Feature Request: Add Outline Support for Named Code Sections in R Code Chunks

[UrielMenalled]

Summary

In Positron (but not RStudio), named code sections and headers (e.g., # Section One ----, # Section Two ====) within R code chunks in Quarto documents are recognized and appear in the document outline, aiding navigation. Currently, these sections are not detected in the outline feature when editing Quarto documents, resulting in a loss of navigation usefulness compared to RStudio (see video below).

Motivation

• Improves Quarto IDE navigation for R users adopting Positron
• Increases parity between RStudio, Positron, and Quarto experience
• Helps users organize complex R scripts within Quarto documents

Example

A Quarto R code chunk such as:

#| label: test

# Section One ----
# Section Two ====
### Section Three ####

Should show “Section One”, “Section Two”, and “Section Three” in the outline panel for fast navigation, the way RStudio currently does.

Related Context

• Used with: R Version 4.4.2, Positron Version 2026.02.0 build 139, macOS 25.2.0 (arm64)
• Reference discussion: R code sections not showing in outline posit-dev/positron#11921

Feature Request

Please implement recognition of section headers inside R code chunks of Quarto documents, so they appear in the IDE’s Outline/navigation pane, matching RStudio user experience.

Screen.Recording.2026-02-16.at.11.50.42.AM.mov

[juliasilge]

This is related to #880 in that we would need to get the document symbols from the underlying language LSP (so for R or Python, etc) and include them in the document symbols that the Quarto LSP provides.