KORTEX VS Code Extension
KORTEX brings the Bosch AI team mate experience into VS Code Chat and Agent mode.
Features
- Chat with a configured KORTEX backend from VS Code.
- Use KORTEX-backed models with local workspace context.
- Read, search, diagnose, and edit workspace files through reviewable tools.
- Run non-interactive shell diagnostics from agent mode.
- Trigger knowledge-base re-indexing from VS Code.
- Edit existing files with small exact replacements, saved immediately.
- Search the project knowledge base on demand when a task needs it.
- Use your own BMF license instead of the backend default.
Distribution model
The VSIX and backend are separate:
- The VSIX is built/published by the KORTEX team and installed by users in VS Code.
- The backend is run by the hosted KORTEX service or by a team that maintains its own backend package.
- The Web UI is bundled with the backend package, not the VSIX.
A team does not need a custom VSIX only to use its own backend. Configure kortex.baseUrl at runtime.
Requirements
- VS Code
1.104.0 or newer.
- A running KORTEX backend reachable from your workstation.
- Live connectors (Jira, Gerrit, Confluence, RTC, ...) are not used from VS Code — that keeps agent steps fast. Use the KORTEX Web UI for live enterprise sources; the VS Code agent still searches the indexed knowledge base on demand.
Speed settings
| Setting |
Default |
What it does |
kortex.agent.toolSet |
fast |
fast sends the model only KORTEX's workspace tools and the Todo List tool; all also sends every other VS Code / MCP tool (slower — their schemas are re-sent on every step). |
kortex.knowledgeBase.mode |
auto |
auto pre-loads knowledge-base context only when the request looks project-specific; off never pre-loads (the agent can still call the KB search tool). |
Quick start
Option 1 — Default hosted backend
- Install the published KORTEX VSIX.
- Keep the default backend URL:
https://kortexai.app.bosch.com.
- Select KORTEX in VS Code Chat.
- Optional: run KORTEX: Use My Own BMF License Key.
Option 2 — Team-owned backend
- Get the team backend URL from the backend owner.
- Install the published KORTEX VSIX.
- Run KORTEX: Configure Backend URL.
- Enter the team backend URL.
- Optional: run KORTEX: Use My Own BMF License Key.
Use HTTPS for shared/remote backends. Plain HTTP should be limited to localhost development.
Configuration
kortex.baseUrl: base URL of the running KORTEX backend. Default: https://kortexai.app.bosch.com.kortex.allowSelfSigned: allow the extension to connect to a development backend using a self-signed certificate.
Use KORTEX: Configure Backend URL from the Command Palette to update the backend URL.
Using your own BMF license
Run KORTEX: Use My Own BMF License Key and paste your key.
Security behavior:
- Stored only in VS Code SecretStorage/OS keychain.
- Never written to
settings.json.
- Never shown again after saving.
- Sent only for your own requests.
- Sent only over HTTPS or localhost.
Without a personal key, KORTEX uses the backend default license. Run KORTEX: Remove My License Key to switch back.
Settings
kortex.knowledgeBase.mode: auto (default, fastest), always, or off — how eagerly the knowledge base is pulled into agent requests.kortex.autoSaveEdits: save files right after the agent edits them (default on).kortex.maxOutputTokens: output budget per agent step (default 12000).
Commands
- KORTEX: Configure Backend URL — set or update the backend endpoint.
- KORTEX: Re-index Knowledge Base — request a backend KB refresh.
- KORTEX: Use My Own BMF License Key — store a personal BMF key securely.
- KORTEX: Remove My License Key — remove the personal BMF key.
- KORTEX: List Models — list models from the configured backend.
- KORTEX: Open Web UI — open the configured backend Web UI.
Build/package
From this folder:
npm ci
npm run verify
npm run verify compiles and packages the VSIX. Use npm run package if compilation was already done.
Notes
KORTEX VSIX does not bundle the backend. Start the backend separately or use the default hosted backend, then point this extension to that service.
