Forge is a VS Code extension for coding with large language models without sending every task to the most expensive model. It triages requests, routes them to the right-sized model tier, runs sub-agents in parallel on decomposable work, applies edits deterministically, and keeps spend visible against a hard budget cap.
What it does
Routes each request through a cheap triage step before escalating.
Runs parallel sub-agents when a task can be split safely.
Applies file edits deterministically, with a narrow repair fallback only when a patch cannot be matched cleanly.
Tracks spend in real time and stops new calls when the configured cap is reached.
Supports attached images through a dedicated vision path.
Loads project memory and a persistent codebase index to keep context focused.
Integrates with MCP servers, hooks, and session history.
Install
npm install
npm run build
Then press F5 in VS Code with this folder open to launch an Extension Development Host with Forge loaded.
First run
Run Forge: Sign In or Forge: Create Account if your workspace uses the hosted backend.
Open a folder or workspace. Forge is workspace-rooted by design.
Run Forge: Open in Sidebar.
Key settings
Setting
Default
Purpose
forge.backendUrl
http://softup.agency:8282
Hosted Forge backend for auth and model proxying
forge.baseUrl
empty
Optional direct OpenAI-compatible provider URL
forge.budgetCapUsd
20
Hard spend ceiling
forge.warnThresholds
[0.5, 0.8, 0.95]
Budget warning thresholds
forge.maxConcurrentSubAgents
3
Parallel sub-agent cap
forge.maxSubAgentsPerTask
5
Max sub-agents per decomposed task
forge.maxAgentIterations
12
Tool-loop cap per agent
forge.maxEscalationsPerTask
1
Tier escalation limit
forge.projectMemoryEnabled
true
Load FORGE.md and .forge/rules/*.md
forge.codebaseIndexEnabled
true
Maintain the persistent codebase index
forge.editApprovalEnabled
true
Ask before applying edits
Privacy and data handling
Forge can send prompts, selected file context, tool output, and attached images to the provider or backend you configure. API keys are stored in VS Code secret storage. Workspace sessions and the codebase index are stored locally in the workspace under .forge/.
If you are preparing a marketplace submission, review the public policy draft in public/privacy.md.
