ExplainThisCode
Understand any code instantly. AI-powered explanations tailored to your skill level, right in VS Code.
"Copilot writes code. We help you understand it."
Why ExplainThisCode?
- Faster Onboarding - Understand unfamiliar codebases in minutes, not months
- Learn from Real Code - Get explanations of production code, not toy examples
- Skill-Adapted - Explanations match your experience level (beginner to advanced)
- Multiple Perspectives - Standard, performance, or security-focused analysis
Features
Explain Selected Code
Select any code and press Cmd+Shift+E (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows/Linux) to get an instant explanation.
Explain Entire File
Run ExplainThisCode: Explain Current File from the command palette to understand the full context.
Select code, right-click, and choose "Explain Selected Code" - it's that simple.
Multiple Explanation Modes
| Mode |
Best For |
| Standard |
Comprehensive technical breakdown |
| Beginner |
Simple, jargon-free explanations |
| Performance |
Optimization opportunities and bottlenecks |
| Security |
Vulnerability analysis and best practices |
Skill Level Adaptation
Set your experience level and get explanations that match:
- Beginner - Explains fundamentals, avoids jargon
- Intermediate - Balanced technical depth
- Advanced - Deep dives, assumes expertise
Quick Start
- Install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace
- Get your API key from explainthiscode.ai
- Set your key: Run
ExplainThisCode: Set API Key from the command palette
- Select code and press
Cmd+Shift+E to explain!
Supported Languages
TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, Java, Go, Rust, C++, C, C#, PHP, Ruby, Swift, Kotlin, and more.
Settings
| Setting |
Description |
Default |
explainthiscode.apiKey |
Your API key |
- |
explainthiscode.explanationMode |
Default mode |
standard |
explainthiscode.skillLevel |
Your skill level |
intermediate |
Pricing
- Free: 1,000 tokens/month, up to 50 requests/day
- Pro: $19/month — 10,000 tokens/month, up to 1,000 requests/day, API access
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for teams
- View all plans
Support
About
Built by the team at ExplainThisCode.ai - helping developers understand code faster.
Made with care for developers who believe understanding code is just as important as writing it.
