CodeClipper
Copy file and line references to the clipboard. Build and fire reusable AI prompts — straight from the editor.
CodeClipper is a lightweight VS Code extension for developers who work with AI assistants. It eliminates the friction of manually typing file names and line numbers into chat windows, and lets you maintain a personal library of prompts that resolve context automatically.
Works with any AI tool: Claude, ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot Chat, Cursor, or any chat interface you paste into.
Features
Copy File and Line Reference
Copy the current file name and line number(s) to the clipboard in one keystroke — ready to paste into an AI chat, a GitHub comment, a Slack message, or a bug report.
- Single line — copies the current cursor line
- Selection — copies the selected line range
- Multi-cursor — merges and deduplicates all selections into one reference
Output examples
utils.ts line 42
utils.ts lines 42-58
utils.ts lines 5-8, 20-25
With codeclipper.format set to colon:
utils.ts:42
utils.ts:42-58
utils.ts:5-8, 20-25
Select Prompt
Open a searchable quick-pick list of named prompts. Select one and the full prompt text is copied to your clipboard — with template variables automatically resolved.
Prompts are defined in your settings.json so they stay consistent across projects and sessions.
Template variables
| Variable |
Resolved value |
{filename} |
File name + line reference (see below) |
{selection} |
The currently selected text |
{clipboard} |
The current clipboard contents |
{filename} resolution
| Editor state |
Resolved value |
| Cursor on line 42 |
utils.ts line 42 |
| Selection across lines 42–58 |
utils.ts lines 42-58 |
| Multi-cursor / multi-selection |
utils.ts lines 5-8, 20-25 |
Built-in prompts
| Name |
Description |
| Handoff |
Generates a session handoff document for the current project |
| Explain Code |
Asks the AI to explain the selected file or range |
| Code Review |
Requests a code review with feedback |
| Refactor |
Asks for a refactored version with reasoning |
| Write Tests |
Generates tests covering happy path, edge cases, and failure modes |
| Bug Report |
Formats a structured bug report from the current context |
| Run as prompt |
Treats the file content itself as a prompt |
Usage
All commands are available via:
- Right-click → CodeClipper submenu
- Command Palette (
Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P)
- Keyboard shortcuts
| Command |
Shortcut |
| Copy File and Line Reference |
Ctrl+Alt+C / Cmd+Alt+C |
| Select Prompt... |
Ctrl+Alt+P / Cmd+Alt+P |
| Settings... |
— |
Settings
| Setting |
Values |
Default |
Description |
codeclipper.format |
words, colon |
words |
Line number format: line 42 vs 42 |
codeclipper.pathStyle |
basename, relative, full |
basename |
Path style used in {filename} resolution |
codeclipper.showInContextMenu |
true, false |
true |
Show or hide the right-click submenu |
codeclipper.prompts |
array |
see below |
Custom prompt library |
Configuring prompts
Add or override prompts in settings.json. Each entry requires a name and a prompt. Set active: false to hide a prompt without removing it.
Three template variables are available inside prompt strings:
| Variable |
Expands to |
{filename} |
File name + line reference (utils.ts line 42) |
{selection} |
The text currently selected in the editor |
{clipboard} |
The current clipboard contents |
"codeclipper.prompts": [
{
"name": "Write Tests",
"prompt": "Write tests for {filename}. Cover the happy path, edge cases, and expected failure modes.",
"active": true
},
{
"name": "Debug Error",
"prompt": "I'm seeing this error in {filename}:\n\n{clipboard}\n\nExplain what's causing it and suggest a fix.",
"active": true
},
{
"name": "My Custom Prompt",
"prompt": "Do something useful with {filename}.",
"active": true
}
]
Note: Once codeclipper.prompts is set in your settings.json, extension updates will not override it. Reset the setting to default to pick up new built-in prompts.
"codeclipper.showInContextMenu": false
All commands remain accessible via the command palette and keyboard shortcuts.
Requirements
VS Code ^1.118.0
Why CodeClipper
Referencing code in AI chats typically means switching windows, reading the file name, noting the line numbers, typing them out, then switching back. For a task you do dozens of times a day, the overhead adds up.
CodeClipper handles the reference in one keystroke and keeps a ready-made prompt library one key-press away — so you stay in the editor and in flow.
