SwarmCraft

SwarmCraft helps you use AI to get operational work done, automate repeatable tasks, and build applications. It gives your AI assistant shared skills and structured workflows while you keep control of your knowledge, records, and code.

The VS Code extension brings those workflows into your editor. Start with everyday operational work, develop an application idea through discovery, or work through an existing project board with Codex, GitHub Copilot, or Claude Code.

Install and connect

You need VS Code 1.100 or newer, Git, and a SwarmCraft account. Install and sign in to your chosen AI provider separately.

1. On macOS or Windows, use SwarmCraft Setup to prepare your environment. For an existing environment, follow the manual setup checklist.

2. Install SwarmCraft from the VS Code Extensions view, or run:

   code --install-extension SwarmCraft.swarmcraft-vscode-extension
   

3. Open the SwarmCraft view in the activity bar and run SwarmCraft: Sign In.

4. Complete sign-in in your browser and approve the extension handoff, then return to VS Code.

5. Run SwarmCraft: Choose Starting Path to choose Operate, Fast Start, or Deep Discovery. For an existing project, use SwarmCraft: Choose Repo to select its local repository.

Use a trusted workspace. If you have several folders open, select the one SwarmCraft should use. The Environment section helps you check missing tools and review suggested repairs.

Choose where to start

Get everyday work done with Operate

Start with a useful task before deciding whether you need an application. Work helps complete the task and maintain your operational knowledge; Automate helps make suitable work repeatable; Formalise prepares an application opportunity for review.

Run SwarmCraft: Start or Reconcile Operate, choose a local folder and AI provider, and review the proposed files. Then use Continue Work and paste the copied instruction into your AI chat with an example of the task.

Operate requires Node.js and the SwarmCraft CLI. Follow the manual setup checks, including native Windows instructions. Before provider selection or seed confirmation, the extension checks runtime and command compatibility. Missing dependencies offer setup instructions and Retry; fully quit and reopen VS Code after PATH changes. Discovery package preparation/validation and one-shot delivery also check readiness. Initialization creates a local commit of its generated files, preserves your edits, and does not push. Operate is free; your AI provider's charges apply separately.

Plan an application

Choose Fast Start for a guided browser conversation about a focused application, or Deep Discovery to work through your sources and requirements in VS Code.

For Deep Discovery, run SwarmCraft: Start Deep Discovery in a trusted Git repository. The sidebar guides you through source selection, document review, package preparation, and preview. Review the selected content before approving its upload. Pricing and project creation happen in the browser after that review.

Discovery setup and some review actions create local commits of the relevant guidance and review files. Raw sources and unrelated changes are excluded from those commits.

See the Deep Discovery walkthrough.

Deliver an existing project

Connect your repository to a ready SwarmCraft project to view its board, open tasks, and keep local task files in sync. These files, called packets, hold the task scope, checklist, and progress notes for your AI assistant.

Use the task's context menu to open its packet or copy the appropriate AI instruction. SwarmCraft supports planning, implementation, checking, review, and testing. Paste the copied instruction into your chosen AI chat to work on the task.

Use SwarmCraft: Choose AI Provider to select Codex, Copilot, or Claude Code. Guidance updates preserve your edits and report conflicts; review and commit project-guidance changes normally. Reload the workspace if prompted after new Codex skills are added.

For a terminal-driven run, SwarmCraft: Run One-Shot with CLI launches the installed CLI. CLI sign-in is separate: if prompted, complete Run CLI Login, then start the command again.

See connect a ready project, use SwarmCraft AI skills, and the one-shot CLI walkthrough.

Useful commands

Open the Command Palette and search for SwarmCraft. Common actions include:

• Choose Starting Path — return to the workflow chooser.
• Choose Repo — select the local repository to use.
• Choose AI Provider — select Codex, Copilot, or Claude Code and update repository guidance.
• Refresh — refresh the SwarmCraft view.
• Resume Deep Discovery — return to an existing discovery workspace.
• Open Board — open your project board in the browser.
• Show Output — inspect extension diagnostics when troubleshooting.
• Sign Out — remove the saved SwarmCraft session from VS Code.

Settings and account access

Most users can leave settings at their defaults. Use Choose AI Provider to change the swarmcraft.aiProvider preference. Advanced environments can configure swarmcraft.apiBaseUrl and swarmcraft.webBaseUrl in VS Code settings.

Your SwarmCraft session is stored in VS Code Secret Storage. Signing in to SwarmCraft with GitHub does not grant GitHub repository access; configure that separately through GitHub CLI when needed.

Help and support

Visit swarmcraft.ai for the product overview, read the setup guide, or follow the troubleshooting guide. For account or workflow issues, contact SwarmCraft support.

Claude Code

Choose Claude Code in the AI provider selector to seed .claude/skills/ and copy /swarmcraft-* actions. Install the official anthropic.claude-code extension and sign in separately to Claude. One-shot also requires the standalone Claude CLI on PATH and a SwarmCraft CLI whose command help advertises claude; the extension checks that capability before launching. Configure Claude tool permissions before unattended runs. Subscription authentication is checked by the CLI and no Claude credentials are stored by the extension. Existing CLAUDE.md and .claude/settings.json remain owner-controlled.