By name: blackbox-vscode description: > Guides usage of the Blackbox AI VS Code extension, including IDE agent modes, sub-agent orchestration, voice mode, browser automation, auto-approval settings, model selection, and context integration with files, URLs, and git. Activates when configuring or using the Blackbox VS Code extension. compatibility: > Requires VS Code with Blackbox AI extension installed (marketplace ID: Blackbox.blackbox). metadata: author: tradecraft version: "1.0.0"
Blackbox AI VS Code Extension
The Blackbox AI VS Code extension (4.7M+ installs) provides an AI coding agent directly in your IDE with auto/manual/voice modes, sub-agent orchestration, browser automation, and access to 300+ models.
When to Use This Skill
- Installing or configuring the Blackbox AI VS Code extension
- Switching between Auto, Manual, and Voice modes
- Setting up sub-agent orchestration for parallel task execution
- Using browser automation tools in VS Code
- Configuring auto-approval settings for file edits and commands
- Adding context via URLs, git commits, files, or folders
- Selecting models or configuring the chairman LLM
- Using
/clibackground tasks with worktree isolation
Quick Start
Install
- Open VS Code Extensions (
Ctrl+Shift+X/Cmd+Shift+X) - Search for "BLACKBOX AI"
- Click Install
- Click the AI Agent icon on the right sidebar
- Authenticate with your Blackbox AI account
Start Using
Open the AI chat panel and type your request:
> Create a React component for a user profile card with avatar, name, and bio
Core Concepts
Agent Modes
| Mode | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Manual | Approve each action before execution | Sensitive codebases, learning |
| Auto | Automatically executes approved actions | Fast iteration, trusted tasks |
| Voice | Hands-free via speech-to-text/text-to-speech | Brainstorming, accessibility |
Switch modes from the chat interface controls.
Auto-Approval Settings
When Auto mode is enabled, independently toggle approval for:
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Edit file | Modify existing files |
| Create file | Create new files |
| Command execution | Run terminal commands |
| Read file | Read file contents |
Access via: Controls icon (next to settings button) → Tools configuration
Context Integration
Add context to your prompts using @:
| Context Type | How to Use |
|---|---|
| Files | @filename.ts — reference specific files |
| Folders | @src/components/ — reference directories |
| URLs | Paste web URLs for documentation context |
| Git Commits | Reference specific commits for history |
| Conversation | Previous chat messages provide continuity |
Sub-Agent Orchestration
Blackbox breaks complex tasks into sub-tasks and runs them in parallel:
- Main agent analyzes and decomposes the task
- Sub-agents spawn in dedicated terminal instances (via Blackbox CLI)
- Each sub-agent handles a specific sub-task concurrently
- Main agent coordinates and consolidates results
Requirements: Blackbox CLI must be installed and configured.
Best for:
- Large feature implementations
- Complex bug fixes requiring multiple approaches
- Refactoring across many files
See references/orchestration.md for details.
Voice Mode
Powered by ElevenLabs speech-to-text and text-to-speech.
Enable: Click the voice mode button (between add context and camera buttons).
Capabilities:
- Code analysis and structure inquiries
- Code editing and refactoring requests
- Debugging assistance
- Feature development guidance
- Repository insights
Controls:
- Mute — pause voice input
- Hang-up — disable voice mode
Browser Automation
The browser tool allows the agent to:
- Launch and control a browser
- Navigate websites and interact with elements
- Capture screenshots
- Test web applications in real-time
Setup: Enable Playwright via the Extensions page.
Background CLI Tasks (/cli)
Run tasks in the background without blocking your main workflow:
/cli
Modes:
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Workspace | Runs in current workspace |
| Worktree | Creates isolated worktree-<timestamp> branch |
Output streams live in the VS Code Terminal Editor tab. Multiple sessions can run in parallel. Worktree mode is recommended to avoid conflicts.
Model Selection
Access 300+ models including:
- OpenAI: GPT-4o, GPT-5, GPT-5.2 Codex
- Anthropic: Claude Sonnet 4, Claude Opus 4.5
- Google: Gemini 2.5 Pro, Gemini 2.5 Flash
- Meta: Llama 3.1, Llama 4
- DeepSeek: V3 (free), R1 (free)
- xAI: Grok 3
- And many more
The Chairman LLM is an internal routing layer that compares outputs across models for complex tasks.
Common Patterns
Code Generation
> Create a REST API endpoint for /api/users with CRUD operations using Express and Zod validation
Debugging
> @src/auth/login.ts This file throws a 401 error even with valid credentials. Debug the token validation logic.
Code Review
> Review @src/components/Dashboard.tsx for performance issues, accessibility, and React best practices
Project Generation
> Create a new Next.js 15 project with App Router, TypeScript, Tailwind, and Supabase auth
Multi-File Refactor with Orchestration
> Refactor the authentication system to use the repository pattern. Update all services, controllers, and tests.
(Blackbox will use sub-agent orchestration to parallelize across files)
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| Extension not loading | Restart VS Code, check for updates |
| Authentication fails | Sign out and re-authenticate |
| Voice mode not working | Check microphone permissions |
| Sub-agents not spawning | Install and configure Blackbox CLI |
| Browser tool unavailable | Enable Playwright in Extensions |
| Auto mode too aggressive | Fine-tune auto-approval toggles |
References
- See
references/configuration.mdfor settings and auto-approval config - See
references/orchestration.mdfor sub-agent parallel execution - See
references/context-integration.mdfor context types and usage