Chatting with Kilo Code

💡Tip

Bottom line: Kilo Code is an AI coding assistant. You chat with it in plain English, and it writes, edits, and explains code for you.

📝Prefer quick completions?

If you're typing code in the editor and want AI to finish your line or block, check out Autocomplete instead. Chat is best for larger tasks, explanations, and multi-file changes.

Quick Setup

Click the Kilo Code icon () in VS Code's Primary Side Bar to open the sidebar chat. You can also pop it out into an editor tab for a larger workspace.

How to Talk to Kilo Code

The key insight: Just type what you want in normal English. No special commands needed.

Example of typing a request in Kilo Code

Good requests:

create a new file named utils.py and add a function called add that takes two numbers as arguments and returns their sum
in the file @src/components/Button.tsx, change the color of the button to blue
find all instances of the variable oldValue in @/src/App.js and replace them with newValue

What makes requests work:

Be specific - "Fix the bug in calculateTotal that returns incorrect results" beats "Fix the code"
Use @ mentions - Reference files and code directly with @filename
One task at a time - Break complex work into manageable steps
Include examples - Show the style or format you want

ℹ️Chat vs Autocomplete

Use chat when you need to describe what you want, ask questions, or make changes across multiple files.

Use autocomplete when you're already typing code and want the AI to finish your thought inline.

The Chat Interface

Essential controls:

Input prompt - Type your requests and press Enter to send
Action buttons - Approve or reject proposed changes, answer questions
Agent dropdown - Switch between agents (e.g. Code, Ask, Plan) from the sidebar
Session management - Start new sessions or resume previous ones

Providing context:

The extension automatically passes context from your editor, including your open tabs and active file. You can type @ in the chat input to get file autocomplete suggestions, or mention file paths naturally in your message (e.g., "update src/utils.ts to add a helper function"). The agent can also discover files on its own using its built-in tools.

Quick Interactions

Click to act:

File paths → Opens the file
URLs → Opens in browser
Messages → Expand/collapse details
Code blocks → Copy button appears

Status signals:

Spinning → Kilo is working
Red → Error occurred
Green → Success

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Instead of this...	Try this
"Fix the code"	"Fix the bug in `calculateTotal` that returns incorrect results"
Assuming Kilo knows context	Use `@` to reference specific files
Multiple unrelated tasks	Submit one focused request at a time
Technical jargon overload	Clear, straightforward language works best
Using chat for tiny code changes.	Use autocomplete for inline completions

Why it matters: Kilo Code works best when you communicate like you're talking to a smart teammate who needs clear direction.

Suggested Responses

When Kilo Code needs more information to complete a task, it asks a follow-up question and often provides suggested answers to make responding faster.

How it works:

Question Appears - Kilo Code asks a question using the question tool
Options Displayed - Selectable options are presented that you can choose from
Selection - Pick an option or type a custom response

Benefits:

Speed - Quickly respond without typing full answers
Clarity - Suggestions often clarify the type of information Kilo Code needs
Flexibility - Edit suggestions to provide precise, customized answers when needed

This feature streamlines the interaction when Kilo Code requires clarification, allowing you to guide the task effectively with minimal effort.

Tips for Better Workflow

💡Tip

Switch agents for different tasks. Use the agent dropdown, /agents slash command, or Cmd+. (Ctrl+. on Windows/Linux) to switch between agents like Code, Ask, and Plan. Each agent is tuned for a different type of task — see Using Agents for details.

💡Tip

Your editor context is automatic. The extension reads your open tabs and active file, so you don't need to manually reference every file. Focus your message on what you want done.

💡Tip

Pop out to an editor tab. If the sidebar feels cramped, pop the chat into a full editor tab for more room.

💡Tip

Move Kilo Code to the Secondary Side Bar for a better layout. Right-click on the Kilo Code icon in the Activity Bar and select Move To → Secondary Side Bar. This lets you see the Explorer, Search, Source Control, etc. alongside Kilo Code.

Move to Secondary Side Bar — Move Kilo Code to the Secondary Side Bar for better workspace organization

Ready to start coding? Start a session in Kilo Code and describe what you want to build!