Get started with Flixa in VS Code
Install the Flixa extension, sign in, and make your first change with the agent.
Flixa is Deni AI's coding agent for VS Code. It reads your code, edits files, and runs commands, asking you first when needed. It also works in Cursor, Windsurf, and Antigravity.
Sign in with a Deni AI account
Flixa works on every plan, but guest accounts can't use it. Sign in with a permanent account first.
Install the extension
The extension is called Flixa (publisher deniai). Install it from your editor's extension registry.
| Editor | Where to install |
|---|---|
| VS Code | Visual Studio Marketplace |
| Cursor, Windsurf, Antigravity | Open VSX Registry |
After installing, a Flixa icon appears in the activity bar.
Sign in
- Open the command palette and run Deni AI: Login.
- Your browser opens the Flixa authorization page on deniai.app. Sign in if asked.
- Check that the code on the page matches the code in VS Code's notification ("Waiting for approval... Code: ...").
- Click Approve. VS Code connects on its own; you can close the page.
The status bar shows Deni AI: <your plan> once you're connected.
If you don't approve within 15 minutes, the login times out. Run Deni AI: Login again.
Signing in creates an API key in your account. You can have up to 5 keys. If you already have 5, the authorization page asks you to revoke one before it continues.
Sign in with an API key instead
- Create a key in Settings › API Keys and copy it.
- Click Deni AI: Not connected in the status bar.
- Choose Enter API Key manually and paste the key (it starts with
deni_).
Make your first change
- Click the Flixa icon in the activity bar to open the chat. You can also run Flixa: Open Chat.
- Pick a model from the selector next to the input box. Some models also let you choose a reasoning effort.
- Make sure the mode is Agent. Use the + button in the input box to switch modes.
- Describe the change you want and send it.
- When Flixa needs permission, an Allow / Deny card appears above the input box.
- Review the files in the Files Changed list. Keep or revert each file, or click Keep All.
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Agent | Reads and edits files and runs commands to complete the task |
| Chat | Answers questions without taking any actions |
A few things that help:
- Type
@to add a workspace file as context. The active file and your selection are added automatically; you can remove them from the input box. - Messages you send while the agent is working are queued and sent when it finishes.
- You can edit and resend your earlier messages.
- Flixa: New Chat and Flixa: Chat History are at the top of the chat view.
Choose an approval mode
The approval mode decides which actions need your OK. Change it from the + button, with /approval, or with Flixa: Set Approval Mode.
| Mode | Shell commands | Other actions |
|---|---|---|
| All Approve | Run without asking | Run without asking |
| Auto | Checked by an AI safety review | Run without asking |
| Safe Approve (default) | You confirm | Run without asking |
| Manual Approve | You confirm | You confirm |
Slash commands
Type / in the input box to see them.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
/new | Start a new chat |
/clear | Clear the messages in this chat |
/compact | Compact this chat's context |
/stop | Stop the running agent |
/agent, /chat | Switch to Agent or Chat mode |
/model [model-id] | Show or set the model |
/approval [auto|safe|manual|all] | Show or set the approval mode |
/help | List the commands |
Edit from the editor
- Inline Edit: press
Ctrl+I(Cmd+Ion macOS) in the editor, then describe the change. Select code first to focus the edit on it. - Implement Comment: write a comment such as
// TODO: ...,// implement: ...,# TODO: ..., or@flixa implement .... Click Implement (Flixa) above it.
Both show the result as a diff so you can review it before applying.
Settings worth knowing
Open them from the chat view's settings menu (Open Settings), or search @ext:deniai.flixa in VS Code settings.
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
flixa.agentApprovalMode | SAFE_APPROVE | The default approval mode |
flixa.autoContext.enabled | true | Adds your workspace file list, git status, package.json, tsconfig.json, and the active file to prompts |
flixa.autoContext.excludePatterns | node_modules, .git, dist, and others | Files and folders left out of the file list |
flixa.compactTokenThreshold | 200000 | Context size (estimated tokens) at which Flixa compacts the chat automatically. 0 turns it off |
Other flixa.autoContext.* settings choose what goes into the context and limit the file list's depth and size.
Plans and usage
Flixa runs on the usage included in your Deni AI plan. It works on every plan, Free included.
- Each model has a usage tier that sets how fast it uses your quota. The model selector shows it, for example
Tier 3 · 2x. - Some models need a higher plan. They show "Plus plan or higher required" or "Pro plan required". Clicking one opens your billing page.
- The status bar shows your plan. Click it, or choose Usage in the chat view's settings menu, to see how much you have left.
- Plan in the same menu opens Settings › Billing.
Sign out
Run Deni AI: Logout from the command palette.
Troubleshooting
The status bar says "Deni AI: Not connected"
You aren't signed in. Click it and choose Login with Deni AI.
The authorization page says "Sign in required"
You're using a guest account. Sign in with a permanent account, then approve again.
Models show "Login required"
Sign in first. Clicking a locked model starts the login.