Out-of-code Insights

Out-of-code Insights is a Visual Studio Code extension that allows you to add annotations, comments, and notes without modifying your source files. It is ideal for avoiding clutter in your code with temporary comments or making the code unnecessarily heavy.

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Why use Out-of-code Insights?

• Non-intrusive annotations: Add comments without altering the source code, keeping your files clean and organized.
• Optimized for code reviews: Facilitate team communication by adding comments directly on the relevant lines.
• Avoid code clutter: Maintain clarity and readability of your code by avoiding unnecessary comments.
• Annotations on all file types: Add annotations to any file in your project, including source code, Markdown, JSON, XML, text, etc.
• Intelligent change tracking: Annotations automatically follow file changes as long as edits are made within Visual Studio Code.
• Personalization: Adapt the extension to your needs with various configuration options.
• Threaded discussions: Reply to annotations to create threads and enhance collaboration.
• Advanced annotation management: Move, filter, sort, and navigate annotations with ease.
• Batch Edit Annotations: Modify multiple annotations simultaneously to save time and effort.
• Keyword Search: Quickly find annotations by searching for specific keywords.
• Filter by Severity: Categorize and view annotations based on their severity levels.
• Set Annotation Severity: Assign severity levels (info, warning, error) to your annotations.
• Show AI Suggestion: Display simulated suggestions from AI.
• Auto-Resolve Stale Annotations: Automatically handle annotations that are no longer relevant or outdated.

(v1.0.3)

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Key Features

• Add annotations: Insert comments or notes on specific lines without modifying the source file, regardless of file type.
• View and manage annotations: See all your annotations in a dedicated panel, modify, delete, or reply to them.
• Toggle annotation visibility: Enable or disable annotation visibility in the editor.
• Move annotations: Drag annotations directly within the editor. Annotations follow their assigned lines; simply position above or below a line to move it.
• CodeLens integration: Manage annotations directly from the editor with CodeLens integration.
• Filter and sort annotations: Filter and sort annotations in the panel for efficient management.
• Export and import: Export your annotations to share or back them up, and import them into other projects.
• Batch Edit Annotations: Modify multiple annotations at once to streamline your workflow.
• Keyword Search: Quickly locate annotations by searching for specific terms or phrases.
• Filter by Severity: Organize annotations based on their severity to prioritize tasks.
• Set Annotation Severity: Assign severity levels (info, warning, error) to your annotations.
• Edit Annotation Tags: Add or modify tags on annotations to better categorize them.
• Show AI Suggestion: View simulated suggestions from AI to enhance your annotations.
• Auto-Resolve Stale Annotations: Automatically resolve annotations that are no longer relevant, keeping your workspace clean.
• Navigation Stack: Quickly jump back and forth between recently viewed annotations.

✨ Advanced Features (New in v1.0.14)

🔗 Linked Multi-File Annotations

Create relationships between annotations across different files to improve code traceability and documentation:

• Create links: Connect related annotations with contextual relationships (implements, references, depends-on, etc.)
• Visual indicators: 🔗 icon in TreeView shows linked annotations
• Smart navigation: Ctrl+Alt+L to quickly jump between linked annotations
• Comprehensive visualization: "Show All Links" command opens an interactive view with statistics and navigation

📋 Customizable Annotation Templates

Standardize your annotation format with reusable templates:

• Pre-built templates: Bug, TODO, Refactor, Performance, Security, Documentation
• Custom templates: Create your own with variable substitution ({{description}}, {{priority}}, etc.)
• Quick access: Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T to apply templates instantly
• Team consistency: Share templates across your development team

🔍 Smart Review Mode

Systematically review annotations with advanced filtering and tracking:

• Structured review: Navigate through annotations sequentially with F8/Shift+F8
• Advanced filtering: Filter by author, date, severity, tags, and status
• Progress tracking: Visual progress bar shows reviewed vs. total annotations
• Review statistics: Get insights on annotation distribution and completion

📋 Kanban-style Workspace

Manage annotations visually with a dedicated Kanban board:

• Visual organization: Drag & drop annotations between customizable columns (To Do, In Progress, Review, Done)
• Smart filtering: Filter by author, severity, tags, or file
• Intelligent deletion: Choose to remove from kanban or delete completely
• Custom columns: Create workflow-specific columns for your team
• Quick navigation: Double-click cards to jump to code location

⚡ Executable Code Snippets

Attach and execute code directly from annotations:

• Code attachment: Add reusable code snippets to annotations
• Preview changes: See modifications before applying them
• Variable support: Use placeholders ($1, $2) for dynamic snippets
• Execution history: Track applied snippets for better code management
• Multiple languages: Support for all programming languages

Installation

1. Open Visual Studio Code.
2. Access the Extensions Manager:
   • Click the Extensions icon in the sidebar.
   • Or use the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+X (Cmd+Shift+X on Mac).
3. Search for the extension:
   • Type "Out-of-code Insights" in the search bar.
4. Install the extension:
   • Click "Install" next to the appropriate result.
5. Restart Visual Studio Code (if required).

Quick Start Guide

Your First Annotation

1. Open any file in your project
2. Position your cursor on the line you want to annotate
3. Right-click → "Out-of-Code Insight" → "Add Annotation"
4. Enter your annotation message and press Enter
5. See your annotation appear in the Activity Bar sidebar

Essential Workflow

1. Add annotations during code review or development (Ctrl+Alt+A)
2. Organize with templates for consistent formatting (Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T)
3. Link related annotations across files (Ctrl+Alt+L)
4. Review systematically with Review Mode (F8/Shift+F8)
5. Visualize progress with the Kanban board (Ctrl+Alt+K)

Common Use Cases

• Code Review: Add review comments without modifying source files
• Technical Documentation: Document complex logic and architectural decisions
• Bug Tracking: Track issues with linked corrections and code snippets
• Team Collaboration: Share insights and TODOs with your team
• Project Management: Organize tasks visually with the Kanban board

Usage

Adding an Annotation

• Using the context menu:
  • Right-click on the line where you want to add an annotation.
  • Select Add Annotation.
• Using keyboard shortcuts:
  • Place your cursor on the desired line.
  • Press Ctrl+Alt+A (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Alt+A (Mac).

Editing or Deleting an Annotation

• Using the context menu:
  • Right-click on the line containing the annotation.
  • Select Edit Annotation or Delete Annotation.
• Using keyboard shortcuts:
  • Edit an annotation:
    • Press Ctrl+Alt+E (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Alt+E (Mac).
  • Delete an annotation:
    • Press Ctrl+Alt+D (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Alt+D (Mac).

Viewing and Managing Annotations

• Open the annotations panel:
  • Use the View Annotations command from the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P).
  • Or click the annotations icon in the status bar.
• Toggle annotation visibility:
  • Use the Toggle Annotation Visibility command to make annotations visible or hidden in the editor.
  • Shortcut: Ctrl+Alt+T (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Alt+T (Mac).

Moving Annotations

• Move an annotation within the editor:
  • Position your cursor on the line above or below the annotation.
  • Use the Move Annotation Up or Move Annotation Down commands available in the context menu or annotations panel.
  • Annotations automatically follow their lines when you modify code within Visual Studio Code.

Replying to an Annotation

• Add a comment to an existing annotation:
  • In the annotations panel, select the annotation you want to reply to.
  • Click Reply to add a comment and start a thread.

Filtering and Sorting Annotations

• Filter annotations:
  • Use the filtering options in the annotations panel to display annotations by file or author.
• Sort annotations:
  • Sort annotations by date, number of comments, etc., for efficient management.

Batch Editing Annotations

• Modify multiple annotations:
  • Open the annotations panel.
  • Select the annotations you wish to edit.
  • Use the Batch Edit Annotations command to apply changes to all selected annotations simultaneously.

Keyword Search

• Search for annotations by keyword:
  • Use the Keyword Search feature in the annotations panel.
  • Enter the desired keyword to filter annotations containing that term.

Filter by Severity

• Categorize annotations:
  • Use the Filter by Severity option to display annotations based on their assigned severity levels (e.g., info, warning, error).

Set Annotation Severity

• Adjust severity:
  • Right-click on an annotated line and choose Set Annotation Severity.
  • Select the appropriate level (info, warning, or error) to better classify the annotation.

🤖 AI-Powered Features

Multi-LLM Provider Support

Out-of-Code Insights now supports all major LLM providers, giving you flexibility in choosing your AI assistant:

Supported Providers:

• OpenAI
• Anthropic (Claude)
• Google (Gemini)
• Mistral AI
• Azure OpenAI
• Groq
• Ollama (local)
• And many more...

Quick Setup:

1. Open VS Code Settings (Ctrl+,)
2. Search for "annotation.provider"
3. Select your preferred LLM provider
4. Add your API key in annotation.llm.apiKeys.[provider]

Custom AI Profiles

Create specialized AI profiles for different analysis needs:

Creating a Custom Profile:

1. Right-click → "Out-of-Code Insight" → "AI Analysis" → "AI: Manage Custom Profiles"
2. Select "Create New Profile"
3. Configure:
   • Profile ID: Unique identifier (e.g., security-auditor)
   • Name: Display name
   • Analysis Prompt: What the AI should look for
   • Default Tags: Automatically applied tags
   • Severity & Priority: Default annotation settings

Example Custom Profiles:

• Security Auditor: Focuses on vulnerabilities and security best practices
• Performance Optimizer: Identifies bottlenecks and optimization opportunities
• Code Reviewer: Comprehensive code quality analysis
• Documentation Helper: Suggests missing documentation

Enhanced AI Analysis

AI Suggest with Profile (Ctrl+Alt+I):

• Select from both user profiles and AI profiles
• Option to add custom instructions
• Context-aware suggestions based on surrounding code

AI Analyze File:

• Analyze entire files with selected AI profile
• Pre-analysis confirmation with file details
• Batch review of suggested annotations

Custom Prompts:

• Add specific instructions to any AI analysis
• Prompts stack with profile behavior
• Perfect for one-off requirements

Auto-Resolve Stale Annotations

• Automatic management:
  • Enable Auto-Resolve Stale Annotations to automatically handle annotations that are outdated or no longer relevant.

Batch Creation System

Batch Create Mixed Items: This feature allows you to create multiple types of items in a single operation to improve your productivity:

• Access: Right-click → "Out-of-Code Insight" → "AI Analysis" → "Batch Create Mixed Items"
• Multiple selection: Choose any combination of items to create
• Available types:
  • 📝 Annotations: Generate multiple annotations with AI to analyze your code
  • 📋 Templates: Create reusable templates to standardize your annotations
  • 🔗 Links: Connect existing annotations to create logical connections
  • 💻 Snippets: Generate reusable code snippets

Usage examples:

1. Complete code review: Create annotations + templates for a standardized review
2. Feature documentation: Create links between annotations + example code snippets
3. Refactoring: Create refactoring templates + annotations for areas to modify

Details by type:

📋 Template Batch Creation:

• Create up to 10 annotation templates at once
• Define for each template: name, message with variables, tags, and severity
• Templates are immediately available via Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T

🔗 Link Batch Creation:

• Select multiple existing annotations to link
• Create named link groups (e.g., "Authentication flow")
• Ideal for tracing implementations across multiple files

💻 Snippet Batch Creation:

• From selection: Transform selected code into reusable snippet
• With AI: Generate snippets based on your needs (e.g., "error handling patterns")
• Manual input: Create multiple snippets with custom code and descriptions

📋 Key Commands

AI Commands

• AI: Analyze Entire File - Analyze complete file with current AI profile
• AI: Analyze File with Profile - Choose specific profile for analysis
• AI: Batch Generate Annotations - Create multiple annotations with focus areas
• AI: Manage Custom Profiles - Create, edit, delete, import/export AI profiles
• AI Suggest with Profile - Get AI suggestions with profile selection
• Batch Create Mixed Items - Create templates, links, and snippets in batch

Profile Commands

• Select User Profile - Switch between user and AI profiles
• Manage User Profiles - Manage your personal profiles

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Ctrl+Alt+I - AI Suggest Annotation
• Ctrl+Alt+A - Add Annotation
• Ctrl+Alt+E - Edit Annotation
• Ctrl+Alt+L - Navigate to Linked Annotation
• F8 - Next Annotation (Review Mode)
• Shift+F8 - Previous Annotation (Review Mode)

🚀 Using Advanced Features

Creating and Managing Linked Annotations

Create a Link:

1. Position cursor on an existing annotation
2. Right-click → "Out-of-Code Insight" → "Create Link to Another Annotation"
3. Choose between linking to existing annotation or creating a new one
4. Select relationship type (implements, references, depends-on, etc.)
5. Navigate with Ctrl+Alt+L or click 🔗 indicators in TreeView

Visualize All Links:

• Use "Show All Links" command to open interactive link visualization
• View statistics, outgoing/incoming relationships, and navigate directly

Working with Annotation Templates

Apply a Template:

1. Position cursor where you want to add an annotation
2. Use Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T or "Apply Template" command
3. Select from pre-built templates (Bug, TODO, Refactor, etc.)
4. Fill in template variables with your specific information

Create Custom Templates:

1. Use "Create Annotation Template" command
2. Define template name, content with variables ({{variableName}})
3. Set default severity and tags
4. Save and share with your team

Using Review Mode

Start a Review Session:

1. Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) → "Start Review Mode"
2. Configure filters (optional): author, date range, severity, tags
3. Navigate with F8 (next) / Shift+F8 (previous)
4. Mark annotations as viewed or resolved during review
5. View progress and statistics in status bar

Managing the Kanban Board

Open Kanban:

• Use Ctrl+Alt+K or "Show Kanban Board" command
• Drag & drop annotations between columns
• Add custom columns for your workflow
• Filter view by author, severity, or tags

Kanban Actions:

• Move annotations: Drag between columns or use "Move to Column"
• Smart deletion: Choose to remove from kanban only or delete completely
• Quick navigation: Double-click cards to open file location
• Custom columns: Add workflow-specific columns (e.g., "Testing", "Deployed")

Working with Code Snippets

Add Snippets to Annotations:

1. Right-click on annotation → "Add Code Snippet to Annotation"
2. Enter code with optional variables ($1, $2, ${1:placeholder})
3. Set language and description
4. Use "Preview Snippet Changes" before applying
5. Apply with "Apply Code Snippet" command

💡 Practical Examples & Best Practices

Example 1: Code Review Workflow

1. Reviewer adds annotation: "Consider using async/await here for better readability"
2. Create template: "REVIEW: {{suggestion}} - Priority: {{priority}}"
3. Link to implementation: annotation → corrected code in another file
4. Add code snippet: "async function fetchData() { ... }"
5. Move to Kanban: "To Do" → "In Progress" → "Review" → "Done"

Example 2: Bug Tracking System

1. Bug report: "BUG: Authentication fails on token refresh"
2. Link related annotations:
   - Bug annotation → Implementation file
   - Implementation → Test file  
   - Test file → Documentation
3. Attach fix snippet: "if (token.isExpired()) { await refreshToken(); }"
4. Use Review Mode to systematically check all auth-related annotations

Example 3: Team Documentation

1. Architect creates templates:
   - "ARCHITECTURE: {{component}} - Purpose: {{purpose}}"
   - "TODO: {{task}} - Assigned: {{developer}} - Due: {{date}}"
2. Team uses templates for consistency
3. Link annotations create knowledge graph
4. Kanban board shows project progress
5. Review Mode ensures nothing is missed

Pre-built Templates Available

• Bug: Report bugs with steps to reproduce and expected vs actual results
• TODO: Task tracking with priority and assignment
• Refactor: Code improvement suggestions with rationale
• Performance: Performance issues with metrics and improvement plans
• Security: Security concerns with risk assessment
• Documentation: Documentation gaps with content guidelines
• Question: Questions for team discussion with context

Best Practices

• Use consistent templates across your team for better communication
• Link related annotations to create a knowledge graph of your codebase
• Review annotations regularly using Review Mode to keep them current
• Organize with Kanban to visualize project progress and bottlenecks
• Attach code snippets for quick fixes and examples
• Tag annotations with project phases, components, or priorities
• Export/import annotations when sharing across projects or teams

Configure the annotations.json File Path

• Set the path to the annotations file:
  • Access the extension settings.
  • Enter the desired path in the Path to annotations file field. Include the file name (e.g., annotations.json), if you not specify the file name, the extension will use the default name (annotations.json).
  • Per default, the annotations file is located in the .out-of-code-insights/annotations.json directory of your project.
  • If you change the path, ensure that the directory exists and is accessible. All project using the extension will use this path after the change, else the extension will use the default path in each project.

Default Severity Setting

• Specify a default severity:
  • In the extension settings, modify Default Severity to define the severity level applied when creating new annotations.

Exporting and Importing Annotations

• Export Annotations to JSON

  • Use the Export Annotations to JSON command to export all annotations to a JSON file.
  • Command: annotations.exportJSON

• Import Annotations from JSON

  • Use the Import Annotations from JSON command to import annotations from a JSON file.
  • Command: annotations.importJSON

Managing Annotations

• Toggle Annotation Pin

  • Pin or unpin annotations to keep important notes visible.
  • Command: annotations.pinToggle

• Convert Annotation to GitHub Issue

  • Convert your annotations into GitHub issues for better tracking and management.
  • Command: annotations.convertToIssue

Enhanced Features

• Auto-Resolve Stale Annotations

  • Automatically resolve annotations that are outdated or no longer relevant.
  • Command: annotations.autoResolveStale

• Batch Edit Annotations in File

  • Modify multiple annotations simultaneously within a file to streamline your workflow.
  • Command: annotations.batchEdit

• Keyword Search in Annotations

  • Quickly locate annotations by searching for specific keywords.
  • Command: annotations.keywordSearch

• Filter Annotations by Severity

  • Organize annotations based on their severity levels for better prioritization.
  • Command: annotations.filterBySeverity

Important Notes

• File modification:
  • To ensure annotations track file changes correctly, always modify files within Visual Studio Code. External modifications may disrupt annotation tracking.
• Compatibility with all file types:
  • You can add annotations to any file in your project, including source code, Markdown, JSON, XML, text, etc.
• Annotation storage:
  • Annotations are stored in a JSON file named annotations.json, located by default in the .out-of-code-insights directory of your project.
  • Include this file in your version control repository if you want to preserve annotation history and share comments with your team.
• OpenAI API Key Management:
  • The extension uses your OpenAI API key for AI-powered features.
  • The key is securely stored using VS Code's Secret Storage, ensuring that your key is protected and only accessible by this extension.
  • To remove or update your OpenAI API key:
    1. Open the Command Palette:
       • Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac).
    2. Type: Developer: Clear Extension Secret Storage.
    3. Select Your Extension:
       • In the list that appears, select Out-of-Code Insights.
    • This will clear all secrets stored by the extension, including your OpenAI API key.

Configuration

Customize the extension according to your needs by modifying the available settings:

• Username (annotation.username): Specifies the name that will appear as the annotation author.
  • Important: Update the username to properly identify authors.
• Enable annotations (annotation.enableAnnotations): Toggles annotation visibility in the editor.
• Custom colors (annotation.colors):
  • Customize annotation colors, highlight background, and comment borders for both light and dark themes.
• Enable CodeLens (annotation.codelens.enable): Toggles CodeLens integration.
• Show commands in CodeLens (annotation.codelens.showCommands): Toggles command display in CodeLens.
• Batch Edit Annotations (annotation.batchEdit): Enable or disable the batch editing feature.
• Keyword Search (annotation.keywordSearch): Configure settings for keyword-based annotation searching.
• Filter by Severity (annotation.filterBySeverity): Set preferences for severity-based annotation filtering.
• Default Severity (annotation.defaultSeverity): Choose the severity level automatically applied to new annotations.
• Advanced settings:
  • Change detection delay (annotation.debounceDelay)
  • Maximum annotations per file (annotation.maxAnnotationsPerFile)

Access settings:

1. Go to File > Preferences > Settings (or Code > Preferences > Settings on Mac).
2. Search for annotation to view all available settings.

Extension Settings Overview

You can customize Out-of-Code Insights using the following settings (available in VS Code settings under annotation or llm):

AI Provider Settings

• annotation.provider: Select the LLM provider to use for AI-powered features. Supported values: openai, anthropic, azure, cerebras, deepseek, google, groq, meta, mistralai, ollama, openrouter, togetherai, xai.
• annotation.model: Specify the model to use for the selected provider (e.g., gpt-4o-mini, claude-3-opus, etc.).
• annotation.llm.apiKeys: Object containing API keys for all supported LLM providers. Example:

  "annotation.llm.apiKeys": {
    "openai": "sk-...",
    "anthropic": "sk-ant-...",
    "azure": "...",
    "mistralai": "...",
    "groq": "...",
    "ollama": "...",
    "google": "...",
    "openrouter": "...",
    "togetherai": "...",
    "xai": "..."
  }
  

• annotation.colors.light.annotation: Annotation color for light theme.
• annotation.colors.light.highlightBackground: Highlight background for annotations in light theme.
• annotation.colors.light.commentBorder: Comment border color in light theme.
• annotation.colors.dark.annotation: Annotation color for dark theme.
• annotation.colors.dark.highlightBackground: Highlight background for annotations in dark theme.
• annotation.colors.dark.commentBorder: Comment border color in dark theme.
• annotation.debounceDelay: Debounce delay (ms) for refreshing annotations.
• annotation.maxAnnotationsPerFile: Maximum number of annotations per file.
• annotation.username: Username to display as the annotation author.
• annotation.codelens.enable: Enable or disable CodeLens for annotations.
• annotation.codelens.showCommands: Show or hide commands in CodeLens.
• annotation.github.repository: GitHub repository (format: owner/repo) for creating issues from annotations.
• annotation.enableAiSuggest: Enable or disable the AI Suggest Annotation feature.
• annotation.path: Custom path to the annotations file or directory.
• annotation.defaultSeverity: Default severity for new annotations (info, warning, error).

---

LLM Provider and API Key Configuration

To use AI-powered annotation generation, you can choose from multiple LLM providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Azure, MistralAI, Groq, Ollama, Google, and more).

1. Select the LLM Provider and Model

• Open the extension settings (File > Preferences > Settings or Ctrl+,).
• Set annotation.provider to your desired LLM provider (e.g., openai, anthropic, mistralai, etc.).
• Set annotation.model to the model you want to use for the selected provider (e.g., gpt-4o-mini, claude-3-haiku, etc.).

2. Enter Your API Key

• On the first AI request for a given provider, the extension will automatically prompt you for the corresponding API key in a secure dialog.
• You can also manually enter or update all your API keys in the settings, under the llm.apiKeys object (see above).
• Keys are securely stored using VS Code's Secret Storage.
• If you switch providers, the extension will prompt for the new provider's API key if it is not already set.
• You can update or reset any key at any time in the settings or via the dedicated command.

3. Usage

• Once the provider, model, and key are configured, use the AI Suggest Annotation command (annotations.aiSuggest) to generate an AI-powered annotation for the current line.
• You can change providers or models at any time in the settings; the relevant key will be requested if needed.

Notes

• If no key is set for the selected provider, the extension will prompt you to enter it on first use.
• All keys can be managed in the settings for quick and centralized access.
• The multi-provider system lets you easily switch between LLMs and models according to your needs or quotas.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Action	Shortcut (Windows/Linux)	Shortcut (Mac)
Add an annotation	Ctrl+Alt+A	Cmd+Alt+A
Edit an annotation	Ctrl+Alt+E	Cmd+Alt+E
Delete an annotation	Ctrl+Alt+D	Cmd+Alt+D
Show annotations panel	Ctrl+Alt+S	Cmd+Alt+S
Toggle annotation visibility	Ctrl+Alt+T	Cmd+Alt+T
Batch Edit Annotations	Ctrl+Alt+B	Cmd+Alt+B
Keyword Search	Ctrl+Alt+K	Cmd+Alt+K
Filter by Severity	Ctrl+Alt+F	Cmd+Alt+F
Show AI Suggestion	Ctrl+Alt+G	Cmd+Alt+G
Auto-Resolve Stale Annotations	Ctrl+Alt+R	Cmd+Alt+R
Advanced Features
Create Link to Annotation	Ctrl+Alt+L	Cmd+Alt+L
Apply Annotation Template	Ctrl+Shift+Alt+T	Cmd+Shift+Alt+T
Show Kanban Board	Ctrl+Alt+K	Cmd+Alt+K
Next Annotation (Review Mode)	F8	F8
Previous Annotation (Review Mode)	Shift+F8	Shift+F8

Below is the complete list of commands (available via Ctrl+Shift+P) in a tabular format, suitable for inclusion in your README. Each command can be run by opening the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) and typing its name:

Action	Command	Description
Add Annotation	annotations.add	Adds a new annotation to the current line of code.
Reply to Annotation	annotations.reply	Adds a reply/comment to an existing annotation.
Clear All Annotations	annotations.clearAll	Removes all annotations from the project.
Delete Annotation	annotations.delete	Deletes the annotation on the current line.
Edit Annotation	annotations.edit	Edits the annotation on the current line.
Edit Annotation Tags	annotations.editTags	Adds or removes tags on the current annotation.
Toggle Annotations Display	annotations.toggleDisplay	Shows or hides all annotations in the editor.
Navigate to Annotation	annotations.navigate	Jumps directly to the specified annotation.
Export Annotations to JSON	annotations.exportJSON	Exports all annotations to a JSON file.
Import Annotations from JSON	annotations.importJSON	Imports annotations from a JSON file.
Toggle Annotation Pin	annotations.pinToggle	Pins or unpins the annotation at the current line.
Batch Edit Annotations in File	annotations.batchEdit	Updates all annotations within the current file at once.
Keyword Search in Annotations	annotations.keywordSearch	Searches annotations by a keyword.
AI Suggest Annotation	annotations.aiSuggest	Requests an AI-generated annotation for the current line of code.
Move Annotation Up	annotations.moveUp	Moves the annotation on the current line up by one line.
Move Annotation Down	annotations.moveDown	Moves the annotation on the current line down by one line.
Show Annotations Panel	annotations.show	Opens the annotations panel to view and manage all annotations.
Update OpenAI Key	annotations.updateOpenAIKey	Prompts you to enter a new OpenAI API key.
Reset OpenAI Key	annotations.resetOpenAIKey	Clears the stored OpenAI API key, requiring a new key on the next AI call.
Advanced Features
Create Link to Another Annotation	annotations.createLink	Creates a relationship link between two annotations across files.
Navigate to Linked Annotation	annotations.navigateToLinked	Navigates to annotations linked to the current one.
Show All Links	annotations.showAllLinks	Opens interactive visualization of all annotation links.
Apply Annotation Template	annotations.applyTemplate	Applies a pre-built or custom template to create structured annotations.
Create Annotation Template	annotations.createTemplate	Creates a new custom annotation template with variables.
Manage Templates	annotations.manageTemplates	Opens template management interface.
Start Review Mode	annotations.startReview	Begins systematic review of annotations with filtering options.
Stop Review Mode	annotations.stopReview	Ends the current review session and shows statistics.
Next Annotation	annotations.nextAnnotation	Navigates to the next annotation in review mode.
Previous Annotation	annotations.prevAnnotation	Navigates to the previous annotation in review mode.
Show Kanban Board	annotations.showKanban	Opens the visual Kanban board for annotation management.
Add Code Snippet to Annotation	annotations.addSnippet	Attaches an executable code snippet to an annotation.
Apply Code Snippet	annotations.applySnippet	Executes and applies a code snippet from an annotation.

Additional Features

• Renamed or deleted files: Automatically updates or removes annotations when files are renamed or deleted.
• Export and import annotations: Share or back up annotations, and import them into other projects.
• Status bar integration: Displays the number of annotations in the status bar for quick access.
• Navigate to annotations: Quickly jump to a specific annotation from the annotations panel.
• Advanced customization: Adjust the extension’s behavior to suit your preferences.
• Batch Edit Annotations: Efficiently manage multiple annotations with batch editing capabilities.
• Keyword Search: Enhance your workflow by searching annotations using specific keywords.
• Filter by Severity: Organize annotations based on their severity levels for better prioritization.
• Set Annotation Severity: Assign severity levels to existing annotations.
• Show AI Suggestion: Benefit from simulated suggestions to improve your annotation process.
• Auto-Resolve Stale Annotations: Maintain a clean workspace by automatically resolving outdated annotations.

Tree View and Activity Bar

The Out-of-Code Insights extension includes a Tree View and an Activity Bar for efficient annotation management. Here is a detailed description of these features:

Tree View

The Tree View allows you to visualize and manage annotations in a structured manner. It is accessible via the Activity Bar in Visual Studio Code.

• Grouping by file: Annotations are grouped by file, making navigation and management easier.

Example Usage

• Annotation display: Each file contains a list of annotations with details such as the author, date, and annotation message.
• Annotation actions: You can navigate to an annotation, edit it, delete it, or add comments directly from the Tree View.

Activity Bar

The Activity Bar adds a dedicated icon for Out-of-Code Insights in the Visual Studio Code sidebar. Clicking this icon opens the Tree View of annotations.

• Quick access: The Activity Bar provides quick access to all annotations in your project.
• Centralized management: All annotations are centralized in a single view, making them easier to manage and navigate.

Example Usage

1. Open the Tree View:

   • Click the Out-of-Code Insights icon in the Activity Bar.
   • The Tree View opens, displaying annotations grouped by file.

2. Navigate to an annotation:

   • Click on an annotation in the Tree View.
   • The code editor automatically positions itself on the line of the selected annotation.

3. Edit or delete an annotation:

   • Right-click on an annotation in the Tree View.
   • Select Edit or Delete from the context menu.

4. Add a comment:

   • Select an annotation in the Tree View.
   • Click Reply to add a comment to the annotation.

These features enhance annotation management by providing an overview and management tools directly integrated into the Visual Studio Code interface.

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

"Annotations not showing in editor"

• Check visibility: Use Ctrl+Alt+T to toggle annotation display
• Verify file path: Ensure annotations.json is in the correct location (.out-of-code-insights/ by default)
• Restart VS Code: Sometimes a restart is needed after installation

"Template variables not working"

• Use correct syntax: Variables should be {{variableName}} with double curly braces
• Check template format: Ensure template is properly saved and contains variables
• Verify input: Make sure you're entering values for all template variables

"Linked annotations not navigating correctly"

• Check file paths: Ensure linked files exist and paths are correct
• Verify line numbers: Line numbers should match the actual annotation location
• Use relative paths: For better portability, use relative paths when linking

"Kanban board not updating"

• Refresh manually: Use the refresh button in the Kanban board
• Check column assignments: Ensure annotations are assigned to valid columns
• Restart extension: Disable and re-enable the extension if needed

"Code snippets not applying"

• Position correctly: Ensure cursor is on the annotation line before applying
• Check snippet syntax: Variables should use $1, $2, ${1:placeholder} format
• Verify language: Make sure the snippet language matches the target file

"Review Mode not starting"

• Check filters: Ensure filter settings aren't excluding all annotations
• Verify annotations exist: Make sure there are annotations to review
• Reset filters: Clear all filters and try again

"Performance issues with large projects"

• Increase limits: Adjust annotation.maxAnnotationsPerFile in settings
• Use filters: Filter annotations by file, author, or date to reduce load
• Close unused features: Close Kanban board and Review Mode when not needed

Getting Help

• Check settings: Review all extension settings in VS Code preferences
• Console logs: Open Developer Tools (F12) to check for error messages
• Extension page: Visit the VS Code marketplace page for updates and known issues
• Community support: Use GitHub Discussions for questions and community help

Contribution

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to suggest improvements, report issues, or submit pull requests.

License

See the LICENSE file for more information.

Conclusion

Out-of-code Insights helps you manage comments and notes in your projects without cluttering your source code. By providing a platform for non-intrusive annotations, precise change tracking, and seamless integration into your development environment, this extension is a practical tool for developers and teams looking to improve collaboration and productivity.

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Try Out-of-code Insights today and streamline your workflow without overloading your code!