Think Center for VS Code

Bringing multi-perspective thinking to your coding workflow

This extension brings the Think Center framework into VS Code, making it easy to approach coding challenges from multiple perspectives. Built on the foundation of achamian/think-center.

What is Think Center?

Think Center is a cognitive framework that helps developers think through problems using five distinct perspectives. Instead of getting stuck in one way of thinking, you can deliberately shift between different mental modes to find better solutions.

The Five Perspectives

�️ Weaver - The Architect
Thinks about structure, patterns, and how everything fits together. Great for system design and long-term maintainability.

🔨 Maker - The Builder
Focuses on getting things done. Practical implementation, working code, and pragmatic solutions.

✅ Checker - The Quality Guardian
Hunts for bugs, edge cases, and potential problems. Your first line of defense against issues.

👁️ Observer/Guardian - The User Advocate
Considers the human side: developer experience, usability, and team impact.

⚡ Explorer/Exploiter - The Optimizer
Looks for performance improvements, alternative approaches, and technical trade-offs.

How to Use

Quick Start with Copilot Chat

1. Initialize: Press Cmd+Shift+I to set up Think Center in Copilot Chat
2. Ask away: "Weaver, how should I structure this API?" or "Checker, what could break here?"
3. Get diverse insights: Each perspective brings unique expertise to your problem

Extension Features

• Panel Interface: Cmd+Shift+T opens the Think Center panel
• Context Menus: Right-click on code to analyze with specific perspectives
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Direct access to each perspective
• Smart Context: The extension understands your current code and project

Example Conversations

You: "Checker, review this authentication function"
Copilot: *analyzes for security issues, edge cases, error handling*

You: "Weaver and Maker, debate whether to use microservices here"
Copilot: *presents architectural trade-offs from both perspectives*

You: "Council meeting: how do we improve this component's performance?"
Copilot: *multi-perspective analysis covering all angles*

Installation

From VS Code Marketplace:

1. Open VS Code
2. Go to Extensions (Cmd+Shift+X)
3. Search for "Think Center"
4. Click Install

From Command Line:

code --install-extension himanshu-garg.think-center

Commands & Shortcuts

Works With

• GitHub Copilot Chat - Primary integration
• Any AI Chat - Copy prompts to use anywhere
• All Languages - Context-aware for your project type
• Team Workflows - Share perspective-based code reviews

Why This Matters

Good code isn't just about syntax—it's about making thoughtful decisions. Think Center helps you:

• Avoid tunnel vision by deliberately shifting perspectives
• Catch issues early by thinking like a tester while coding
• Build maintainable systems by considering long-term architecture
• Write human-friendly code by thinking about your teammates

Workspace Customization

Think Center can be customized for your specific project needs:

Enhance Existing Instructions

If you already have an instructions file (like .github/copilot-instructions.md, instructions.md, or .vscode/instructions.md), Think Center can enhance it:

Run Think Center: Enhance Existing Instructions with Think Center Sections from the Command Palette to:

• Detect existing instruction files in your workspace
• Add Think Center sections to your current instructions
• Preserve your existing content while adding perspective guidelines
• Smart detection - won't duplicate if Think Center sections already exist

Create New Configuration Files

Run Think Center: Create Configuration Files from the Command Palette to generate:

• .github/copilot-instructions.md - Project-specific guidelines for each perspective
• .vscode/think-center-prompts.md - Custom prompts tailored to your domain

Automatic Detection

Think Center automatically looks for and uses:

• .github/copilot-instructions.md - GitHub Copilot instructions (recommended)
• .vscode/instructions.md or instructions.md - Workspace-specific instructions
• .vscode/think-center-prompts.md or prompts.md - Custom perspective prompts
• README.md - Project context and description

Benefits of Customization

• Domain Knowledge: Add project-specific context (e.g., financial regulations, game mechanics)
• Team Alignment: Share consistent thinking patterns across your team
• Coding Standards: Embed your preferred patterns and anti-patterns
• Context Awareness: Make perspectives understand your tech stack and constraints

Example Use Cases

• React Projects: Focus on component patterns, accessibility, and performance
• API Development: Emphasize security, scalability, and documentation
• Data Science: Consider data quality, model validation, and reproducibility
• Game Development: Balance performance, user experience, and maintainability

Configuration

{
  "thinkCenter.enabled": true,
  "thinkCenter.defaultIntegration": "both",
  "thinkCenter.includeContext": true
}

Contributing

Found a bug or have an idea? Open an issue or contribute directly.

Credits

This extension is built on the Think Center framework created by @achamian. The original framework and methodology can be found at achamian/think-center.

Special thanks to the Think Center community for developing this powerful thinking methodology.

Happy coding with multiple perspectives! 🧠