Overview

Written By Stanislas

Last updated 6 days ago

Overview

Swiftask Code is your AI coding assistant for VS Code. Ask questions, build features, fix bugs, and review every change — with your team's policies built in.

Swiftask Code is for developers and teams who want AI help in the editor they already use, without losing control. Your chats stay on your computer. Your organization chooses which AI models you can use and how usage is tracked.

Prerequisites

You need VS Code 1.85 or newer to use Swiftask Code, and a Swiftask account (sign in here).

At a glance:


Where	VS Code extension (Marketplace) — requires VS Code 1.85+
Modes	Build (edit & run) · Ask (read-only) · Plan (written plan first)
Sessions	Stored locally on your machine, tied to the project folder you have open
Models & billing	Your Swiftask workspace — no personal API key

Step-by-step guide

1. Install

Open Extensions (Cmd+Shift+X on Mac, Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows/Linux)
Search for Swiftask code
Click Install

Or install from the Marketplace.

What you should see: Swiftask Code appears under Installed extensions with no errors.

2. Open Swiftask Code

Click the Swiftask icon in the left activity bar. The Sessions panel opens on the side.

If you're not signed in, you'll see a sign-in screen first.

What you should see: The Talk starter welcome screen or sign-in prompt.

3. Sign in

Click Sign in in the panel
Complete login in your browser
Return to VS Code — you're ready to chat

What you should see: The chat input at the bottom of the panel after the browser redirects back.

4. Send your first message

Type in the input at the bottom, for example:

What are the main parts of this project and what do they do?

Press Enter. Swiftask Code streams its answer in the chat.

Tip: Start in Ask mode for a read-only overview — no file changes.

5. Choose a model and mode

In the chat input area:

Setting	Role
Model	Which AI powers this chat (from your workspace)
Mode	Build — edit & run · Ask — questions only · Plan — plan first
Thinking level	Reasoning effort (low, medium, high)

Build is the default when you want to edit code or run commands. Ask for answers without changes. Plan for larger work you want to review before coding.

6. Give context

Swiftask Code already knows your open file and git status. You can also add:

@ → file, folder, terminal, branch, or URL
Editor selection → right-click → Add to Chat
Image via the attachment button

7. When Swiftask Code asks for permission

Depending on your settings, it may ask before editing a file or running a command. Choose Allow or Deny.

It may also offer multiple choices if your request is ambiguous — pick one so it can continue.

8. Review changes

If files were modified, a Files changed section appears. Use Keep all or Undo all, or review file by file.

On a changed file, use Keep agent edits / Undo agent edits in the title bar.

Practical use cases

Understand your code

Learn how your project works without changing anything.

Ask how a feature works, where logic lives, or what a file does
@-mention folders or files to focus the answer
Use Ask mode — Swiftask Code searches and reads only

Build and fix

Turn a description into working code, step by step.

Describe features, bugs, or refactors in everyday language
Swiftask Code can edit files and run commands (with your approval when configured)
Review every change before you keep it

Plan before you build

Scope large work before any code changes.

Switch to Plan mode for multi-file or multi-day work
Get a structured plan in chat and in the Plans library
Click Build when you're ready to implement

Review every change

Stay in control of what lands in your repo.

Files changed in chat — Keep all, Undo all, or per-file
Open diffs before accepting
Keep agent edits / Undo agent edits in the editor title bar

First-time setup

A new developer installs the extension, signs in, and asks a read-only question in Ask mode to understand the codebase before making any changes.

Onboarding a teammate

Walk a new team member through Install → Sign in → First message → Choose mode, so they're productive within minutes.

Work under your organization's rules

Enterprise-ready without a side-channel API key.

Sign in with your Swiftask workspace
Use only models your admin approved
Usage and credits follow your company's Swiftask plan

Tips & best practices

Useful panel actions:

Action	Where
New chat	`+` in the title bar
Past chats	Clock icon
Saved plans	Checklist icon
Settings	Gear icon
Stop a response	Stop button

Keyboard shortcuts (optional): Swiftask Code doesn't ship default keybindings. Bind commands in VS Code Keyboard Shortcuts (Cmd+K Cmd+S / Ctrl+K Ctrl+S) — search for Swiftask.

Swiftask Code is one part of the Swiftask platform. For everything else, use the other sections of this Help Center:

Topic	Where to go
General chat & agents on Swiftask	Chat · Agents collections
Workspace setup, users, policies	Workspace administration
Plans, credits, billing	Usage, credit & Billing
Platform support	Support & Help Center

Troubleshooting

Extension missing after install
Reload VS Code. See Help & FAQ.

Browser doesn't return after sign-in
Finish login, then run Developer: Reload Window. See Help & FAQ.

Additional resources

Start here:

I want to…	Read	You'll learn
Use chat, history, and @-mentions	Chat & context	Panel layout, sessions, context ring, @-mentions
Build, plan, approve, and review changes	Build, plan & review	Build / Ask / Plan, permissions, diffs, example prompts
Set rules and preferences	Customize	Team rules, trusted commands, defaults
Manage account, workspace, or credits	Account & workspace	Sign-in, workspace switcher, models
Fix a problem	Help & FAQ	Troubleshooting and quick answers

Quick links:

Install extension · Sign in · Feedback