VS Code

This guide covers installing the Cosine VSCode extension and the Cosine CLI, how they work together, and common troubleshooting steps.

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Overview

• The VS Code extension is a companion to the Cosine CLI. The CLI must be installed and available.

• The extension auto-discovers the CLI, streams “Cosine Changes” into VS Code, and provides inline actions to open files and diffs.

What it does

• Shares lightweight editor context (active file and selection) so Genie can respond more precisely.

• Adds a “✦ Cosine Changes” tree in the Explorer to track files with live previews or SCM changes; click items to open diffs or previews.

• Launches a “Cosine” terminal and runs the CLI for you (configurable).

• Streams in code changes for quicker validation and diff viewing

Requirements

• Cosine CLI installed and on PATH (cos --version)

• VS Code 1.105.0 or later

Install

1) Install the VS Code extension

• From VS Code: open Extensions (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+X), search for “Cosine”, and install.

• Direct link: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=Cosine.cosine-vscode

2) Install the Cosine CLI

https://cosine.sh/cli

cos --version

Quick start

1. Install the CLI and verify cos --version.

2. Install the VS Code extension.

3. Open a project in VS Code and reload the window.

4. The extension will start a “Cosine” terminal and run cos (if auto-start is enabled).

5. Use the “✦ Cosine Changes” view in the Explorer to preview live updates; open diffs when coding streams complete.

How to use it

• Sign in: if the terminal shows “You are not logged in”, run cos login and complete auth in your browser.

• Start the CLI: it auto-starts by default; otherwise run “Cosine: Start CLI”. Use “Cosine: Focus CLI Terminal” to bring it to front.

• Provide context: open a file or select a block of code. The extension shares the active file/selection with Genie.

• Ask Genie: type your request in the CLI prompt (e.g., “refactor this function”, “add tests for X”, “fix lint errors”). Watch live previews stream in the “Cosine Changes” view.

• Review diffs: when a stream ends, a native diff opens (configurable via settings). Use inline actions to open Working, Live, or Diff for each item.

• Apply/commit: the CLI writes changes to your repo. Review them in Git and commit as usual. The extension is visual-only for previews/diffs.

Troubleshooting

• CLI not found:

  • Check cos --version. If not found, install the CLI or add its install directory to your PATH.

  • In VS Code, set “Cosine: CLI Path” (e.g., /usr/local/bin/cos).

• Bridge not connected:

  • Check status bar. Run “Cosine: Start VS Code Bridge”.

  • Verify the CLI is running in the “Cosine” terminal.

Uninstall

• Extension: uninstall from VS Code Extensions.

• CLI: remove the cos binary from its install location (e.g., /usr/local/bin/cos or your user bin dir).

FAQ

• Do I need the CLI for the extension to work?

  • Yes. The extension is a companion to the CLI and depends on it.

• How do I update the CLI?

  • Re-run the install script or install a newer release. Then verify with cos --version.

• Where do I see changes?

  • Use the “✦ Cosine Changes” view to preview and open diffs as Genie streams updates.