codebaseGPS

codebaseGPS is a VS Code extension that helps you navigate and understand unfamiliar or large codebases. It provides fast local search, rich dependency maps, and AI-assisted explanations using either GitHub Copilot or your external LLM backend.

Features

• Search your workspace by asking a plain-language question and see which files match.
• AI analysis panel that summarizes and answers questions about your codebase context.
• Interactive dependency graph with filters, focus mode, and layered layout.
• Mermaid diagrams (flowchart, component, UML) generated by Copilot.
• Lightweight webview UI that keeps results, prompts, and visuals side by side.

Getting Started

1. Install the extension from the Marketplace.
2. Open a workspace.
3. Run the command codebaseGPS to open the panel.

Usage

In the panel, type a question such as:

• Which file should I edit to change the login flow?
• Where is the billing API client defined?
• What does the onboarding stepper do?

Use the buttons to either:

• Search: show matching files and counts.
• AI Analyze: get a summarized answer using Copilot.
• Map: render the dependency graph or a selected diagram type.

Visualization Tips

• Use Map with the dependency graph to explore module relationships quickly.
• Toggle Focus mode and click a node to isolate nearby components; adjust the depth slider for scope.
• Switch to Layered layout for a left-to-right architecture view.
• Select Flowchart, Component, or UML from the Diagram selector, then click Map to render.

Requirements

• VS Code 1.109.0 or newer.
• GitHub Copilot enabled for Copilot mode.
• External LLM backend available if using LLM_PROVIDER=gemini.

Extension Settings

This extension does not contribute any settings yet.

LLM Provider Switch

By default, the extension uses GitHub Copilot when available. You can switch to your external LLM microservice by setting:

• LLM_PROVIDER=copilot (default)
• LLM_PROVIDER=gemini

Commands

• codebaseGPS: Open the codebaseGPS panel.

Privacy

When using Copilot mode, AI Analyze and diagram/map generation use your GitHub Copilot language model in VS Code. The extension sends the current workspace context (limited to a file preview of up to 50 files) and your query to Copilot for a response.

When using LLM_PROVIDER=gemini, AI Analyze and map/impact requests are sent to your backend endpoint.

Known Issues

• AI Analyze requires Copilot unless LLM_PROVIDER=gemini is set.
• Diagram generation is currently Copilot-only; backend diagrams are not wired yet.

Release Notes

0.0.1

Initial release.