Lumina

Lumina is a calm, cognitive-friendly VS Code extension that explains code, simplifies confusing logic, helps with diagnostics, and supports focus when coding feels overwhelming.

MVP Features

• Explain the current selection with short, structured output
• Simplify an explanation for beginner-friendly understanding
• Explain diagnostics and likely error causes
• Focus mode guidance in a side panel
• Recap the current editor context without sending the whole repo
• Support OpenAI and OpenAI-compatible local endpoints

Commands

• Lumina: Explain Selection
• Lumina: Simplify This
• Lumina: Explain Error
• Lumina: Toggle Focus Mode
• Lumina: Recap My Context

Configuration

Lumina contributes these settings:

• lumina.provider: openai or compatible
• lumina.apiKey: API key string. This is stored as a normal VS Code setting.
• lumina.baseUrl: API root such as https://api.openai.com/v1 or a local OpenAI-compatible endpoint
• lumina.model: model name
• lumina.defaultStyle: beginner, step-by-step, concise, or visual structure
• lumina.verbosity: low, balanced, or high
• lumina.enableFocusMode: enables the tighter next-step guidance language

Security Note

For the MVP, lumina.apiKey is read from normal VS Code settings. Prefer putting it in user settings instead of workspace settings so it does not end up in project files. A dedicated SecretStorage setup flow can be added next without changing the rest of the architecture.

How Lumina Packages Context

Lumina keeps requests intentionally small:

• Current file name
• Current language
• Selected text, if any
• Nearby code around the cursor or selection
• Current diagnostics for the file

Lumina does not send the whole repository by default.

Development

1. Install dependencies:

npm install

2. Compile:

npm run compile

3. Press F5 in VS Code to launch the Extension Development Host.

Example Local Provider Setup

{
  "lumina.provider": "compatible",
  "lumina.baseUrl": "http://localhost:1234/v1",
  "lumina.model": "local-model-name",
  "lumina.apiKey": ""
}

Architecture

• src/extension.ts: activation and command wiring
• src/services/luminaService.ts: request orchestration
• src/services/aiClient.ts: OpenAI-compatible client
• src/services/contextBuilder.ts: modest editor context packaging
• src/services/promptBuilder.ts: concise prompt templates
• src/ui/panelProvider.ts: webview side panel

Next Useful Enhancements

• Add a secure API key input flow backed by SecretStorage
• Add streaming responses for more responsive UX
• Add richer diagnostic grouping and code action suggestions
• Add tests for prompt building and response parsing