A6s for VS Code

Intelligent multi-agent orchestration for VS Code -- invoke RIGOR agents and quality gates from your local CLI daemon.

Getting Started (mode-aware onboarding)

On first activation A6s opens the Get Started with A6s walkthrough. You can reopen it anytime with A6s: Open Getting Started Walkthrough from the Command Palette. It covers:

1. Start the daemon — install the CLI and run a6s code --daemon (the extension is a thin client; it stores no credentials).
2. Connect GitHub — turn generated code into real pull requests.
3. Preview vs. Pull Requests — how autonomy (ACMF) decides whether a run previews or opens a PR.
4. Invoke your first agent.

Preview vs. PR mode

• Preview mode (GitHub not connected): agents analyze, design, and generate code you preview in the editor — nothing touches your repo.
• PR mode (GitHub connected): the same flow opens actual pull requests you review and merge. Agents start with every PR requiring your review and earn more autonomy only as they prove reliable; risky changes (auth, secrets, config, >5 files) always wait for you.

Run A6s: Connect GitHub to start the shared GitHub App install flow. A status banner reflects your current mode after connecting.

Features

Agent Selection

Access the SDLC agents directly from the sidebar, across the BUILD, OPERATE, SECURE, GOVERN, OPTIMIZE, and EVOLVE capability groups. Highlights:

• Coder AI: Code generation and modification
• Architect AI: System design and architecture
• Tester AI: Test generation and validation
• Review AI: Code review and feedback
• Security AI: Security analysis and review
• Debug AI: Bug investigation and fixing

Set your default with the a6s.defaultAgent setting.

Code Actions

Right-click on selected code for quick AI actions:

• Explain Code: Get detailed explanations of selected code
• Refactor Code: AI-powered code refactoring
• Generate Tests: Automatic test generation
• Security Review: Security vulnerability analysis

Repository Scans

Run whole-repository scans from the command palette (each prompts for a repository URL):

• A6s: Scan Tech Debt (a6s.techDebtScan): Enqueue an async tech-debt scan of a repository; returns a job id.
• A6s: Scan for Modernization (a6s.modernizeScan): Enqueue an async modernization scan of a repository; returns a job id.
• A6s: Scan Status (a6s.scanStatus): Prompt for a job id, poll the scan, and open the findings report once complete.

RIGOR Framework Visualization

Real-time visibility into the 5-phase AI execution:

• Research: Context gathering and analysis
• Inspect: Safety checks and validation
• Generate: Code/artifact generation
• Optimize: Performance tuning
• Review: Final validation and quality gates

Background Tasks

• Launch long-running AI tasks without blocking
• Monitor progress in real-time
• Cancel tasks when needed
• View task output

Status Bar

• Connection status indicator
• RIGOR phase progress
• Quick actions

Requirements

1. A6s CLI: npm install -g @autonoma-io/a6s (Node 18+; the package bundles a Go daemon binary for your platform)
2. Sign in: a6s login --key au_live_... (the daemon holds the credential — the extension stores none)
3. A6s Daemon: Run a6s code --daemon to start the local daemon

Extension Settings

Settings migrated from the old autonoma.* namespace to a6s.* are copied automatically on first activation.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Usage

Getting Started

1. Install the extension
2. Start the A6s daemon: a6s code --daemon
3. The extension will auto-connect (or click the status bar to connect manually)

Invoking an Agent

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+A (or Cmd+Shift+A on Mac)
2. Select an agent from the list
3. Describe your task
4. Watch the RIGOR phases progress in the sidebar

Code Actions

1. Select code in the editor
2. Right-click and choose "A6s" from the context menu
3. Select an action (Explain, Refactor, Generate Tests, etc.)
4. Review and apply the results

Background Tasks

For long-running tasks:

1. Invoke an agent with a complex task
2. The task runs in the background
3. Monitor progress in the "Background Tasks" panel
4. View output or cancel as needed

Troubleshooting

"Could not connect to A6s daemon"

Make sure the daemon is running:

a6s code --daemon

"Not connected to A6s"

Click on "A6s" in the status bar to reconnect, or run the "A6s: Connect" command.

Extension not activating

1. Check VS Code version (requires 1.85.0+)
2. Reload the window (Ctrl+Shift+P -> "Developer: Reload Window")

Development

Building from Source

cd tools/extensions/vscode
npm install
npm run compile

Packaging

npm run package

This creates a .vsix file for manual installation.

License

Proprietary and confidential. © 2026 The Autonoma Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. Not open source. See LICENSE and the Autonoma EULA at https://www.theautonoma.io/terms for details.

Support

• Documentation: theautonoma.io/docs/vscode
• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Discord: A6s Community