AI CodeLint VS Code Extension

Boost code quality as you type.

This extension runs the ai-codelint language server in the background and surfaces AI-assisted logic diagnostics directly in VS Code.

Project Status

AI CodeLint is in heavy development and not production-ready yet.

• Features and behavior can change quickly.
• Breaking changes are expected while core behavior is refined.
• The VS Code extension is currently unpublished and intended for pre-release testing.

What This Extension Does

• Starts ai-codelint --mode server as an LSP server.
• Analyzes open files and untitled buffers (file and untitled URI schemes).
• Reports likely logic bugs that can survive compilation and traditional linting.

Prerequisites

1. Install the ai-codelint binary.
2. Set OPENROUTER_API_KEY as a global environment variable.
3. Keep your extension/binary version aligned with the recommended version in status.json.

Install The Binary (Recommended)

macOS/Linux:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/RussellGN/AI-CodeLint/main/scripts/install.sh | sh

Windows (PowerShell):

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/RussellGN/AI-CodeLint/main/scripts/install.ps1 | iex

Then verify installation:

ai-codelint --version

Configure Runtime Defaults

Run the CLI walkthrough once to set defaults such as model and max output tokens, and to get API key setup guidance:

ai-codelint --configure

The root README currently recommends anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 for best lint quality.

Install The VS Code Extension

This extension is not yet published to the Marketplace.

Option A: Run In Extension Development Host

From the repository root:

cd server && cargo build
cd ../clients/vs-code && pnpm i && pnpm compile

Then in VS Code, run the launch config named Launch VS Code Client (F5). The workspace launch configuration already sets:

• SERVER_PATH=${workspaceRoot}/server/target/debug/ai-codelint

Option B: Package As VSIX And Install Locally

From clients/vs-code:

pnpm i
pnpm compile
pnpm package

Install the generated .vsix in VS Code using:

• Extensions: Install from VSIX...

Settings

The extension currently contributes one setting:

• ai-codelint.trace.server
  • off: no trace logging
  • messages: error-only trace output (default)
  • verbose: full trace output

Use the AI CodeLint trace output channel in VS Code when troubleshooting.

Environment Variables

• OPENROUTER_API_KEY (required): API key used for lint inference.
• SERVER_PATH (optional): path to a custom ai-codelint binary. If not set, the extension uses ai-codelint from your PATH.

Important: after changing environment variables globally, fully restart VS Code so the extension host picks them up.

Troubleshooting

"OPENROUTER_API_KEY environment variable is required"

• Set OPENROUTER_API_KEY globally for your OS/shell.
• Restart VS Code completely.

"Current version 'x' of ai-codelint is out of date"

• Update your local setup to the latest recommended release.
• Ensure extension and binary versions are up to date.

Server Does Not Start

• Verify ai-codelint --version works in a terminal.
• If using a custom path, verify SERVER_PATH points to an executable binary.
• Set ai-codelint.trace.server to verbose and check the AI CodeLint trace channel.

Development

From repository root:

cd server && cargo build && cd ../clients/vs-code && pnpm i && pnpm compile

There is also a workspace task named install and compile that runs the same workflow.

Useful Scripts (clients/vs-code)

• pnpm compile: type-check and bundle extension output
• pnpm watch: watch mode for rapid extension iteration
• pnpm lint: run oxlint
• pnpm fmt: run oxfmt --write
• pnpm package: build a .vsix artifact

Related Docs

• Project README
• Project changelog
• TypeScript lint samples