TPromise.wrapError<InternalTreeNode>(errMessage);
+			return TPromise.wrapError<ITreeNode>(errMessage);
 		});
 	}
 
-	$resolveChildren(providerId: string, mainThreadNode: InternalTreeNode): TPromise<InternalTreeNode[]> {
+	$resolveChildren(providerId: string, mainThreadNode: ITreeNode): TPromise<ITreeNode[]> {
 		const provider = this._extNodeProviders[providerId];
 		if (!provider) {
 			const errMessage = localize('treeExplorer.notRegistered', 'No TreeExplorerNodeProvider with id \'{0}\' registered.', providerId);
-			return TPromise.wrapError<InternalTreeNode[]>(errMessage);
+			return TPromise.wrapError<ITreeNode[]>(errMessage);
 		}
 
 		const extNodeMap = this._extNodeMaps[providerId];
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ export class ExtHostTreeView extends ExtHostTreeViewShape {
 
 		return asWinJsPromise(() => provider.resolveChildren(extNode)).then(children => {
 			return children.map(extChild => {
-				const internalChild = new InternalTreeNodeImpl(providerId, extChild, provider);
+				const internalChild = new TreeNodeImpl(providerId, extChild, provider);
 				extNodeMap[internalChild.id] = extChild;
 				this._mainNodesMap.get(providerId).set(extChild, internalChild);
 				return internalChild;
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ export class ExtHostTreeView extends ExtHostTreeViewShape {
 	}
 
 	// Convert the command on the ExtHost side so we can pass the original externalNode to the registered handler
-	$getInternalCommand(providerId: string, mainThreadNode: InternalTreeNode): TPromise<modes.Command> {
+	$getInternalCommand(providerId: string, mainThreadNode: ITreeNode): TPromise<modes.Command> {
 		const commandConverter = this.commands.converter;
 
 		if (mainThreadNode.clickCommand) {
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadTreeView.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadExplorerView.ts
similarity index 51%
rename from src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadTreeView.ts
rename to src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadExplorerView.ts
index 54168aecf5c..4ffaa3977c2 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadTreeView.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/mainThreadExplorerView.ts
@@ -7,56 +7,73 @@
 import { TPromise } from 'vs/base/common/winjs.base';
 import Event, { Emitter } from 'vs/base/common/event';
 import { IThreadService } from 'vs/workbench/services/thread/common/threadService';
-import { ExtHostContext, MainThreadTreeViewShape, ExtHostTreeViewShape } from './extHost.protocol';
-import { ITreeExplorerService } from 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/common/treeExplorerService';
-import { InternalTreeNodeContent, InternalTreeNodeProvider } from 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/common/treeExplorerViewModel';
+import { ExtHostContext, MainThreadExplorerViewShape, ExtHostExplorerViewShape, ITreeNode } from './extHost.protocol';
 import { IMessageService, Severity } from 'vs/platform/message/common/message';
 import { ICommandService } from 'vs/platform/commands/common/commands';
+import { IExplorerViewsService, IExplorerViewDataProvider, IExplorerView } from 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/common/explorer';
 
-export class MainThreadTreeView extends MainThreadTreeViewShape {
-	private _proxy: ExtHostTreeViewShape;
+export class MainThreadExplorerView extends MainThreadExplorerViewShape {
+
+	private _proxy: ExtHostExplorerViewShape;
+	private _views: Map<string, IExplorerView<ITreeNode>> = new Map<string, IExplorerView<ITreeNode>>();
 
 	constructor(
 		@IThreadService threadService: IThreadService,
-		@ITreeExplorerService private treeExplorerService: ITreeExplorerService,
+		@IExplorerViewsService private explorerViewsService: IExplorerViewsService,
 		@IMessageService private messageService: IMessageService,
 		@ICommandService private commandService: ICommandService
 	) {
 		super();
-
-		this._proxy = threadService.get(ExtHostContext.ExtHostTreeView);
+		this._proxy = threadService.get(ExtHostContext.ExtHostExplorerView);
 	}
 
-	$registerTreeDataProvider(providerId: string): void {
+	$registerView(providerId: string, name: string): void {
 		const provider = new TreeExplorerNodeProvider(providerId, this._proxy, this.messageService, this.commandService);
-		this.treeExplorerService.registerTreeExplorerNodeProvider(providerId, provider);
+		const view = this.explorerViewsService.createView(providerId, name, provider);
+		this._views.set(providerId, view);
 	}
 
-	$refresh(providerId: string, node: InternalTreeNodeContent): void {
-		(<TreeExplorerNodeProvider>this.treeExplorerService.getProvider(providerId))._onRefresh.fire(node);
+	$refresh(providerId: string, node: ITreeNode): void {
+		this._views.get(providerId).refresh(node);
 	}
 }
 
-class TreeExplorerNodeProvider implements InternalTreeNodeProvider {
+class TreeExplorerNodeProvider implements IExplorerViewDataProvider<ITreeNode> {
 
-	readonly _onRefresh: Emitter<InternalTreeNodeContent> = new Emitter<InternalTreeNodeContent>();
-	readonly onRefresh: Event<InternalTreeNodeContent> = this._onRefresh.event;
+	readonly _onRefresh: Emitter<ITreeNode> = new Emitter<ITreeNode>();
+	readonly onRefresh: Event<ITreeNode> = this._onRefresh.event;
 
-	constructor(public readonly id: string, private _proxy: ExtHostTreeViewShape,
+	constructor(public readonly id: string, private _proxy: ExtHostExplorerViewShape,
 		private messageService: IMessageService,
 		private commandService: ICommandService
 	) {
 	}
 
-	provideRootNode(): TPromise<InternalTreeNodeContent> {
+	provideRoot(): TPromise<ITreeNode> {
 		return this._proxy.$provideRootNode(this.id).then(rootNode => rootNode, err => this.messageService.show(Severity.Error, err));
 	}
 
-	resolveChildren(node: InternalTreeNodeContent): TPromise<InternalTreeNodeContent[]> {
+	resolveChildren(node: ITreeNode): TPromise<ITreeNode[]> {
 		return this._proxy.$resolveChildren(this.id, node).then(children => children, err => this.messageService.show(Severity.Error, err));
 	}
 
-	executeCommand(node: InternalTreeNodeContent): TPromise<any> {
+	hasChildren(node: ITreeNode): boolean {
+		return node.hasChildren;
+	}
+
+	getLabel(node: ITreeNode): string {
+		return node.label;
+	}
+
+	getId(node: ITreeNode): string {
+		return node.id;
+	}
+
+	getContextKey(node: ITreeNode): string {
+		return node.contextKey;
+	}
+
+	executeCommand(node: ITreeNode): TPromise<any> {
 		return this._proxy.$getInternalCommand(this.id, node).then(command => {
 			return this.commandService.executeCommand(command.id, ...command.arguments);
 		});
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/viewlet.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/viewlet.ts
index 1ad83a799ae..b6b84f4b4c8 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/viewlet.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/viewlet.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import { Composite, CompositeDescriptor, CompositeRegistry } from 'vs/workbench/
 import { IContextMenuService } from 'vs/platform/contextview/browser/contextView';
 import { IMessageService } from 'vs/platform/message/common/message';
 import { IKeybindingService } from 'vs/platform/keybinding/common/keybinding';
+import { IThemable } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/styler';
 
 export abstract class Viewlet extends Composite implements IViewlet {
 
@@ -288,7 +289,7 @@ export class CollapseAction extends Action {
 	}
 }
 
-export interface IViewletView extends IView {
+export interface IViewletView extends IView, IThemable {
 	create(): TPromise<void>;
 	setVisible(visible: boolean): TPromise<void>;
 	getActions(): IAction[];
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/workbench.main.ts b/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/workbench.main.ts
index 1845a488d23..8b287038985 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/workbench.main.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/electron-browser/workbench.main.ts
@@ -69,8 +69,7 @@ import 'vs/workbench/parts/extensions/electron-browser/extensionsViewlet'; // ca
 
 import 'vs/workbench/parts/welcome/page/electron-browser/welcomePage.contribution';
 
-import 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/browser/treeExplorer.contribution';
-import 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/browser/treeExplorerViewlet'; // can be packaged separately
+import 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/browser/explorer.contribution';
 
 import 'vs/workbench/parts/output/browser/output.contribution';
 import 'vs/workbench/parts/output/browser/outputPanel'; // can be packaged separately
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/explorers/browser/explorer.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/explorers/browser/explorer.contribution.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2c3a9eecbf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/explorers/browser/explorer.contribution.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *  Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ *  Licensed under the MIT License. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+ *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+import { IExplorerViewsService } from 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/common/explorer';
+import { ExplorerViewsService } from 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/browser/explorerView';
+import { registerSingleton } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/extensions';
+
+registerSingleton(IExplorerViewsService, ExplorerViewsService);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/explorers/browser/explorerView.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/explorers/browser/explorerView.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7e11e5fca63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/explorers/browser/explorerView.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,407 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *  Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ *  Licensed under the MIT License. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+ *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+import Event, { Emitter } from 'vs/base/common/event';
+import { IDisposable, Disposable, dispose, empty as EmptyDisposable, toDisposable } from 'vs/base/common/lifecycle';
+import { IViewletView, CollapsibleViewletView } from 'vs/workbench/browser/viewlet';
+import { IExplorerViewsService, IExplorerViewDataProvider, IExplorerView } from 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/common/explorer';
+import { IInstantiationService } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/instantiation';
+import { TPromise } from 'vs/base/common/winjs.base';
+import * as DOM from 'vs/base/browser/dom';
+import { Builder, $ } from 'vs/base/browser/builder';
+import { IWorkspaceContextService } from 'vs/platform/workspace/common/workspace';
+import { IAction, IActionRunner, IActionItem, ActionRunner } from 'vs/base/common/actions';
+import { IMessageService } from 'vs/platform/message/common/message';
+import { IKeybindingService } from 'vs/platform/keybinding/common/keybinding';
+import { IContextMenuService } from 'vs/platform/contextview/browser/contextView';
+import { IListService } from 'vs/platform/list/browser/listService';
+import { Tree } from 'vs/base/parts/tree/browser/treeImpl';
+import { ClickBehavior, DefaultController } from 'vs/base/parts/tree/browser/treeDefaults';
+import { IMenuService, MenuId, MenuItemAction } from 'vs/platform/actions/common/actions';
+import { attachListStyler } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/styler';
+import { IThemeService } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/themeService';
+import { createActionItem, fillInActions } from 'vs/platform/actions/browser/menuItemActionItem';
+import { IProgressService } from 'vs/platform/progress/common/progress';
+import { ITree, IDataSource, IRenderer, ContextMenuEvent } from 'vs/base/parts/tree/browser/tree';
+import { IContextKeyService, IContextKey } from 'vs/platform/contextkey/common/contextkey';
+import { ResolvedKeybinding } from 'vs/base/common/keyCodes';
+import { ActionItem } from 'vs/base/browser/ui/actionbar/actionbar';
+
+export interface IViewInstantiator {
+	instantiate(actionRunner: IActionRunner, viewletSetings: any, instantiationService: IInstantiationService): IViewletView;
+}
+
+export class ExplorerViewsService implements IExplorerViewsService {
+
+	public _serviceBrand: any;
+
+	private explorerViews: Map<string, IExplorerView<any>> = new Map<string, IExplorerView<any>>();
+
+	private _onViewCreated: Emitter<IExplorerView<any>> = new Emitter<IExplorerView<any>>();
+	public readonly onViewCreated: Event<IExplorerView<any>> = this._onViewCreated.event;
+
+	private _onDataProviderRegistered: Emitter<IExplorerView<any>> = new Emitter<IExplorerView<any>>();
+	public readonly onDataProviderRegistered: Event<IExplorerView<any>> = this._onDataProviderRegistered.event;
+
+	createView(id: string, name: string, dataProvider: IExplorerViewDataProvider<any>): IExplorerView<any> {
+		const view = new ExplorerView(id, name, dataProvider);
+		this.explorerViews.set(id, view);
+		this._onViewCreated.fire(view);
+		return view;
+	}
+
+	public getViews(): IExplorerView<any>[] {
+		const views = [];
+		this.explorerViews.forEach(view => {
+			views.push(view);
+		});
+		return views;
+	}
+}
+
+class ExplorerView<T> extends Disposable implements IExplorerView<T>, IViewInstantiator {
+
+	private view: TreeExplorerView;
+
+	constructor(private id: string, private name: string, private dataProvider: IExplorerViewDataProvider<T>) {
+		super();
+	}
+
+	refresh(element: T): void {
+		if (this.view) {
+			this.view.refresh(element);
+		}
+	}
+
+	instantiate(actionRunner: IActionRunner, viewletSettings: any, instantiationService: IInstantiationService): IViewletView {
+		if (!this.view) {
+			this.view = instantiationService.createInstance(TreeExplorerView, this.id, this.name, this.dataProvider, actionRunner);
+		}
+		return this.view;
+	}
+}
+
+class TreeExplorerView extends CollapsibleViewletView {
+
+	private menus: Menus;
+	private viewFocusContext: IContextKey<boolean>;
+
+	constructor(
+		private id: string,
+		private name: string,
+		private dataProvider: IExplorerViewDataProvider<any>,
+		actionRunner: IActionRunner,
+		@IMessageService messageService: IMessageService,
+		@IKeybindingService keybindingService: IKeybindingService,
+		@IContextMenuService contextMenuService: IContextMenuService,
+		@IWorkspaceContextService contextService: IWorkspaceContextService,
+		@IInstantiationService private instantiationService: IInstantiationService,
+		@IListService private listService: IListService,
+		@IThemeService private themeService: IThemeService,
+		@IContextKeyService private contextKeyService: IContextKeyService,
+		@IExplorerViewsService private explorerViewsService: IExplorerViewsService
+	) {
+		super(actionRunner, false, name, messageService, keybindingService, contextMenuService);
+		this.menus = this.instantiationService.createInstance(Menus, this.id, this.dataProvider);
+		this.viewFocusContext = this.contextKeyService.createKey<boolean>(this.id, void 0);
+	}
+
+	public renderHeader(container: HTMLElement): void {
+		const titleDiv = $('div.title').appendTo(container);
+		$('span').text(this.name).appendTo(titleDiv);
+		super.renderHeader(container);
+	}
+
+	public renderBody(container: HTMLElement): void {
+		this.treeContainer = super.renderViewTree(container);
+		DOM.addClass(this.treeContainer, 'tree-explorer-viewlet-tree-view');
+
+		this.tree = this.createViewer($(this.treeContainer));
+	}
+
+	public createViewer(container: Builder): ITree {
+		const dataSource = this.instantiationService.createInstance(TreeDataSource, this.dataProvider);
+		const renderer = this.instantiationService.createInstance(TreeRenderer, this.dataProvider);
+		const controller = this.instantiationService.createInstance(TreeController, this.menus);
+		const tree = new Tree(container.getHTMLElement(), {
+			dataSource,
+			renderer,
+			controller
+		}, {
+				keyboardSupport: false
+			});
+
+		this.toDispose.push(attachListStyler(tree, this.themeService));
+		this.toDispose.push(this.listService.register(tree, [this.viewFocusContext]));
+
+		return tree;
+	}
+
+	getActions(): IAction[] {
+		return [...this.menus.getTitleActions()];
+	}
+
+	getSecondaryActions(): IAction[] {
+		return this.menus.getTitleSecondaryActions();
+	}
+
+	getActionItem(action: IAction): IActionItem {
+		return createActionItem(action, this.keybindingService, this.messageService);
+	}
+
+	public create(): TPromise<void> {
+		return this.updateInput();
+	}
+
+	public setVisible(visible: boolean): TPromise<void> {
+		return super.setVisible(visible);
+	}
+
+	public updateInput(): TPromise<void> {
+		return this.dataProvider.provideRoot()
+			.then(root => this.tree.setInput(root));
+	}
+
+	public getOptimalWidth(): number {
+		const parentNode = this.tree.getHTMLElement();
+		const childNodes = [].slice.call(parentNode.querySelectorAll('.outline-item-label > a'));
+
+		return DOM.getLargestChildWidth(parentNode, childNodes);
+	}
+
+	refresh(element: any) {
+		this.tree.refresh(element);
+	}
+}
+
+class TreeDataSource implements IDataSource {
+
+	constructor(
+		private dataProvider: IExplorerViewDataProvider<any>,
+		@IProgressService private progressService: IProgressService,
+		@IExplorerViewsService private explorerViewsService: IExplorerViewsService
+	) {
+	}
+
+	public getId(tree: ITree, node: any): string {
+		return this.dataProvider.getId(node);
+	}
+
+	public hasChildren(tree: ITree, node: any): boolean {
+		return this.dataProvider.hasChildren(node);
+	}
+
+	public getChildren(tree: ITree, node: any): TPromise<any[]> {
+		const promise = this.dataProvider.resolveChildren(node);
+
+		this.progressService.showWhile(promise, 800);
+
+		return promise;
+	}
+
+	public getParent(tree: ITree, node: any): TPromise<any> {
+		return TPromise.as(null);
+	}
+}
+
+interface ITreeExplorerTemplateData {
+	label: Builder;
+}
+
+class TreeRenderer implements IRenderer {
+
+	private static ITEM_HEIGHT = 22;
+	private static TREE_TEMPLATE_ID = 'treeExplorer';
+
+	constructor(
+		private dataProvider: IExplorerViewDataProvider<any>,
+		@IExplorerViewsService private explorerViewsService: IExplorerViewsService
+	) {
+	}
+
+	public getHeight(tree: ITree, element: any): number {
+		return TreeRenderer.ITEM_HEIGHT;
+	}
+
+	public getTemplateId(tree: ITree, element: any): string {
+		return TreeRenderer.TREE_TEMPLATE_ID;
+	}
+
+	public renderTemplate(tree: ITree, templateId: string, container: HTMLElement): ITreeExplorerTemplateData {
+		const el = $(container);
+		const item = $('.custom-viewlet-tree-node-item');
+		item.appendTo(el);
+
+		const label = $('.custom-viewlet-tree-node-item-label').appendTo(item);
+		const link = $('a.plain').appendTo(label);
+
+		return { label: link };
+	}
+
+	public renderElement(tree: ITree, node: any, templateId: string, templateData: ITreeExplorerTemplateData): void {
+		const label = this.dataProvider.getLabel(node);
+		templateData.label.text(label).title(label);
+	}
+
+	public disposeTemplate(tree: ITree, templateId: string, templateData: ITreeExplorerTemplateData): void {
+	}
+}
+
+class TreeController extends DefaultController {
+
+	constructor(
+		private menus: Menus,
+		@IContextMenuService private contextMenuService: IContextMenuService,
+		@IKeybindingService private _keybindingService: IKeybindingService
+	) {
+		super({ clickBehavior: ClickBehavior.ON_MOUSE_UP /* do not change to not break DND */, keyboardSupport: false });
+	}
+
+	public onContextMenu(tree: ITree, node: any, event: ContextMenuEvent): boolean {
+		tree.setFocus(node);
+		const actions = this.menus.getResourceContextActions(node);
+		if (!actions.length) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		const anchor = { x: event.posx + 1, y: event.posy };
+		this.contextMenuService.showContextMenu({
+			getAnchor: () => anchor,
+
+			getActions: () => {
+				return TPromise.as(actions);
+			},
+
+			getActionItem: (action) => {
+				const keybinding = this._keybindingFor(action);
+				if (keybinding) {
+					return new ActionItem(action, action, { label: true, keybinding: keybinding.getLabel() });
+				}
+				return null;
+			},
+
+			getKeyBinding: (action): ResolvedKeybinding => {
+				return this._keybindingFor(action);
+			},
+
+			onHide: (wasCancelled?: boolean) => {
+				if (wasCancelled) {
+					tree.DOMFocus();
+				}
+			},
+
+			getActionsContext: () => node,
+
+			actionRunner: new MultipleSelectionActionRunner(() => tree.getSelection())
+		});
+
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	private _keybindingFor(action: IAction): ResolvedKeybinding {
+		return this._keybindingService.lookupKeybinding(action.id);
+	}
+}
+
+class MultipleSelectionActionRunner extends ActionRunner {
+
+	constructor(private getSelectedResources: () => any[]) {
+		super();
+	}
+
+	runAction(action: IAction, context: any): TPromise<any> {
+		if (action instanceof MenuItemAction) {
+			const selection = this.getSelectedResources();
+			const filteredSelection = selection.filter(s => s !== context);
+
+			if (selection.length === filteredSelection.length || selection.length === 1) {
+				return action.run(context);
+			}
+
+			return action.run(context, ...filteredSelection);
+		}
+
+		return super.runAction(action, context);
+	}
+}
+
+class Menus implements IDisposable {
+
+	private disposables: IDisposable[] = [];
+	private titleDisposable: IDisposable = EmptyDisposable;
+	private titleActions: IAction[] = [];
+	private titleSecondaryActions: IAction[] = [];
+
+	private _onDidChangeTitle = new Emitter<void>();
+	get onDidChangeTitle(): Event<void> { return this._onDidChangeTitle.event; }
+
+	constructor(
+		private viewId: string,
+		private dataProvider: IExplorerViewDataProvider<any>,
+		@IContextKeyService private contextKeyService: IContextKeyService,
+		@IMenuService private menuService: IMenuService,
+		@IExplorerViewsService private explorerViewsService: IExplorerViewsService
+	) {
+		if (this.titleDisposable) {
+			this.titleDisposable.dispose();
+			this.titleDisposable = EmptyDisposable;
+		}
+
+		const _contextKeyService = this.contextKeyService.createScoped();
+		contextKeyService.createKey('view', viewId);
+
+		const titleMenu = this.menuService.createMenu(MenuId.ViewTitle, _contextKeyService);
+		const updateActions = () => {
+			this.titleActions = [];
+			this.titleSecondaryActions = [];
+			fillInActions(titleMenu, null, { primary: this.titleActions, secondary: this.titleSecondaryActions });
+			this._onDidChangeTitle.fire();
+		};
+
+		const listener = titleMenu.onDidChange(updateActions);
+		updateActions();
+
+
+		this.titleDisposable = toDisposable(() => {
+			listener.dispose();
+			titleMenu.dispose();
+			_contextKeyService.dispose();
+			this.titleActions = [];
+			this.titleSecondaryActions = [];
+		});
+	}
+
+	getTitleActions(): IAction[] {
+		return this.titleActions;
+	}
+
+	getTitleSecondaryActions(): IAction[] {
+		return this.titleSecondaryActions;
+	}
+
+	getResourceContextActions(element: any): IAction[] {
+		return this.getActions(MenuId.ViewResource, { key: 'resource', value: this.dataProvider.getContextKey(element) }).secondary;
+	}
+
+	private getActions(menuId: MenuId, context: { key: string, value: string }): { primary: IAction[]; secondary: IAction[]; } {
+		const contextKeyService = this.contextKeyService.createScoped();
+		contextKeyService.createKey('view', this.viewId);
+		contextKeyService.createKey(context.key, context.value);
+
+		const menu = this.menuService.createMenu(menuId, contextKeyService);
+		const primary = [];
+		const secondary = [];
+		const result = { primary, secondary };
+		fillInActions(menu, { shouldForwardArgs: true }, result, g => g === 'inline');
+
+		menu.dispose();
+		contextKeyService.dispose();
+
+		return result;
+	}
+
+	dispose(): void {
+		this.disposables = dispose(this.disposables);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/explorers/common/explorer.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/explorers/common/explorer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b6a1731fb9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/explorers/common/explorer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *  Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ *  Licensed under the MIT License. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+ *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+'use strict';
+
+import Event from 'vs/base/common/event';
+import { IDisposable } from 'vs/base/common/lifecycle';
+import { TPromise } from 'vs/base/common/winjs.base';
+import { IActionRunner } from 'vs/base/common/actions';
+import { createDecorator, IInstantiationService } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/instantiation';
+
+export const IExplorerViewsService = createDecorator<IExplorerViewsService>('explorerViewsService');
+
+export interface IExplorerViewsService {
+	_serviceBrand: any;
+
+	readonly onViewCreated: Event<IExplorerView<any>>;
+
+	createView<T>(id: string, name: string, dataProvider: IExplorerViewDataProvider<T>): IExplorerView<T>;
+	getViews<T>(): IExplorerView<T>[];
+}
+
+export interface IExplorerView<T> extends IDisposable {
+	refresh(element: T): void;
+	instantiate(actionRunner: IActionRunner, viewletSetings: any, instantiationService: IInstantiationService): any;
+}
+
+export interface IExplorerViewDataProvider<T> {
+	provideRoot(): TPromise<T>;
+	resolveChildren(element: T): TPromise<T[]>;
+	getId(element: T): string;
+	getLabel(element: T): string;
+	getContextKey(element: T): string;
+	hasChildren(element: T): boolean;
+}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/explorerViewlet.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/explorerViewlet.ts
index e32cb7f8843..5aa2a30f535 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/explorerViewlet.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/explorerViewlet.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import { Dimension, Builder } from 'vs/base/browser/builder';
 import { Scope } from 'vs/workbench/common/memento';
 import { VIEWLET_ID, ExplorerViewletVisibleContext, IFilesConfiguration } from 'vs/workbench/parts/files/common/files';
 import { IViewletView, Viewlet } from 'vs/workbench/browser/viewlet';
-import { SplitView, Orientation } from 'vs/base/browser/ui/splitview/splitview';
+import { SplitView } from 'vs/base/browser/ui/splitview/splitview';
 import { IConfigurationService } from 'vs/platform/configuration/common/configuration';
 import { ActionRunner, FileViewletState } from 'vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/views/explorerViewer';
 import { ExplorerView } from 'vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/views/explorerView';
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import { IEditorGroupService } from 'vs/workbench/services/group/common/groupSer
 import { IContextKeyService, IContextKey } from 'vs/platform/contextkey/common/contextkey';
 import { IThemeService } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/themeService';
 import { attachHeaderViewStyler } from 'vs/platform/theme/common/styler';
+import { IExplorerViewsService } from 'vs/workbench/parts/explorers/common/explorer';
 
 export class ExplorerViewlet extends Viewlet {
 	private viewletContainer: Builder;
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ export class ExplorerViewlet extends Viewlet {
 	private emptyView: EmptyView;
 
 	private openEditorsVisible: boolean;
-	private lastFocusedView: ExplorerView | OpenEditorsView | EmptyView;
+	private lastFocusedView: IViewletView;
 	private focusListener: IDisposable;
 	private delayEditorOpeningInOpenedEditors: boolean;
 
@@ -62,7 +63,8 @@ export class ExplorerViewlet extends Viewlet {
 		@IConfigurationService private configurationService: IConfigurationService,
 		@IInstantiationService private instantiationService: IInstantiationService,
 		@IContextKeyService contextKeyService: IContextKeyService,
-		@IThemeService themeService: IThemeService
+		@IThemeService themeService: IThemeService,
+		@IExplorerViewsService private explorerViewsService: IExplorerViewsService
 	) {
 		super(VIEWLET_ID, telemetryService, themeService);
 
@@ -73,6 +75,7 @@ export class ExplorerViewlet extends Viewlet {
 
 		this.viewletSettings = this.getMemento(storageService, Scope.WORKSPACE);
 		this.configurationService.onDidUpdateConfiguration(e => this.onConfigurationUpdated(e.config));
+		this.explorerViewsService.onViewCreated(view => this.render());
 	}
 
 	public create(parent: Builder): TPromise<void> {
@@ -80,78 +83,79 @@ export class ExplorerViewlet extends Viewlet {
 
 		this.viewletContainer = parent.div().addClass('explorer-viewlet');
 
-		const settings = this.configurationService.getConfiguration<IFilesConfiguration>();
-
-		return this.onConfigurationUpdated(settings);
+		return this.render();
 	}
 
 	public getActions(): IAction[] {
-		if (this.openEditorsVisible) {
-			return [];
+		if (this.views.length === 1) {
+			return this.views[0].getActions();
 		}
-
-		if (this.explorerView) {
-			return this.explorerView.getActions();
-		}
-
 		return [];
 	}
 
-	private onConfigurationUpdated(config: IFilesConfiguration): TPromise<void> {
+	private render(): TPromise<void> {
+		const config = this.configurationService.getConfiguration<IFilesConfiguration>();
 
 		// No need to delay if preview is disabled
 		this.delayEditorOpeningInOpenedEditors = !!config.workbench.editor.enablePreview;
 
 		// Open editors view should always be visible in no folder workspace.
-		const openEditorsVisible = !this.contextService.hasWorkspace() || config.explorer.openEditors.visible !== 0;
+		this.openEditorsVisible = !this.contextService.hasWorkspace() || config.explorer.openEditors.visible !== 0;
 
-		// Create views on startup and if open editors visibility has changed #6919
-		if (this.openEditorsVisible !== openEditorsVisible) {
-			this.dispose();
-			this.openEditorsVisible = openEditorsVisible;
-			this.views = [];
-			this.viewletContainer.clearChildren();
+		this.dispose();
+		this.views = [];
+		this.viewletContainer.clearChildren();
 
-			if (this.openEditorsVisible) {
-				this.splitView = new SplitView(this.viewletContainer.getHTMLElement());
+		this.splitView = new SplitView(this.viewletContainer.getHTMLElement());
+		// Track focus
+		this.focusListener = this.splitView.onFocus((view: IViewletView) => {
+			this.lastFocusedView = view;
+		});
 
-				// Open editors view
-				this.addOpenEditorsView();
+		const customViews = this.explorerViewsService.getViews();
 
-				// Track focus
-				this.focusListener = this.splitView.onFocus((view: ExplorerView | OpenEditorsView | EmptyView) => {
-					this.lastFocusedView = view;
-				});
-			}
-
-			// Explorer view
-			this.addExplorerView();
-			this.lastFocusedView = this.explorerView;
-
-			return TPromise.join(this.views.map(view => view.create())).then(() => void 0).then(() => {
-				if (this.dimension) {
-					this.layout(this.dimension);
-				}
-
-				// Update title area since the title actions have changed.
-				this.updateTitleArea();
-				return this.setVisible(this.isVisible()).then(() => this.focus()); // Focus the viewlet since that triggers a rerender.
-			});
+		if (this.openEditorsVisible) {
+			// Open editors view
+			this.openEditorsView = this.instantiationService.createInstance(OpenEditorsView, this.getActionRunner(), this.viewletSettings);
+			this.views.push(this.openEditorsView);
 		}
 
-		return TPromise.as(null);
+		// Explorer view
+		this.createExplorerView(this.views.length || customViews.length ? undefined : 0);
+		this.views.push(this.explorerView);
+
+		// custom views
+		for (const view of customViews) {
+			this.views.push(view.instantiate(this.getActionRunner(), this.viewletSettings, this.instantiationService));
+		}
+
+		for (const view of this.views) {
+			attachHeaderViewStyler(view, this.themeService);
+			this.splitView.addView(view);
+		}
+
+		this.lastFocusedView = this.explorerView;
+
+		return TPromise.join(this.views.map(view => view.create())).then(() => void 0).then(() => {
+			if (this.dimension) {
+				this.layout(this.dimension);
+			}
+
+			// Update title area since the title actions have changed.
+			this.updateTitleArea();
+			return this.setVisible(this.isVisible()).then(() => this.focus()); // Focus the viewlet since that triggers a rerender.
+		});
 	}
 
-	private addOpenEditorsView(): void {
-		this.openEditorsView = this.instantiationService.createInstance(OpenEditorsView, this.getActionRunner(), this.viewletSettings);
-		attachHeaderViewStyler(this.openEditorsView, this.themeService);
-
-		this.splitView.addView(this.openEditorsView);
-
-		this.views.push(this.openEditorsView);
+	private onConfigurationUpdated(config: IFilesConfiguration): void {
+		// Open editors view should always be visible in no folder workspace.
+		const openEditorsVisible = !this.contextService.hasWorkspace() || config.explorer.openEditors.visible !== 0;
+		if (this.openEditorsVisible !== openEditorsVisible) {
+			this.render();
+		}
 	}
 
-	private addExplorerView(): void {
+	private createExplorerView(headerSize: number): void {
 		let explorerOrEmptyView: ExplorerView | EmptyView;
 
 		// With a Workspace
@@ -188,25 +192,13 @@ export class ExplorerViewlet extends Viewlet {
 			});
 
 			const explorerInstantiator = this.instantiationService.createChild(new ServiceCollection([IWorkbenchEditorService, delegatingEditorService]));
-
-			const headerSize = this.openEditorsVisible ? undefined : 0; // If open editors are not visible set header size explicitly to 0, otherwise const it be computed by super class.
 			this.explorerView = explorerOrEmptyView = explorerInstantiator.createInstance(ExplorerView, this.viewletState, this.getActionRunner(), this.viewletSettings, headerSize);
-			attachHeaderViewStyler(this.explorerView, this.themeService);
 		}
 
 		// No workspace
 		else {
 			this.emptyView = explorerOrEmptyView = this.instantiationService.createInstance(EmptyView, this.getActionRunner());
-			attachHeaderViewStyler(this.emptyView, this.themeService);
 		}
-
-		if (this.openEditorsVisible) {
-			this.splitView.addView(explorerOrEmptyView);
-		} else {
-			explorerOrEmptyView.render(this.viewletContainer.getHTMLElement(), Orientation.VERTICAL);
-		}
-
-		this.views.push(explorerOrEmptyView);
 	}
 
 	public getExplorerView(): ExplorerView {
@@ -260,7 +252,7 @@ export class ExplorerViewlet extends Viewlet {
 		return this.openEditorsView.focus();
 	}
 
-	private hasSelectionOrFocus(view: ExplorerView | OpenEditorsView | EmptyView): boolean {
+	private hasSelectionOrFocus(view: IViewletView): boolean {
 		if (!view) {
 			return false;
 		}
@@ -284,12 +276,7 @@ export class ExplorerViewlet extends Viewlet {
 
 	public layout(dimension: Dimension): void {
 		this.dimension = dimension;
-
-		if (this.openEditorsVisible) {
-			this.splitView.layout(dimension.height);
-		} else if (this.explorerView) {
-			this.explorerView.layout(dimension.height, Orientation.VERTICAL);
-		}
+		this.splitView.layout(dimension.height);
 	}
 
 	public getActionRunner(): IActionRunner {
@@ -306,7 +293,7 @@ export class ExplorerViewlet extends Viewlet {
 
 	public getOptimalWidth(): number {
 		const additionalMargin = 16;
-		const openedEditorsViewWidth = this.openEditorsVisible ? this.openEditorsView.getOptimalWidth() : 0;
+		const openedEditorsViewWidth = this.openEditorsView ? this.openEditorsView.getOptimalWidth() : 0;
 		const explorerView = this.getExplorerView();
 		const explorerViewWidth = explorerView ? explorerView.getOptimalWidth() : 0;
 		const optimalWidth = Math.max(openedEditorsViewWidth, explorerViewWidth);