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VS Code Extension Overview

The Ultra-Dex VS Code Extension provides deep integration with Visual Studio Code, offering sidebar panels, agent controls, and seamless access to Ultra-Dex features directly within your IDE.

Features​

Agent Explorer​

  • Browse and manage all 18 Ultra-Dex agents
  • View agent status and activity
  • Run agents directly from the sidebar
  • See agent descriptions and capabilities

Swarm Status​

  • Monitor ongoing agent swarms
  • View progress and status updates
  • See active agents and their tasks
  • Access swarm controls and logs

Context Preview​

  • View current project context
  • Access key project information
  • See alignment scores and metrics
  • Preview CONTEXT.md content

Quick Actions​

  • One-click access to common commands
  • Generate plans, run swarms, check alignment
  • Open dashboard and documentation
  • Access frequently used features

Context Menu Integration​

"Ask @Agent about selection"​

Right-click on selected code to ask specific agents about it:

  • @Reviewer for code review
  • @Debugger for debugging help
  • @Security for security analysis
  • @Performance for optimization

"Execute in Sandbox"​

Run selected code snippets in a secure Docker sandbox.

Status Bar Integration​

  • Real-time project alignment score
  • Quick access to alignment checking
  • Status indicators for system health

Keyboard Shortcuts​

  • Ctrl+Shift+A (Cmd+Shift+A on Mac): Select Agent
  • Ctrl+Shift+S (Cmd+Shift+S on Mac): Semantic Search
  • Ctrl+Shift+R (Cmd+Shift+R on Mac): Run Swarm

Installation​

  1. Open VS Code
  2. Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X or Cmd+Shift+X)
  3. Search for "Ultra-Dex"
  4. Click Install
  5. Reload VS Code when prompted

From VSIX File​

  1. Download the .vsix file from the releases page
  2. Open VS Code
  3. Go to Extensions
  4. Click the "..." menu and select "Install from VSIX..."
  5. Select the downloaded file
  6. Reload VS Code

Configuration​

Extension Settings​

Configure the extension through VS Code settings:

{
  "ultra-dex.defaultProvider": "anthropic",
  "ultra-dex.kernelPort": 3001,
  "ultra-dex.dashboardPort": 3002,
  "ultra-dex.autoStartKernel": false,
  "ultra-dex.enableSandbox": true
}

Project Configuration​

The extension respects project-level configuration from .ultra-dexrc files.

Usage​

Starting the Kernel​

The Ultra-Dex kernel provides real-time updates and communication:

  1. Use the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P)
  2. Run "Ultra-Dex: Start Active Kernel"
  3. Or enable "Auto-start kernel" in settings

Running Agents​

From Sidebar​

  1. Open the Agent Explorer panel
  2. Right-click on an agent
  3. Select "Run Agent"
  4. Enter the task description

From Command Palette​

  1. Open command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P)
  2. Run "Ultra-Dex: Select Agent"
  3. Choose an agent from the list
  4. Enter your task description

Running Swarms​

  1. Use the command palette
  2. Run "Ultra-Dex: Run Agent Swarm"
  3. Enter the swarm objective
  4. Monitor progress in the Swarm Status panel

Checking Alignment​

  1. Click the alignment indicator in the status bar
  2. Or use command palette: "Ultra-Dex: Check Alignment"
  3. View the alignment score and details

Troubleshooting​

Extension Not Loading​

  • Verify VS Code version (requires 1.80.0 or higher)
  • Check for conflicting extensions
  • Look for errors in the developer console (Help > Toggle Developer Tools)

Agent Communication Issues​

  • Ensure the Ultra-Dex kernel is running
  • Check network connectivity
  • Verify API key configuration
  • Review extension logs

Performance Issues​

  • Disable auto-refresh if not needed
  • Limit the number of active agents
  • Check system resource usage
  • Review extension settings

MCP Integration Problems​

  • Verify MCP server is accessible
  • Check Claude Desktop/Cursor configuration
  • Ensure proper permissions
  • Review MCP logs

Customization​

Themes​

The extension supports VS Code's theming system and includes special styling for:

  • Agent status indicators
  • Progress bars
  • Status messages
  • Error notifications

Key Bindings​

Customize keyboard shortcuts in VS Code's keybinding settings:

  • Open Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts from command palette
  • Search for "Ultra-Dex" commands
  • Modify keybindings as needed

Best Practices​

  • Keep the extension updated for latest features
  • Use the sidebar panels for efficient workflow
  • Leverage context menu integration for code-specific tasks
  • Monitor alignment scores regularly
  • Use the sandbox for experimental code execution

Known Issues​

  • Large projects may take time to initialize
  • Some features require internet connectivity
  • MCP integration requires proper configuration
  • Docker is recommended for sandbox functionality

Next Steps​