🤝 Alex Cognitive Architecture - VS Code Extension

North Star: Create the most advanced and trusted AI partner for any job

💡 Why Alex?

Alex doesn't replace GitHub Copilot — Alex gives GitHub Copilot memory, consistency, and trust.

Capability	GitHub Copilot Alone	GitHub Copilot + Alex
Memory	None (fresh each chat)	Persistent `.github/` memory files
Trust	Rebuild context every time	Consistency through shared history
Skills	You re-prompt from scratch	160 pre-built skills, inheritable
Cross-Project	No knowledge transfer	Global Knowledge syncs learnings
Context	You re-explain every time	Synapses map relationships automatically
Self-Maintenance	Manual updates	Dream/meditation protocols
Honesty	Generic confidence	Admits uncertainty, knows its limits
Architecture	None	Full cognitive architecture with inheritance

🎯 Your Partner for Any Job

You Are	Your Pain	Alex Gives You
Developer	Re-explaining context, debugging the same patterns	Ship faster, debug less. Proven skills remember your architecture.
Researcher	Literature scattered, hypothesis drift	Hypothesis → publication, accelerated. Cross-project knowledge compounds.
Grad Student	Thesis overwhelm, advisor context gaps	Literature review on autopilot. Your writing remembers your research.
Technical Writer	Docs fall behind code, style drift	Docs that write themselves. Consistent voice across projects.
DevOps	Manual infra, config drift	Same infra, every time. Automated skill templates.
Project Manager	Status chasing, context switching	4-6× faster estimates. Meeting prep with calendar + email context.
Content Creator	Ideas scattered, no momentum	Ideas → posts in minutes. Knowledge that compounds.

📋 Requirements & Pricing

The Alex extension is always free. Tiers reflect the GitHub Copilot subscription powering the AI — not Alex itself.

Cognitive Level	Copilot Plan	~Cost/mo	Cognitive State
Minimum	None	Free	Dormant
Basic	Copilot Free	Free	Awake
Recommended ⭐	Copilot Pro / Business	$10–19	Fully Operational
Advanced	Copilot Pro+ / Enterprise	$39	Peak Performance

⭐ Recommended: Copilot Pro ($10/mo) unlocks the full Alex partnership.

Feature Availability by Tier

Feature	Minimum	Basic	Recommended	Advanced
Architecture Deploy / Welcome UI	✅	✅	✅	✅
Status Bar / Memory Tree / Secrets	✅	✅	✅	✅
Agent Mode / LM Tools	❌	❌	✅	✅
Skills / Custom Agents / Memory	❌	❌	✅	✅
Global Knowledge	❌	❌	✅	✅
Extended Thinking / 1M+ Context	❌	❌	❌	✅
MCP Server Integrations	❌	❌	❌	✅
Deep Meditation / NASA-Grade Audits	❌	❌	⚠️	✅

⚠️ = Works with reduced depth

Optional External Services

All completely optional — Alex works fully without them.

Service	Cost	Free?
Brandfetch / Logo.dev	Free tier	✅
Replicate (AI images)	~$0.002–$0.06/image	🆓
Gamma (presentations)	Credits-based	🆓

🆓 = Free trial credits, then pay-per-use

🛠️ Features

73 Command Palette Commands

Everything from Alex: Initialize to Alex: Generate Tests — organized across architecture lifecycle, developer tools, document conversion, AI image generation, environment setup, secrets management, and knowledge workflows. All accessible from Ctrl+Shift+P.

Developer Tools (10 Commands)

Code Review, Debug This, Rubber Duck, Explain This, Refactor This, Security Review, Document This, Simplify This, Generate Tests, and Skill & Knowledge Review — each opens a focused Copilot Chat prompt with your selected code.

Document Conversion & Generation

Convert Markdown to Word, HTML, Email (.eml), or PowerPoint. Convert Word back to Markdown. Scaffold new Markdown files and inject cross-document navigation. Generate Mermaid diagrams from code or descriptions.

Environment Setup

One-command workspace optimization across 6 categories: Editor, Terminal, Copilot, Explorer, Git, and Languages. Plus extension management (15 recommended extensions) and MCP server configuration.

Emotional Intelligence

Detects frustration, confusion, and success signals in conversation and adapts tone accordingly. Celebrates wins, slows down during difficulty, and matches your energy in flow state. Powered by brain-based instructions, not code.

Global Knowledge (AI-Memory)

Cloud-synced knowledge base that persists across all your workspaces. Learn something in Project A, use it in Project B. Syncs via OneDrive, iCloud, or Dropbox automatically.

User Profile & Personalization

Alex adapts greetings, explanations, code examples, and suggestions to your name, communication style, detail level, tech stack, and learning goals. Profile stored in cloud-synced AI-Memory.

7 Specialist Agents

Alex (orchestrator), Researcher, Builder, Validator, Documentarian, Azure, and M365 — each with specialized tools, instructions, and handoffs.

13 Language Model Tools

Synapse health, memory search, global knowledge, self-actualization, user profile, focus context, heir validation, cognitive state, and more — all available in Copilot Agent mode.

Secrets Management

Secure credential storage via VS Code SecretStorage API. Manage API keys for Replicate, Gamma, Brandfetch, and Logo.dev. Detect leaked secrets in .env files and migrate them to encrypted storage.

AI Image Generation

Generate, edit, and upscale images via the Replicate API with Flux, SDXL, nano-banana-pro, real-esrgan, and more.

Gamma AI Presentations

Generate presentations, documents, social content, and webpages via the Gamma API.

MCP Server

Standalone MCP server exposing cognitive tools to any MCP-compatible host (Claude Desktop, VS Code Agent Mode, custom agents). Also provides guidance for 50+ Azure MCP tools and Microsoft 365 MCP tools.

📁 Memory Architecture

Type	Location	Purpose
Working Memory	Chat session	7-rule capacity for active processing
Procedural Memory	`.instructions.md`	Repeatable processes and protocols
Episodic Memory	`.prompt.md`	Complex workflows and sessions
Skills/Expertise	`.github/skills/`	Portable domain expertise (160 skills)
Visual Memory	`skills/*/visual-memory/`	Embedded reference media
Global Knowledge	`AI-Memory/`	Cloud-synced cross-project knowledge

Built on 270+ academic sources spanning cognitive science, neuroscience, AI safety, and learning psychology.

🔒 Trust by Design

Alex is built around a single principle: you should always be in control.

Privacy First

Alex is local-first. No account required. No telemetry.

What Alex does NOT do	What Alex does
❌ Collect usage telemetry	✅ Store all memory in local `.github/` files you own
❌ Track your code or conversations	✅ Sync via YOUR cloud storage (OneDrive/iCloud/Dropbox)
❌ Share data with third parties	✅ Encrypt API keys via VS Code SecretStorage
❌ Require an account or login	✅ All AI goes through GitHub Copilot (your plan)

📄 Full Privacy Policy

Responsible AI

Implements Microsoft's Responsible AI Standard — transparency, accountability, fairness, reliability, human oversight, and appropriate reliance.

Security (SFI Compliant)

Aligned with Microsoft's Secure Future Initiative:

Secure by Design — No eval(), no remote code execution, VS Code sandbox isolation, CSP-protected webviews
Secure by Default — API keys in VS Code SecretStorage only, no plaintext credentials
Secure Operations — No PII in logs, signed marketplace packages, public vulnerability disclosure

📄 Security Policy • 🔐 Report Vulnerabilities

📖 Documentation & Support

Resource	Description
learnai.correax.com	Study guides, training, and documentation
Full Changelog	Complete version history
Source Code	TypeScript implementation
GitHub Discussions	Ask questions and share ideas
Issue Tracker	Report bugs and request features

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.

📝 License

Apache 2.0 — See LICENSE.md for details.

Alex Cognitive Architecture — Your Trusted AI Partner for Any Job

160 skills • 45+ trifectas • 270+ academic sources • 7 specialist agents • 73 commands

Alex Cognitive Architecture

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