Kilocode

Kilocode is a tool that brings AI assistance directly into your code editor. You can ask it to write code, fix problems, or explain things in plain language. It works as an extension for VS Code and other similar editors like Cursor and JetBrains.

The tool offers multiple work modes. Architect mode helps plan projects, Code mode writes the actual code, and Debug mode finds and fixes errors. There is also an Orchestrator mode that breaks big tasks into smaller pieces and handles them step by step.

Everything runs inside your editor, so you do not need to switch between different apps. The tool reads your code files, understands context automatically, and can work with multiple files at once while keeping track of changes.

Getting started with Kilocode is straightforward. Here are the steps:

• Install the extension from the VS Code marketplace or your editor's extension store.

• Sign in with your Google account when prompted. New users get $20 in free credits to try premium AI models.

• Click the Kilocode icon in the sidebar to open the chat interface.

• Type what you need in plain language, such as "write a function to sort this array" or "fix the bug in this file."

• Choose a mode based on your task. Use Architect for planning, Code for writing, Debug for fixing, or Ask for questions.

• Review the AI's suggestions before accepting them. You can ask follow-up questions to refine the output.

• For advanced features, explore the MCP marketplace to add custom tools like database connections or API integrations.

The tool remembers your project context, so conversations flow naturally without repeating yourself.

• 400+ AI models including Claude 4, GPT-5, Gemini 2.5 Pro

• Multiple specialized work modes

• Automatic code context detection

• Multi-file editing with change tracking

• MCP marketplace for custom tools

• Browser automation capabilities

• Terminal command execution

• Codebase indexing with semantic search

• Custom mode creation

• Transparent usage-based pricing

• Full open source code access

• Local and cloud model support