Chatting with Kilo Code

{% callout type="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. {% /callout %}

{% callout type="note" title="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. {% /callout %}

Quick Setup

{% tabs %} {% tab label="VSCode" %}

Click the Kilo Code icon ({% kiloCodeIcon /%}) 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.

{% /tab %} {% tab label="CLI" %}

Open your terminal and run kilo to launch the interactive terminal interface (TUI). You'll see a prompt where you can start typing requests immediately. The TUI is fully keyboard-driven — no mouse required.

{% /tab %} {% /tabs %}

How to Talk to Kilo Code

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

{% image src="/docs/img/typing-your-requests/typing-your-requests.png" alt="Example of typing a request in Kilo Code" width="800" caption="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

{% callout type="info" title="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. {% /callout %}

The Chat Interface

{% tabs %} {% tab label="VSCode" %}

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 search and 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 and terminal autocomplete suggestions — use @filename to attach a file or @terminal to include your active terminal output. You can also 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.

Exporting local transcripts:

Run /export in chat, or open a local session's History context menu and choose Export session transcript. The save dialog lets you choose the Markdown (.md) destination.

Kilo builds the export from the complete local session history, not only the messages currently loaded in the chat view.

Renaming sessions:

Double-click the current session title at the top of the chat to edit it inline. Press Enter or click outside the field to save, or press Escape to cancel.

You can also rename local sessions from History using the edit button or the session's context menu.

{% /tab %} {% tab label="CLI" %}

Essential controls:

• Input prompt - Type your requests and press Enter to send
• Action buttons - Approve or reject proposed changes, answer questions
• Agent cycling - Switch between agents using keybinds or slash commands
• Session management - Start new sessions or search and resume previous ones
• New task - Start a new task, available using the + button at the top or New Task button above the chat input
• Worktree - Continue the current task with it's git state and session history in the Agent Manager in an isolated worktree
• File changes - Shows the number of lines changed and opens a diff view

Providing context:

Type @ in the TUI to get file autocomplete suggestions, or mention file paths directly in your message (e.g., "look at src/utils.ts") and the agent will read them. When using the non-interactive kilo run command, you can pass -f path/to/file.ts to explicitly include files. The agent can also discover files on its own using its built-in tools.

{% /tab %} {% /tabs %}

Quick Interactions

Click to act:

• File paths → Opens the file
• URLs → Opens in browser
• Messages → Expand/collapse details
• Code blocks → Copy button appears
• Mermaid code blocks → Fenced mermaid blocks render as diagrams after the message finishes streaming. The source remains copyable, and invalid Mermaid syntax stays visible in a contained error state.

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:

1. Question Appears - Kilo Code asks a question using the question tool
2. Options Displayed - Selectable options are presented that you can choose from
3. 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

{% tabs %} {% tab label="VSCode" %}

{% callout type="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. {% /callout %}

{% callout type="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. {% /callout %}

{% callout type="tip" %} Pop out to an editor tab. If the sidebar feels cramped, pop the chat into a full editor tab for more room. {% /callout %}

{% callout type="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.

{% image src="/docs/img/move-to-secondary.png" alt="Move to Secondary Side Bar" width="600" caption="Move Kilo Code to the Secondary Side Bar for better workspace organization" /%} {% /callout %}

{% /tab %} {% tab label="CLI" %}

{% callout type="tip" %} Switch agents for different tasks. Use /agents, press Tab to cycle agents, or use Ctrl+X a to open the agent picker. Each agent is tuned for a different type of task — see Using Agents for details. {% /callout %}

{% callout type="tip" %} The TUI is keyboard-driven. Navigate, approve changes, and switch agents entirely from the keyboard — no mouse needed. {% /callout %}

{% /tab %} {% /tabs %}

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