VS Code + Snipara

Snipara is the Project Brain for AI coding agents.

Its shared Project Intelligence layer gives Copilot, Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, and other MCP clients the project's reviewed decisions, active work, code impact, verification evidence, and handoffs before they edit. Your agent keeps using its own LLM; Snipara keeps project context, memory, and workflow continuity attached to the project across sessions, users, tools, and model switches.

Snipara turns an editor install into a live project context in under a minute. Cursor uses the create-snipara bootstrap; VS Code can run the same activation as a native workspace command.

VS Code
  |
  v
Snipara: Activate Workspace
  |
  v
Editor Activation Contract
  |
  v
Project Brain
  |
  +-- Work Brief
  +-- Impact
  +-- Verification
  +-- Receipts

Prepared extension release: 2.0.9.

Available from the VS Code Marketplace and Open VSX Registry for VS Code, Cursor, VSCodium, and other VS Code-compatible editors.

What This Extension Does

• Runs the native VS Code entry point for Snipara's shared activation engine: install extension, activate workspace, consume the editor activation manifest, open a First Work Brief, then hand off to Copilot.
• Activates the open workspace by launching create-snipara@latest init --client vscode --starter --json, reading .snipara/activation/activation-manifest.json, and rendering the versioned editor contract.
• Runs a no-account demo against Snipara's project context as a fallback. The demo is opt-in and limited to 3 queries.
• Connects VS Code-compatible editors to a Snipara project through API credentials stored in VS Code SecretStorage.
• Lets users query source-backed project context, upload documentation, inspect memories, review decisions, and monitor index health.
• Exposes 64 Command Palette actions across project context, memory, documents, orchestration, sandbox execution, swarm coordination, and local readiness.
• Exposes 38 GitHub Copilot Language Model Tools in VS Code agent mode.
• Registers a Snipara MCP Server Definition Provider for VS Code's MCP integration when the host supports it.
• Keeps Cursor users supported through the extension UI plus the separate hosted MCP setup for Cursor chat.

Why VS Code Users Install Snipara

• Stop re-explaining the project to every coding agent.
• Reuse reviewed decisions and source-backed context.
• Know what files and risks matter before editing.
• Start every session with a First Work Brief.

What Changes Inside VS Code?

Before Snipara:

Implement OAuth.

The agent starts searching the workspace from scratch.

After Snipara:

Snipara: Activate Workspace

Opening First Work Brief...

✓ Decisions
✓ Active work
✓ Architecture
✓ Impact
✓ Verification

Snipara Active.

VS Code keeps the native editor workflow. Snipara supplies the activation manifest, First Work Brief, Copilot handoff, and source-backed tools the agent can use before changing files.

Native VS Code Lifecycle Integration

Snipara fits the VS Code workflow without sending users to a separate dashboard:

• session starts with Snipara: Activate Workspace
• activation output is rendered from .snipara/activation/activation-manifest.json
• Copilot handoff copies the Work Brief context into chat
• status bar shows Snipara Active after activation
• commands and Copilot Language Model Tools keep retrieval, memory, verification, and handoff available during work

Quick Start

The primary first run is your own workspace.

1. Install Snipara from VS Code Marketplace or Open VSX.
2. Open a project that has docs such as README, docs/**, AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, or changelogs.
3. Click Activate Workspace / Build my First Work Brief.
4. Sign in with GitHub if prompted; Snipara stores credentials in VS Code SecretStorage.
5. Snipara runs the shared activation engine, opens a source-backed First Work Brief from the activation manifest, and offers a Copilot handoff prompt.

This is the VS Code-native version of the create-snipara activation flow. The activation engine stays shared across Snipara surfaces; VS Code adds editor-native UX with commands, SecretStorage, panels, status bar, manifest rendering, and Copilot handoff.

One Activation Engine, Multiple Entry Points

Snipara keeps the activation logic centralized instead of duplicating it in every integration.

Surface	Entry Point	What Users Get
VS Code extension	Native Snipara: Activate Workspace command	Sign-in when needed, create-snipara --json, activation manifest rendering, First Work Brief panel, Copilot handoff
Cursor plugin	create-snipara bootstrap	Project-local Cursor rules, activation artifacts, First Work Brief path, hosted MCP upgrade with SNIPARA_API_KEY
create-snipara CLI	npx create-snipara@latest init --client <client> --starter	Shared activation package for Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, VS Code-compatible clients, and generic MCP clients

The product promise is the same across surfaces: install Snipara, open your project, and give the agent live project context before it starts work.

Editor Support

Editor	Install Source	Supported Surfaces
VS Code	VS Code Marketplace	Commands, sidebar views, status bar, file explorer upload, Copilot Language Model Tools, MCP Server Definition Provider
Cursor	Open VSX	Commands, sidebar views, status bar, file explorer upload, keyboard shortcut. Configure Snipara MCP separately for Cursor chat
VSCodium / Theia / Open VSX editors	Open VSX	Commands, sidebar views, file explorer upload, sandbox/local readiness where host APIs allow

Cursor and other Open VSX editors do not expose VS Code's GitHub Copilot-specific Language Model Tool APIs. For AI chat access in Cursor, configure the hosted MCP integration from Snipara Cursor docs.

Core Features

Demo and Onboarding

• Workspace activation: The first-run path runs the shared create-snipara editor activation contract, opens a source-backed First Work Brief, and offers direct Copilot handoff actions.
• Local project proof: The First Work Brief is backed by .snipara/activation/activation-manifest.json, including activation lanes, artifacts, next actions, and source-backed starting points.
• Opt-in demo mode: Run 3 demo queries against Snipara's own indexed project context without signing in.
• Instant first demo: The default demo query uses embedded fallback data, so it works even when the network is unavailable.
• Live follow-ups: Custom demo questions call the read-only demo project and fall back silently if the API is unreachable.
• Guided walkthrough: First-run users see the Getting Started flow, with workspace activation first and the demo kept as fallback.
• Manifest-backed UX: VS Code consumes surfaceContract, artifacts.firstBriefPath, artifacts.handoffPath, lanes, and nextActions instead of reimplementing repository scanning.

Project Context

• Natural-language project context queries with keyword, semantic, or hybrid search.
• Source-backed retrieval with cited files, sections, relevance scores, and token budgets.
• Raw chunk, raw document, line-range, and project-load commands for deeper inspection.
• Multi-query, multi-project query, query decomposition, planning, and orchestration workflows.
• Code graph lookup for neighbors, callers, imports, importers, and structural paths.

Agent Memory

• Store and recall facts, decisions, learnings, preferences, todos, and context.
• Use Remember If Novel to avoid duplicate durable memories.
• Run End-of-Task Commit to persist reusable outcomes at the end of a task.
• Browse memories in the sidebar and inspect memory health, review queues, stale entries, and candidate memories.
• Query structured project decisions directly.

Project Intelligence

• Index health, recommendations, reindexing, search analytics, and query trends.
• Shared context collections and prompt templates for team standards.
• Summary storage for generated document summaries.
• Swarm coordination commands for multi-agent work: swarms, tasks, resource claims, shared state, and broadcast events.

Sandbox and Local Readiness

• Native Doctor / Local Readiness view for workspace .env files, provider keys, Snipara auth, Snipara Sandbox, and Docker.
• Sandbox commands for Docker-isolated execution, local execution, logs, and trajectory visualization.
• Local setup guidance installs the PyPI package snipara-sandbox.
• Core extension features do not require snipara-companion.

VS Code Integration

• Snipara activity bar with Welcome, Results, Session Context, Memories, Doctor / Local Readiness, and Swarm Dashboard views.
• Status bar entry for sign-in or quick query.
• Cmd+Shift+R / Ctrl+Shift+R shortcut for Snipara: Ask Question.
• File explorer upload for .md, .mdx, and .txt files.
• Workspace-first document sync: single-folder workspaces sync without an unnecessary folder picker; multi-root workspaces use a VS Code quick pick.
• Optional auto-restore and auto-save of session context.

Commands

All 64 commands are available from the Command Palette under Snipara, Snipara Sandbox, and Snipara Doctor.

Query and Context

Command	Purpose
Snipara: Activate Workspace	Run create-snipara@latest init --client vscode --starter --json, read the activation manifest, and open a First Work Brief
Snipara: Ask Question	Query source-backed project context. Falls back to demo mode when not signed in
Snipara: Search Project Context	Search indexed project context by pattern. Falls back to demo mode when not signed in
Snipara: Try Demo Query	Run the opt-in demo query
Snipara: Multi-Query	Run multiple retrieval queries in parallel
Snipara: Multi-Project Query	Search across accessible team projects
Snipara: Decompose Query	Break a complex question into sub-queries
Snipara: Generate Plan	Build an execution plan for context exploration
Snipara: Show Current Context	Load active session context
Snipara: Inject Context	Add selected text or custom text to session context
Snipara: Clear Context	Clear active session context

Memory and Decisions

Command	Purpose
Snipara: Remember	Store a fact, decision, learning, preference, todo, or context memory
Snipara: Recall Memory	Search durable project memories
Snipara: Browse Memories	Browse memories in the sidebar
Snipara: Refresh Memories	Refresh the Memories view
Snipara: Forget Memory	Delete a memory after confirmation
Snipara: End-of-Task Commit	Persist reusable task outcomes into memory
Snipara: Show Memory Health	Inspect duplicates, stale memories, and review signals
Snipara: Show Memory Review Queue	Inspect candidate, rejected, stale, or active review items
Snipara: Query Decisions	Search structured project decisions

Index, Documents, and Shared Context

Command	Purpose
Snipara: Upload Document	Upload a .md, .mdx, or .txt document
Snipara: Sync Documents	Bulk sync workspace documentation
Snipara: Upload Shared Document	Upload a document into a shared context collection
Snipara: Load Shared Context	Load shared team context
Snipara: List Collections	Browse shared context collections
Snipara: Browse Templates	List reusable prompt templates
Snipara: Apply Template	Load a prompt template by slug
Snipara: Store Summary	Store an AI-generated document summary
Snipara: View Summaries	Browse stored summaries
Snipara: Delete Summary	Delete a stored summary
Snipara: Show Statistics	View indexed files, sections, lines, and token counts
Snipara: Show Index Health	Inspect coverage, quality, tiers, and stale content
Snipara: Show Index Recommendations	Get index improvement recommendations
Snipara: Reindex Project	Trigger document or code index maintenance
Snipara: Show Search Analytics	View query performance and tool usage analytics

Raw Context and Code Graph

Command	Purpose
Snipara: Show Section	Display a retrieved source section
Snipara: Get Chunk by ID	Load cited source content by chunk ID
Snipara: Read Lines	Read a specific line range from indexed documentation
Snipara: Code Graph Lookup	Inspect code graph neighbors, callers, or imports
Snipara: Load Document (Raw)	Load raw document content by path
Snipara: Load Project	Load a broader project context dump with path filtering
Snipara: Orchestrate	Run multi-round scan, search, and raw-load exploration
Snipara: Build REPL Context	Package project context with Python helpers for sandbox sessions

Swarm Coordination

Command	Purpose
Snipara: Create Swarm	Create an agent swarm
Snipara: Join Swarm	Join an existing swarm
Snipara: Claim Resource	Lock a file, function, module, or resource
Snipara: Release Resource	Release a resource claim
Snipara: Create Task	Add a task to a swarm queue
Snipara: Claim Task	Claim the highest-priority available task
Snipara: Complete Task	Mark a task as completed or failed
Snipara: Broadcast Event	Send an event to swarm agents
Snipara: Get Shared State	Read shared swarm state by key
Snipara: Set Shared State	Write shared swarm state with optimistic locking

Sandbox, Doctor, and Setup

Command	Purpose
Snipara: Configure	Sign in with GitHub or configure API credentials manually
Snipara: Show Project Settings	View current Snipara project settings
Snipara Sandbox: Execute in Docker (Isolated)	Run code through Snipara Sandbox with Docker isolation
Snipara Sandbox: Execute Locally	Run code through Snipara Sandbox locally
Snipara Sandbox: View Execution Logs	Browse sandbox execution logs
Snipara Sandbox: Launch Trajectory Visualizer	Open the trajectory visualizer
Snipara Doctor: Refresh Local Readiness	Re-run local setup checks
Snipara Doctor: Open Env File	Open or create a workspace .env file
Snipara Doctor: Use Workflow	Pick a context workflow based on current readiness
Snipara Doctor: Use Sandbox	Pick a sandbox action based on detected Snipara Sandbox/Docker status
Snipara Doctor: Run Sandbox Doctor	Run snipara-sandbox doctor when available

Copilot and MCP

In VS Code agent mode, Snipara contributes 38 Language Model Tools covering:

• project context retrieval, search, quick ask, multi-query, planning, decomposition, and multi-project search;
• memory storage, recall, browsing, deletion, novelty checks, memory health, memory review, and end-of-task commits;
• shared context, document upload, raw document load, full project load, orchestration, and REPL context packaging;
• source chunk loading, code graph neighbors, callers, imports, and shortest paths;
• structured decisions, index health, recommendations, reindexing, search analytics, and query trends;
• hierarchical task inspection, recommendations, metrics, and Python execution through Snipara Sandbox.

The extension also declares a Snipara MCP Server Definition Provider for VS Code hosts that support MCP server definitions. Hosted MCP availability depends on the editor, VS Code version, project configuration, and Snipara server deployment.

Settings

Setting	Default	Description
snipara.apiKey	empty	Legacy/manual API key setting. Sign-in stores keys in VS Code SecretStorage
snipara.projectId	empty	Snipara project ID or slug
snipara.serverUrl	https://api.snipara.com	Snipara API server URL
snipara.maxTokens	4000	Max context budget for retrieval queries
snipara.searchMode	hybrid	Search mode: keyword, semantic, or hybrid
snipara.enableAutoRestore	false	Restore previous session context on startup
snipara.enableAutoSave	false	Save session context periodically and on shutdown
snipara.sandboxEnabled	true	Enable Snipara Sandbox status and commands

Requirements

• VS Code 1.93.0+, Cursor 0.40+, VSCodium, or another compatible Open VSX editor.
• No account is required for the opt-in demo.
• A free Snipara account is required to query and manage your own project context.
• Optional for sandbox execution: snipara-sandbox and Docker for isolated runs.
• Optional for companion workflows: snipara-companion.

Development

pnpm install
pnpm run type-check
pnpm run compile
pnpm run package

Packaging uses vsce package --no-dependencies. Publishing targets:

pnpm run publish:vsce
pnpm run publish:ovsx

Generated .vsix files are local release artifacts and are ignored by git.

Links

• VS Code Marketplace
• Open VSX Registry
• VS Code integration docs
• Cursor integration docs
• Dashboard
• GitHub
• Issues