Agent IDE

Claude-Code-style agent inside VS Code / Cursor, running on your Claude subscription.

⚡ Install

Prereqs: VS Code or Cursor installed, and the Claude CLI logged in — run claude login once (uses your Claude subscription, no API key needed).

Easiest — one command

With the repo cloned and GitHub CLI authenticated (gh auth login):

• Windows: ./install.ps1
• macOS / Linux: ./install.sh

The script grabs the latest packaged .vsix from Releases and installs it into VS Code/Cursor.

Manual

1. Download the latest .vsix from Releases.
2. Install it either way:
   • CLI: code --install-extension agent-ide-x.y.z.vsix (or cursor --install-extension …)
   • UI: Extensions panel → ⋯ menu → Install from VSIX… → pick the file.
3. Reload Window (Ctrl+R), then open the robot icon in the side bar.

A Claude-Code-style agent embedded in VS Code as an extension (not a fork). The agent reads, edits, and runs commands against your local workspace via the Claude Agent SDK — exactly like Claude Code, driven from a side panel.

Architecture (first vertical slice)

VS Code  ──▶  extension host (CommonJS)
                 │  WebviewView panel  (media/main.js, style.css)
                 │      ▲ events / approvals
                 ▼      │
              src/agent.ts  ──▶  @anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk  query()
                 │                    └─ edits LOCAL files, runs shell
                 │  env: ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL  ◀── transport seam
                 ▼
            Anthropic API   (later: proxy → LM Studio)

• Read-only tools (Read/Glob/Grep/…) run automatically.
• Mutating tools (Edit/Write/Bash/…) go through an approval gate rendered in the panel — Allow / Deny per call.
• The model, API key, and ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL are extension settings (agentIde.*). The base-URL setting is the seam for local models later.

Develop / run

npm install
npm run build        # or: npm run watch

Then open this folder in VS Code and press F5 (Run Extension). In the new window: open a project folder, click the robot icon in the activity bar, type a request, Send.

Auth: set agentIde.apiKey, export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, or rely on an existing claude login.

Smoke-test the engine (no VS Code needed)

node smoke.mjs

Creates a temp dir and asks the agent to write hello.txt there (only the Write tool is permitted). Prints whether the file was created — proves the SDK edits local files in this environment.

Power tools

Extras beyond the chat panel, all driven from the Command Palette (and a couple of keybindings):

• Status-bar HUD — live agent state (idle / working), the active model, and the running session cost. Click it to open the panel. Toggle with agentIde.showStatusBar.
• Export Conversation to Markdown (Agent IDE: Export Conversation to Markdown) — write the active chat to .agent-ide/exports/ as a clean transcript for PRs, sharing, or archiving.
• Restore Checkpoint (Agent IDE: Restore Checkpoint…) — pick any per-turn snapshot and roll the workspace back to before that turn's edits.
• Session Usage (Agent IDE: Show Session Usage) — cumulative cost + turn count, with a reset.
• Keybindings — Ctrl/Cmd+Alt+A open panel · Ctrl/Cmd+Alt+N new chat.

Next

• Translation proxy so ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL can point at LM Studio (local models).
• @-mention workspace files in the composer.
• Per-turn token/context-window meter in the panel.