Chatting with Kilo Code

💡Tip

Bottom line: Kilo Code is an AI coding assistant that lives in VS Code. 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

Find the Kilo Code icon () in VS Code's Primary Side Bar. Click it to open the chat panel.

Lost the panel? Go to View > Open View... and search for "Kilo Code"

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
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
ℹī¸Chat 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

Chat interface components labeled with callouts
Everything you need is right here

Essential controls:

  • Chat history - See your conversation and task history
  • Input field - Type your requests here (press Enter to send)
  • Action buttons - Approve or reject Kilo's proposed changes
  • Plus button - Start a new task session
  • Mode selector - Choose how Kilo should approach your task

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 contextUse @ to reference specific files
Multiple unrelated tasksSubmit one focused request at a time
Technical jargon overloadClear, 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 uses the ask_followup_question tool. To make responding easier and faster, Kilo Code often provides suggested answers alongside the question.

Example of Kilo Code asking a question with suggested response buttons below it
Suggested responses appear as clickable buttons below questions

How it works:

  1. Question Appears - Kilo Code asks a question using the ask_followup_question tool
  2. Suggestions Displayed - If suggestions are provided, they appear as buttons below the question
  3. Interaction - You can interact with these suggestions in two ways

Interacting with suggestions:

You have two options for using suggested responses:

  1. Direct Selection:

    • Action: Simply click the button containing the answer you want to provide
    • Result: The selected answer is immediately sent back to Kilo Code as your response. This is the quickest way to reply if one of the suggestions perfectly matches your intent.

  2. Edit Before Sending:

    • Action:
      • Hold down Shift and click the suggestion button
      • Alternatively, hover over the suggestion button and click the pencil icon () that appears
    • Result: The text of the suggestion is copied into the chat input box. You can then modify the text as needed before pressing Enter to send your customized response. This is useful when a suggestion is close but needs minor adjustments.

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

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
💡Tip

Drag files directly into chat. Once you have Kilo Code in a separate sidebar from the file explorer, you can drag files from the explorer into the chat window (even multiple at once). Just hold down the Shift key after you start dragging the files.

Ready to start coding? Open the chat panel and describe what you want to build!