AI Master
Stop typing. Start directing.
AI Master is a VSCode extension that puts you in AI-native development mode by default — where agents write code and you focus on intent, review, and decisions.
The premise is simple: the highest-leverage developers of the next decade won't be the fastest typists. They'll be the best at decomposing problems, providing context, and verifying results. AI Master helps you build that muscle.
Why
Every developer knows they should work more with AI agents. But habits are strong — when you can just type, you will just type.
AI Master changes the default. It makes agent-first the natural way to work:
- You start in AI Mode — agents write, you direct
- You review diffs, then accept or reject
- Need to edit by hand? Switch to Manual Mode for a timed session
- Your progress is tracked — watch yourself evolve from coder to orchestrator
Think of it as a catalyst for the leap from writing code to directing code.
How It Works
- Install the extension
- You're in AI Mode — agents handle the writing
- AI agents (Cursor, Copilot, etc.) write code; you review the diffs
- Need a manual edit? Press
Cmd+Shift+U — you get 60 seconds of Manual Mode
- When time's up, you're back in AI Mode automatically
- Open the AI Master sidebar to see your evolution
Features
AI Mode / Manual Mode
- AI Mode (default): agents write code, you review and direct
- Manual Mode: press
Cmd+Shift+U (configurable) for a timed manual session
- Countdown: the status bar shows remaining manual time
- Auto-return: when the timer expires, you return to AI Mode
Configuration
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
aiMaster.enabled |
true |
Enable AI Master |
aiMaster.unlockDurationSeconds |
60 |
Seconds per manual session (10–600) |
aiMaster.dailyUnlockLimit |
0 |
Max manual switches per day (0 = unlimited) |
aiMaster.whitelistGlobs |
["**/*.json", "**/*.md", ...] |
Files always hand-editable |
aiMaster.showUnlockReason |
false |
Ask why you're switching to manual |
Always-Editable Files
Config files, documentation, and other non-code files are hand-editable by default. Customize via aiMaster.whitelistGlobs.
Defaults:
**/.env*, **/*.json, **/*.yml, **/*.yaml, **/*.toml**/*.md, **/*.txt, **/Makefile, **/Dockerfile, **/.gitignore
Progress Panel
The sidebar tracks your evolution:
- Manual fallbacks — how many times you switched today
- Manual time — minutes spent in manual mode
- Agent-driven vs hand-edited files — the ratio tells the story
- 7-day evolution — visual trend of your progress
- Streak — consecutive days in pure AI mode
- Most manual file types — where you still rely on hand-editing
Compatibility
AI Master works with any VSCode-based IDE:
- VSCode
- Cursor
- Trae
- Windsurf
- Any IDE built on the VSCode extension API
Installation
From Marketplace
Search for AI Master in the VSCode Extensions panel.
From Source
git clone https://github.com/ablipan/ai-master.git
cd ai-master
npm install
npm run build
Then press F5 in VSCode to launch the Extension Development Host.
From VSIX
npm run vscode:prepublish
npx @vscode/vsce package
code --install-extension ai-master-0.1.0.vsix
Philosophy
The future of programming is not about typing faster. It's about thinking at a higher level — defining intent, delegating execution, and verifying outcomes. AI Master doesn't restrict you. It elevates you.
If you've ever said "I should use AI agents more but I keep just writing the code myself" — this is your catalyst.
License
MIT
