GitLab for VS Code extension

The GitLab for VS Code extension integrates GitLab Duo and other GitLab features directly into your IDE.

To get started, install and configure the extension. For added security, you can set up the extension in a Visual Studio Code Dev Container.

When configured, this extension brings the GitLab features you use every day directly into your VS Code environment:

When you view a GitLab project in VS Code, the extension shows you information about your current branch:

  • The status of the branch’s most recent CI/CD pipeline.
  • A link to the merge request for this branch.
  • If the merge request includes an issue closing pattern, a link to the issue.

GitLab extension panels

After you install and set up the extension, you can access the following features:

  • On the left sidebar, GitLab ( tanuki ): Manage issues and merge requests, run CI/CD commands, view pipeline status, and perform security scanning. You can also extend your view with custom queries.
  • On the left sidebar, GitLab Duo Agent Platform ( duo-agentic-chat ):
    • The chat tab: Interact with GitLab Duo Chat (Agentic), or use the New chat ( duo-chat-new ) dropdown list to select a foundational or custom agent to work with.
    • The flows tab: Use the Software Development Flow. Learn more about the difference between Chat and the flow.
  • In the status bar, Duo ( tanuki-ai ): Check the feature status of GitLab Duo Code Suggestions and GitLab Duo Code Suggestions (Classic), and review suggestions in your file as you author code.
  • On the left sidebar, GitLab Duo Chat ( duo-chat ): Interact with GitLab Duo Chat (Classic).

If these features do not appear, see troubleshooting for guidance.

Switch GitLab accounts in VS Code

The GitLab for VS Code extension uses one account for each VS Code Workspace (window). The extension automatically selects the account when:

  • You have added only one GitLab account to the extension.
  • All workspaces in your VS Code window use the same GitLab account, based on the git remote configuration.

What the extension shows in the status bar depends on your account setup:

Status bar for a user with multiple GitLab accounts, with one preselected.

  • If only one GitLab account exists, the status bar shows no information.
  • If multiple GitLab accounts exist, and the extension can determine which account to use, the status bar shows the account name next to the tanuki ( tanuki ) icon.
  • If multiple GitLab accounts exist, and the extension can’t determine which account to use, the status bar shows Multiple GitLab Accounts ( question-o ).

To select a GitLab account for the active VS Code window, select the status bar item, or:

  1. Open the Command Palette:
    • For macOS, press Command+Shift+P.
    • For Windows or Linux, press Control+Shift+P.
  2. Run the command GitLab: Select Account for this Workspace.
  3. Select your desired account from the list.

Select your GitLab project

When your Git repository can be associated with multiple GitLab projects, the extension cannot determine which account to use. This can happen when you have multiple remotes, for example:

  • origin: git@gitlab.com:gitlab-org/gitlab-vscode-extension.git
  • personal-fork: git@gitlab.com:myusername/gitlab-vscode-extension.git

In these cases, the extension adds a (multiple projects) label to show you must choose an account.

To select an account:

  1. On the vertical menu bar, select GitLab ( tanuki ) to display the extension sidebar.

  2. Expand Issues and Merge Requests.

  3. Select the line containing (multiple projects, click to select).

  4. Select your desired project:

    select project-account combination

The Issues and Merge requests list updates with your selected project’s information.

Change your selection

To change your project selection:

  1. On the vertical menu bar, select GitLab ( tanuki ) to display the extension sidebar.
  2. Expand Issues and Merge Requests to show the project list.
  3. Select the project.
  4. Next to the project name, select Clear Selected Project ( close-xs ).

Customize keyboard shortcuts

You can assign different keyboard shortcuts for Accept Inline Suggestion, Accept Next Word Of Inline Suggestion, or Accept Next Line Of Inline Suggestion:

  1. In VS Code, run the Preferences: Open Keyboard Shortcuts command.
  2. Find the shortcut you want to edit, and select Change keybinding ( pencil ).
  3. Assign your preferred shortcuts to Accept Inline Suggestion, Accept Next Word Of Inline Suggestion, or Accept Next Line Of Inline Suggestion.
  4. Press Enter to save your changes.

Update the extension

To update your extension to the latest version:

  1. In Visual Studio Code, go to Settings > Extensions.
  2. Search for GitLab published by GitLab (gitlab.com).
  3. From Extension: GitLab, select Update to {later version}.
  4. Optional. To enable automatic updates in the future, select Auto-Update.

Check status

  1. In Visual Studio Code, on the bottom status bar, select the GitLab icon ( tanuki ).
  2. A menu opens under the VS Code search box, and the GitLab for VS Code extension shows the status. Any errors are displayed next to Status:.

For GitLab Duo Chat (Classic), you can also check the status of Chat.

Enable telemetry

GitLab for VS Code uses the telemetry settings in Visual Studio Code to send usage and error information to GitLab. To enable or customize telemetry in Visual Studio Code:

  1. In Visual Studio Code, go to File > Preferences > Settings (on Windows/Linux) or Code > Settings > Settings (on macOS).
  2. In the search bar, search for Telemetry.
  3. On the left sidebar, select Telemetry.
  4. For Telemetry Level, select the data you want to share:
    • all: Sends usage data, general error telemetry, and crash reports.
    • error: Sends general error telemetry, and crash reports.
    • crash: Sends OS-level crash reports.
    • off: Disables all telemetry data in Visual Studio Code.
  5. Save your changes.