Installation

CodeBuddy works with any editor that supports the VS Code extension API. Choose your IDE below.

VS Code

1. Open VS Code
2. Go to the Extensions view (Cmd+Shift+X / Ctrl+Shift+X)
3. Search for CodeBuddy
4. Click Install

Or from the command line:

code --install-extension codebuddy.codebuddy

Cursor

1. Open Cursor
2. Open the Extensions view (Cmd+Shift+X / Ctrl+Shift+X)
3. Search for CodeBuddy
4. Click Install

Or from the command line:

cursor --install-extension codebuddy.codebuddy

Windsurf

1. Open Windsurf
2. Open the Extensions view (Cmd+Shift+X / Ctrl+Shift+X)
3. Search for CodeBuddy
4. Click Install

VSCodium / Open VSX

CodeBuddy is published on the Open VSX Registry for editors that don’t use the Microsoft Marketplace (VSCodium, Gitpod, Theia, Eclipse Che, etc.).

1. Open your editor
2. Open the Extensions view
3. Search for CodeBuddy
4. Click Install

Or from the command line:

codium --install-extension codebuddy.codebuddy

Install from VSIX

If you have a .vsix file (for example, from a private build or air-gapped environment), the command works in any compatible editor:

code --install-extension codebuddy-4.2.1.vsix        # VS Code
cursor --install-extension codebuddy-4.2.1.vsix      # Cursor
codium --install-extension codebuddy-4.2.1.vsix      # VSCodium

Onboarding wizard

After installation, CodeBuddy opens the Onboarding Wizard automatically on first launch. The wizard walks you through five steps:

1. Welcome — Introduction to CodeBuddy’s capabilities
2. Provider selection — Choose and configure your AI provider. CodeBuddy tests connectivity to verify your API key works.
3. Workspace analysis — Automatic detection of your project’s languages (10 supported), frameworks (React, Next.js, Vue, Express, FastAPI, Django, etc.), and installed tools
4. Security setup — Choose a permission profile (restricted, standard, or trusted) and access control mode
5. First task — Run a guided task to verify everything is working

You can re-run the wizard at any time from the command palette (Cmd+Shift+P):

CodeBuddy: Open Onboarding Wizard

Verify your installation

Run the built-in diagnostic tool to check that everything is configured correctly:

CodeBuddy: Run Doctor

Doctor runs 9 checks: API key validity, terminal restrictions, directory permissions, MCP configuration, security settings, credential proxy, permission scope, access control, and input validation.

Next steps

• Configure your provider and settings
• Run your first task