continue - open-source copilot with screen context

Continue is an open-source AI coding assistant with 20k+ GitHub stars. it works in VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, and supports MCP servers for external context.

setup

VS Code

1. install Continue from the VS Code marketplace
2. open Continue settings
3. edit ~/.continue/config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": [
    {
      "name": "screenpipe",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "screenpipe-mcp"]
    }
  ]
}

4. restart VS Code

JetBrains

1. install Continue from JetBrains marketplace
2. open Continue settings
3. add the same MCP configuration
4. restart the IDE

usage

once configured, Continue can access your screen history:

> @screenpipe what was I working on this morning?

> find the error I saw in my terminal and help me fix it

> what documentation was I reading about react hooks?

context providers

Continue also supports context providers. you can add screenpipe as a custom context provider for more control:

{
  "contextProviders": [
    {
      "name": "screenpipe",
      "params": {
        "apiUrl": "http://localhost:3030"
      }
    }
  ]
}

example workflows

code with context:

> I was looking at how another project handles authentication,
> find that code and help me implement something similar

recall errors:

> there was a typescript error earlier about types,
> find it and explain how to fix it

meeting follow-up:

> what did we discuss in the standup about the API changes?
> help me implement those changes

available tools

via MCP, Continue gets access to:

• search-content - search screen OCR, audio transcriptions, and input events
• export-video - create video exports from screen recordings

requirements

• screenpipe running on localhost:3030
• Continue extension in VS Code or JetBrains
• Node.js >= 18.0.0

need help? join our discord.