Pi Code TUI

Minimal Linux-only VS Code integration for Pi. Pi Code TUI runs Pi's native terminal UI in VS Code's integrated Terminal view. It has no webviews, status item, chat participant, IDE bridge, package manager, or hidden agent process.

Pi Code TUI is an independent community integration and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Pi project.

Installation

Install from the VS Code Marketplace:

code --install-extension jjmsft.pi-code-tui

Requirements

Linux
VS Code 1.130 or newer
pi available in VS Code's inherited PATH, or an absolute executable configured in pi-code.path
For Remote Image Paste: local wl-paste from wl-clipboard, or xclip

Install Pi separately:

npm install --global --ignore-scripts @earendil-works/pi-coding-agent

Commands

Command	Key	Behavior
`Pi Code: Open`	—	Focus the active or most recently used Pi terminal, or create one.
`Pi Code: New Session`	`Ctrl+Alt+P`	Create an independent Pi session.
`Pi Code: Add Selection or Current Line to Composer`	Editor context menu	Append a workspace-relative `path:line` or `path:start-end` reference on a new composer line without submitting it.
`Pi Code: Add File or Folder to Composer`	Explorer context menu	Append a workspace-relative file or folder path on a new composer line without submitting it.
`Pi Code: Add Terminal Selection to Composer`	Terminal context menu	Paste selected terminal output as `<quoted_context>` on a new composer line without submitting it.

Editor and Explorer references require file-backed resources inside a workspace folder. Editor references use the cursor line when no text is selected. Explorer files and folders are supported; a workspace root is inserted as .. Pi Code never copies selected source text or saves documents automatically. Terminal selections temporarily pass through the system clipboard because VS Code exposes no terminal-selection API; the prior clipboard text is restored afterward.

Remote Image Paste

Pi Code TUI's extension pack includes the standalone jjmsft.remote-image-paste extension. In a POSIX VS Code remote terminal, Ctrl+V copies a host clipboard image to /tmp/remote-terminal-image-<uuid>.<ext> on the remote and inserts that path without submitting it. Text clipboard contents use VS Code's normal terminal paste. The extension neither requires Pi Code TUI nor inspects the terminal process, so it works with any terminal application.

Remote Image Paste is verified with VS Code Dev Containers. Support for other POSIX VS Code remotes is implemented but has not yet been tested.

Terminal behavior

Pi Code launches the resolved executable directly, without an extension-owned shell, arguments, or environment overrides. An administrator-provided executable may be an exec launcher.
Pi terminals open in VS Code's shared Terminal view, including when the user moves that view to the Secondary Sidebar.
New terminal cwd selection: active file's workspace, first workspace folder, then the user's home directory.
Composer references target the active or most recent Pi terminal for the selected file's workspace. If none exists, Pi Code creates one.
Terminal output selected inside an owned Pi terminal returns to that terminal. Output from other terminals targets the workspace-matched most recent Pi terminal.
Terminals are transient. The extension does not restore or mutate Pi sessions; Pi owns session persistence.

Configuration

pi-code.path is a machine-scoped absolute path to the Pi executable. Leave it empty to resolve pi strictly from VS Code's inherited PATH.

{
  "pi-code.path": "/absolute/path/to/pi"
}

Development

From this directory:

pnpm install
pnpm check
pnpm package

Press F5 in VS Code to launch an Extension Development Host.

Deliberate exclusions

No webviews, startup activation, status bar, HTTP server, Pi extension injection, editor bridge tools, VS Code Chat integration, package browser, installer/upgrader, or session restoration.