Install

changAIs can be installed from an extension marketplace or manually from a downloaded .vsix package.

Requirements

• Visual Studio Code or a compatible VS Code-based editor.
• A marketplace listing or a changAIs .vsix file.
• A project folder you can open in the editor.

Marketplace Install

Use the marketplace that matches your editor:

• VS Code: Visual Studio Marketplace.
• VSCodium and compatible editors: Open VSX Registry.

In your editor:

1. Open the Extensions view.
2. Search for changAIs.
3. Select the changAIs extension.
4. Choose Install.
5. Reload the editor if prompted.

Marketplace links and screenshots are added as listings become available.

If you are installing from a downloaded package, use the manual .vsix flow below.

Manual VSIX Install

1. Download the changAIs .vsix file.
2. Open VS Code, VSCodium, or another compatible VS Code-based editor.
3. Open the Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows or Linux, or Cmd+Shift+P on macOS.
4. Run Extensions: Install from VSIX....
5. Select the downloaded .vsix file.
6. Wait for VS Code to install the extension.
7. Reload VS Code if prompted.
8. Open a project folder.
9. Confirm changAIs appears in the Extensions view.

Verify Installation

After installation, open the Extensions view and search for changAIs. The extension should appear as installed.

If your installed build exposes command-palette actions, you can also open the Command Palette and type changAIs to see them.

Set Up Your AI Tool

Before an AI assistant can generate changAIs reports automatically, add changAIs report instructions to the project. The extension includes setup commands that write the correct instruction file for each supported tool:

AI tool	Command Palette command	Instruction file
Claude Code	changAIs: Set Up CLAUDE.md Instructions	CLAUDE.md
Claude Code slash command	changAIs: Set Up Slash Command	.claude/commands/review.md
GitHub Copilot	changAIs: Set Up Copilot Instructions	.github/copilot-instructions.md
Cursor	changAIs: Set Up Cursor Rules	.cursor/rules/changais.mdc
Windsurf	changAIs: Set Up Windsurf Rules	.windsurfrules
Aider	changAIs: Set Up Aider Instructions	.aider/changais-review.md
Gemini CLI	changAIs: Set Up Gemini CLI Instructions	GEMINI.md
OpenCode	changAIs: Set Up OpenCode Instructions	AGENTS.md
Qwen Code	changAIs: Set Up Qwen Code Instructions	QWEN.md

Run the setup command that matches your AI tool, then ask the AI to make changes as usual. The generated instructions tell the AI to create or replace .changais/report.json for the current uncommitted changes, add notes for every touched path, and keep line numbers accurate so changAIs can pin notes to the diff.

Expected first-run flow:

1. Open a project folder with AI-generated changes.
2. Open the Command Palette and type changAIs.
3. Run the setup command for your AI tool.
4. Ask the AI to make a change and generate .changais/report.json.
5. Run changAIs: Open Diff View.
6. Review changed files, notes, replies, and checked or resolved state.

Update changAIs

When the extension is installed from a marketplace, use your editor’s normal extension update flow.

When you receive a newer .vsix file, install it with the same Extensions: Install from VSIX... command. The editor should replace the older build.

If the editor keeps using the old build, reload the window or uninstall the older extension build before installing the new one.

Uninstall

Open the Extensions view, find changAIs, and choose uninstall. Reload the editor if prompted.