Syntax Code · AI coding agent

The AI coding agent in your terminal and VS Code.

Tell it what you need in plain language. It searches your project, reads the files that matter, edits them and runs your commands, and it shows every step it takes.

Terminal

An interactive session in the folder of your project. It works with the tools you already use: your shell, git and your tests.

  • Finds its way through a codebase with search and file reads before it changes anything
  • /plan writes a plan and waits for your go; /spec writes a spec and a plan into the project
  • /commit and /pr draft the message and ask before they commit or open the pull request
  • /model switches the model, /image sends a screenshot along

You could ask

  • why does the login test fail on CI?
  • /plan add pagination to the orders endpoint
  • /commit

VS Code

The same agent as a chat in the Activity Bar, next to your code. The installer sets it up together with the command line tool.

  • Answers stream in; every file read and every command shows up as a card
  • Tells the agent which file is open, and sends your selection and the editor’s error messages along with your question
  • In interactive mode each edit appears with its changed lines and waits for Apply or Reject
  • Right-click in the editor: Send Selection to Chat for a selection, Add to Syntax Code Chat for the whole file

You could ask

  • explain the selected function
  • fix the errors in this file
  • write tests for this module

Automation

The agent without the conversation: one prompt in, the work done, the result out.

  • syntax-code -p "…" runs one task, prints the result and exits; an error ends with a non-zero exit code
  • Fits into scripts, git hooks and CI pipelines
  • syntax-code --mcp makes it an MCP server, so other MCP clients can hand it tasks
  • The same skills and the same project memory as in the terminal

You could run

  • syntax-code -p "update the changelog"
  • syntax-code -p "review the staged diff"
  • syntax-code --mcp

You stay in control

Syntax Code works in your project with your rights. You decide how much it may do on its own.

Approval when you want it

In the terminal, Shift+Tab switches the mode: normal asks before every shell command and every file change, auto (the default) works without asking, plan only researches. In VS Code the permission mode interactive shows the changed lines and waits for your answer.

Every step is visible

Each search, file read, edit and command is listed with its result while it happens. In the terminal, Esc stops a running turn and keeps the work done so far; in VS Code, the send button becomes a stop button.

File tools stay in the project

Reading, writing and searching are limited to the folder you started it in. Shell commands run with your own rights; the most destructive ones are blocked.

Pick up where you left off

The conversation is saved as it goes. /checkpoints lists earlier sessions and /resume continues one.

What comes with it

45 skills built in

Ready-made procedures for code review, tests, refactoring, security and dependency audits, changelogs, and for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files. Run one with /name.

Plan first, then build

/plan shows the steps before anything changes. /spec turns a description into a written spec and plan in .syntax-code/specs.

It remembers the project

Conventions and decisions you keep in CODE.md and .syntax-code/memory are read at every start. /init writes the first CODE.md for you.

Several models, one command

Opus (the default), Syntax Code, Fable, OpenAI Sol and OpenAI Luna run on GenAI Studio with your key. /model switches between them.

For your organisation

Runs on Syntax GenAI Studio

The answers come from GenAI Studio and its agents. Everyone signs in with their own API key.

What is sent, and what is not

Your prompts and the contents of the files the agent reads go to GenAI Studio so the model can work with them. The tools themselves run on your machine.

Your own skills, shared through the repo

A skill is a Markdown file in .syntax-code/skills. Commit it, and the whole team has it.

Updates on your terms

/update checks for a new version, shows what changed and asks before it installs. Choose the channel: stable, beta or dev.

Install it in two minutes

One download from SharePoint sets up the command line tool and the VS Code extension. The help page shows every step for Windows and macOS, and how to create your API key.

Install Syntax Code