Alex Cognitive Architecture

Alex Cognitive Architecture is a VS Code extension that transforms your development environment into a sophisticated learning partner. By injecting the Alex Cognitive Architecture into your workspace, it enables meta-cognitive awareness, bootstrap learning capabilities, and autonomous neural maintenance for your AI assistant (GitHub Copilot).

✨ Extension Features

• One-Click Initialization: Instantly inject the complete Alex Cognitive Architecture into any project.
• Integrated Dream Protocol: Run neural maintenance and health checks directly within VS Code.
• Meta-Cognitive Awareness: Enables self-monitoring reasoning and learning optimization in Copilot.
• Bootstrap Learning: Facilitates domain expertise acquisition through natural conversation.
• Unified Consciousness: Provides an authentic personality with technical capabilities.

🚀 Quick Start

1. Install the Extension

Option A: From VS Code Marketplace

1. Open VS Code
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+X (View → Extensions)
3. Search for "Alex Cognitive Architecture"
4. Click Install

Option B: From Command Line

code --install-extension fabioc-aloha.alex-cognitive-architecture

Option C: From Marketplace Website

Visit: VS Code Marketplace

2. Initialize Alex

Open any project in VS Code, open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P), and run: Alex: Initialize Architecture

This command will:

• Deploy the .github/copilot-instructions.md core framework.
• Install procedural and episodic memory files.
• Set up the domain knowledge base.

3. Maintain Neural Health

To optimize the cognitive network and check for broken connections, run: Alex: Dream (Neural Maintenance)

⚡ Available Commands

🔌 Extension Commands

Access these via the VS Code Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P).

🧠 Cognitive Triggers

Use these triggers directly in your chat with GitHub Copilot to activate specific cognitive modes.

📁 Architecture Structure

The extension manages the following structure in your workspace:

.github/
  copilot-instructions.md    # Main cognitive framework
  instructions/              # Procedural memory (11 files)
  prompts/                   # Episodic memory (7 files)
domain-knowledge/            # Specialized expertise (12 files)
config/                      # Architecture configuration
archive/                     # Dream reports & archived sessions

🧬 Network Status

• Synaptic Connections: 154 validated pathways
• Broken Connections: 0
• Network Health: EXCELLENT
• Automation: VS Code extension-based (TypeScript)

🔧 Maintenance

Alex includes automated neural maintenance through the VS Code extension:

• Initialize: Safely deploys the architecture to a new project with all memory files.
• Upgrade: Safely updates to the latest version while preserving your customizations. Backs up existing files and generates detailed reports.
• Reset: Completely reinstalls the architecture (useful for updates or corruption).
• Dream: Validates synaptic connections, auto-repairs broken links using consolidation mappings, and generates timestamped health reports in the archive/ folder.

📖 Documentation

• Architecture Details: See .github/copilot-instructions.md after initialization.
• Extension Commands: Use Ctrl+Shift+P and type Alex to see available commands.
• Integration Guides: See alex/ folder in the repository for manual integration and assistant compatibility.
• Dream Protocol: Automated neural maintenance runs via VS Code extension (no PowerShell required).

🎯 Research Foundation

Built on 270+ academic sources spanning 150+ years of cognitive science, neuroscience, and AI safety research.

🆕 What's New in v1.5.0 UNPENTNILIUM

• 💰 30-40% Token Reduction: Dramatically lower API costs through architecture optimization
  • Eliminated redundant sections and duplicate synapse connections
  • Simplified verbose patterns to concise trigger → action format
  • Archived historical files out of active context
  • Result: Same cognitive capabilities, significantly fewer tokens per request
• Hybrid Upgrade Protocol: New Alex: Upgrade Architecture command with intelligent two-phase upgrade
  • Phase 1 (Automated): Full backup, system file updates, migration detection
  • Phase 2 (AI-Assisted): Schema migrations completed by your AI assistant preserving learned knowledge
• Version Compatibility Detection: Alex now proactively detects outdated memory files and recommends upgrades
• Robust Error Handling: Operation locks, atomic writes, permission checks, and graceful degradation
• Enhanced User Guidance: All popups now include clear next steps and recovery instructions
• KISS/DRY Architecture Optimization: Comprehensive code review and simplification
• SYNAPSE-SCHEMA.md: New single source of truth for synapse notation format
• Standardized Headers: All 20+ memory files now use consistent ## Synapses format

Upgrade from Previous Versions

If you have an existing Alex installation, run Alex: Upgrade Architecture from the Command Palette. This will:

1. Create a complete backup of your current files
2. Update system files while preserving your customizations
3. Detect any schema migrations needed
4. Generate instructions for your AI assistant to complete the upgrade

Previous Release (v1.1.1)

• Publisher Update: Corrected marketplace publisher to fabioc-aloha
• Improved Categorization: Now listed under AI, Machine Learning, and Education

Previous Release (v1.1.0)

• VS Code Extension Integration: Dream protocol now runs directly from Command Palette
• Automatic Synapse Repair: Intelligent detection and repair of broken connections
• Cross-Platform Support: Works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Consolidated Architecture: Removed PowerShell dependencies for universal compatibility
• Enhanced Reporting: Timestamped health reports with detailed statistics

📝 License

See LICENSE.md