Grok AI / xAI for VS Code

GMDevCore · GMDevCore.gm-grok-vscode

Integrate xAI's Grok directly into VS Code — sidebar chat, inline completions, code actions, git integration, and more.

Changelog

v6.0.5 — HTML tag rendering fix

• Fixed Grok occasionally emitted literal HTML tags like <strong>, <em>, <code> in responses instead of markdown — these are now converted to their markdown equivalents (**bold**, *italic*, code) before rendering, so users see proper formatting instead of raw tags

v6.0.4 — Dynamic model list

• Added Grok: Refresh Model List from xAI command — fetches the real list of models your API key has access to from /v1/models, then lets you pick one as your default
• Why xAI deprecates models frequently; hardcoded lists go stale. Run this command any time chat returns a 404 to see what's actually available.
• Tip Run this once after installing to confirm your API key works and to populate the model picker with current models

v6.0.3 — Verbose error logging

• Added Grok Errors output channel logs every error with full HTTP status, response body, and timestamp
• Added Grok: Show Errors Log command in the Command Palette opens it instantly
• Changed Generic "An error occurred" replaced with the first 200 chars of the actual error message — fall-through case now shows what really went wrong
• Added Pattern matching for HTTP 400 / 403 / 404 / 500-class errors with specific guidance for each
• Added API key validation requests are logged with status code and response body

v6.0.2 — Silent migration + API key validation

• Added API key is validated against xAI before every chat send (cached per-session). Invalid or expired keys show a clear actionable message instead of a generic error
• Fixed "Unknown inline model" warning kept appearing for users upgrading from older versions — stale model settings are now silently migrated to grok-4.3 on activation with no warning

v6.0.1 — Model migration fix

• Fixed Chat threw an error after the v6.0.0 model update — six other files (tokenTracker, chatViewProvider, inlineProvider, streamToEditor, statusBar, configValidator) still hardcoded the old grok-3 defaults and were sending invalid model names to the API
• Fixed Settings panel showed deprecated models — configValidator allowlist now matches the new model list (grok-4.3, grok-4.20-reasoning, grok-4.20-non-reasoning)
• Changed Token tracker pricing updated for new models

🚀 v6.0.0 — Major release

• Changed Models updated to latest xAI lineup — grok-4.3 (default), grok-4.20-reasoning, grok-4.20-non-reasoning; all deprecated models removed
• Added Token counter now shows percentage of context used (e.g. 4.2k tokens (3%)) with larger, bolder text and a thicker progress bar
• Added Agent intro banner on first launch — walks new and upgrading users through Agent Mode with a two-column layout and one-click mode activation
• Fixed Autonomous mode was still showing approval dialogs — check was missing from the callback
• Fixed Agent button was cut off at minimum sidebar width — moved from header to input toolbar
• Fixed All overlay panels (Sessions, Templates, Theme) clip-proof via position:absolute inside position:relative wrapper
• Fixed Sessions dropdown showed only a shadow — root cause was overflow:hidden on all ancestor elements; replaced with full-area overlay
• Fixed Delete session did nothing — two-click confirm state machine was reset by its own auto-cancel timer; simplified to single-click
• Fixed Context and Files buttons silently failed — executeCommand indirection blocked when sidebar had focus; now handled directly in provider
• Fixed No-key banner referenced a non-existent 🔑 icon; replaced with a prominent amber button

🤖 v5.9 — Agent Mode

Let Grok act directly in your workspace. Click Agent in the input toolbar to cycle through three modes:

• 🤖 Agent (purple) — every action shows an Allow / Always allow / Block dialog
• ⚡ Autonomous (red war-room) — no approvals, Grok acts immediately; chat turns red
• Off — standard chat

Tools: read file, write file, run shell command, list directory, search files. All workspace-sandboxed.

v5.7 — Theme system

• Added 🎨 theme picker with six themes: VS Code Auto (default), Dark, Light, Midnight, Ocean, Warm
• Fixed "You" bubble invisible on grey/light VS Code themes
• Fixed Tooltip contrast — fixed dark charcoal background regardless of host theme

Features

💬 Chat Panel

Full sidebar chat with streaming responses, session management, message editing, and export.

• Named, persistent chat sessions — switch, rename, delete from the All Chats panel
• Edit any sent message with ✏ — conversation rewinds and regenerates from that point
• Export chat as Markdown to clipboard or file (Ctrl+Shift+X)
• In-webview model switcher — click the model chip to change without leaving the sidebar
• Per-session custom system prompt — override Grok's persona for the current chat
• Token counter bar shows context usage toward the 128k limit

🤖 Auto File Context

The current open file is automatically included with every message — Grok always knows what you're looking at. A blue 📄 filename chip in the header shows when it's active.

✍️ Code Actions (right-click)

Select any code → right-click → Grok submenu:

⚡ Direct Editor Integration

Stream code directly into your file — no copy-paste:

👁 Code Lens

Clickable Explain / Tests / Docs buttons appear above every function and class. Supports TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, Rust, Go, C/C++, C#, Java, Swift, Kotlin, Ruby, PHP, Vue, Svelte.

🔴 Diagnostic Hover

Hover over any red squiggle to get Explain this error and Fix it links inline.

📝 Inline Completions

Copilot-style ghost-text suggestions as you type. Press Tab to accept, Escape to dismiss.

📋 Templates

13 built-in prompt templates (Security Audit, PR Review, Unit Tests, JSDoc, README, etc.) plus custom templates you can save and reuse.

🌿 Git Integration

• Generate Commit Message — reads your staged diff, writes a Conventional Commits message directly to the SCM input box
• Explain Diff — explain staged, working tree, or last commit changes
• Generate PR Description — structured PR template from diff + commits

🖥 Terminal Integration

Right-click in the terminal or use the Command Palette:

• Explain Terminal Output — what did that command do?
• Explain Terminal Error — why did it fail?
• Fix Terminal Error — get a corrected command

📊 Usage Statistics

Local token and cost estimates (no data sent anywhere). Hover the status bar chip or run Grok: Show Usage Statistics.

Setup

1. Install the extension from the VSIX file
2. Get your API key from console.x.ai
3. Press Ctrl+Shift+P → Grok: Set API Key
4. Click the Grok icon in the Activity Bar, or press Ctrl+Shift+G

Your API key is stored in VS Code's encrypted SecretStorage (OS keychain) — never in settings.json.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Settings

Requirements

• VS Code 1.85+
• xAI API key — console.x.ai

Build from Source

npm install
npm install -g typescript @vscode/vsce
npx tsc -p tsconfig.json
vsce package --no-dependencies