🧠 AlgoNote AI (VS Code Extension)

AlgoNote AI is your ultimate note-first study companion for Data Structures and Algorithms. It turns static problem-solving notes into interactive learning tools with active recall quizzes, mock interview simulators, timed grill modes, structural linting, customizable templates, and spaced repetition revision tracking.

🔗 VS Code Marketplace: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=NakulMahato.algonote
🌐 Website & Live Demo: https://nakulprasad.github.io/algonote/
📦 Download Latest Release: GitHub Release v0.1.20

💡 Motivation: Why AlgoNote AI?

Most developers solve hundreds of DSA and LeetCode problems, but struggle with long-term retention and real interview recall. The standard workflow is flawed:

• Passive Note-Taking: We write solutions in Markdown or Notion and never look at them again.
• The "Illusion of Competence": Rereading a solution feels familiar, but when asked in an interview, you draw a blank because you didn't practice active retrieval.
• Scattered Revision: No systematic way to track which patterns (Sliding Window, Trees, Graphs, DP) need revision today versus next week.
• Context Switching: Jumping between browser tabs, notes apps, and code editors breaks focus and flow.

AlgoNote AI was built to solve this right inside your code editor.

It transforms static Markdown notes into an interactive, note-first active recall system:

1. Enforces Deep Understanding First: You write your intuition and code before AI allows testing.
2. True Active Recall: Tests you on your own notes and blanks out key lines from your own code.
3. Realistic Interview Simulation: AI acts as a tough technical interviewer challenging edge cases directly in VS Code.
4. Built-in Spaced Repetition: Ensures you review problems right before forgetting them.

📝 The Core Philosophy: Note-Taking First

In AlgoNote AI, the study note is the foundation of everything. Before running active recall quizzes, interactive mock interviews, or timed grill modes, the extension runs a Pre-flight Check:

1. Template Completeness Check: Verifies that your note template is fully filled with no empty fields or unresolved [Placeholder] tags.
2. Code Verification: Checks that code inside the implementation block is syntactically sound and ready before quizzing you on it.

✨ Features at a Glance

1. 🔍 Pre-flight Note & Code Validation

Runs automatic structural diagnostics on active notes, prompting you to finish filling out key templates and resolving code syntax issues before attempting practice sessions.

2. 🧩 Customizable Note Templates (TEMPLATE.md)

Full flexibility to customize how your problem notes are formatted!

• Edit TEMPLATE.md in your workspace root or .algonote/template.md.
• Customize language blocks (Java, Python, C++, Go), change section layouts, or add personal checklists.
• Dynamic placeholders supported: ${title}, ${difficulty}, ${topic}, ${link}, ${description}, ${examples}, ${intuition}, ${starterCode}, ${timeComplexity}, ${spaceComplexity}, ${edgeCases}, ${visualization}.

3. 🧪 Code-Blank MCQs & Active Recall

Practice questions are generated directly from your active note. The engine blanks out 1-2 lines from your own code inside the notes and quizzes you on identifying the missing logic.

4. 💬 Copilot Chat Participant (@algo)

Type @algo directly in the VS Code Copilot Chat sidebar to interact with your active note using specialized slash commands:

• @algo /interview: Starts a note-driven mock interview where the AI reviews your approach and asks target follow-ups.
• @algo /grill: Starts a timed drill session with anti-cheat window focus detection to simulate real interview pressure.
• @algo /mcq: Generates 3 active recall questions with hidden collapsible spoiler answers.
• @algo /lint: Audits active note structure for missing headers or placeholders.
• @algo /dryrun: Generates step-by-step trace tables for your solutions.
• @algo /complexity: Performs time and space complexity analysis.

5. 🤖 Multi-Provider AI Engine

Choose your favorite AI model in VS Code settings:

• GitHub Copilot (Built-in via vscode.lm — zero API keys required!)
• Google Gemini API (gemini-1.5-flash, gemini-1.5-pro)
• Local Ollama (Offline LLMs like llama3, mistral, qwen2.5-coder)
• Custom OpenAI-Compatible API (OpenRouter, DeepSeek, LocalAI, vLLM)

6. 📊 Revision Dashboard (Spaced Repetition)

An Activity Bar TreeView (algonote-revision) that automatically scans your workspace markdown notes and organizes them into Due for Revision Today vs Upcoming folders.

7. ⚡ Smart Inline Completions & Snippets

Expand structural structures inside markdown and java files:

• dsa-dp-table $\rightarrow$ Generates DP State Transition Table in Markdown.
• dsa-dryrun-table $\rightarrow$ Inserts variable trace table skeleton.
• dsa-dsu $\rightarrow$ Injects complete Java Disjoint Set Union class implementation.

⚙️ Extension Settings

Customize settings in Settings -> AlgoNote AI or your settings.json:

{
  // Custom path to your markdown template (optional)
  "algonote.customTemplatePath": "TEMPLATE.md",

  // Select AI Provider: "copilot" | "gemini" | "ollama" | "custom"
  "algonote.aiProvider": "copilot",

  // Copilot Model Preference
  "algonote.copilotModel": "gpt-4o",

  // Google Gemini Configuration
  "algonote.geminiApiKey": "YOUR_GEMINI_API_KEY",
  "algonote.geminiModel": "gemini-1.5-flash",

  // Local Ollama Configuration
  "algonote.ollamaUrl": "http://localhost:11434",
  "algonote.ollamaModel": "llama3",

  // Custom API Configuration (DeepSeek, OpenRouter, etc.)
  "algonote.customEndpoint": "https://api.deepseek.com/v1",
  "algonote.customApiKey": "YOUR_CUSTOM_KEY",
  "algonote.customModel": "deepseek-chat",

  // Select where Quiz panel launches: "editor-one" | "editor-two" | "browser"
  "algonote.quizLocation": "editor-one"
}

🕹️ Available Commands

📦 Installation

Install the .vsix package using VS Code CLI:

code --install-extension "algonote-0.1.20.vsix"