Installing Kilocode Beginner

Get Kilocode running in VS Code in minutes. This lesson covers installation from the marketplace, API key setup, running your first task, understanding the interface, and the permission system.

Installing from VS Code Marketplace

Method 1: From VS Code

  1. Open VS Code

    Launch Visual Studio Code on your machine.

  2. Open the Extensions panel

    Press Ctrl+Shift+X (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+X (macOS).

  3. Search for "Kilocode"

    Type Kilocode in the search bar. Look for the official Kilocode extension.

  4. Click Install

    Click the blue Install button. The extension activates automatically.

Method 2: From the Command Line

Terminal 
# Install Kilocode via the VS Code CLI
code --install-extension kilocode.kilocode
Side-by-side with Cline: You can have both Kilocode and Cline installed in VS Code simultaneously. They operate independently and do not conflict with each other.

API Key Setup

Kilocode supports the same providers as Cline. Set up your preferred AI provider:

Provider Setup Steps
Anthropic Get an API key from console.anthropic.com. Paste into Kilocode settings.
OpenAI Get an API key from platform.openai.com. Select OpenAI provider in settings.
OpenRouter Get an API key from openrouter.ai. Access all models with one key.
Google Get an API key from Google AI Studio. Select Gemini provider in settings.
Local (Ollama) Install Ollama, pull a model, select Ollama in Kilocode settings. Free and private.
Quick Start Recommendation: If you're new, start with OpenRouter. It gives you access to multiple models with one API key, and Kilocode's model routing feature works best with OpenRouter since it can switch between models automatically.

Your First Task

  1. Open the Kilocode panel

    Click the Kilocode icon in the VS Code sidebar or use the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P and type "Kilocode").

  2. Open a project

    Make sure you have a project folder open. Kilocode works within your current workspace.

  3. Type a task

    Start with something simple: "Explain the structure of this project and its main dependencies."

  4. Review and approve

    Kilocode will ask permission before reading files. Approve each action to let it proceed.

Kilocode Chat 
You: Explain the structure of this project and list
     the main dependencies.

Kilocode: I'll analyze the project structure...
          [Read package.json] Approve | Reject
          [Read tsconfig.json] Approve | Reject
          [List src/ directory] Approve | Reject

          This is a TypeScript Express API with the
          following structure...

          // Cost: $0.003 | Model: Claude Haiku (auto-selected)

Understanding the Interface

Kilocode's interface builds on Cline's layout with several enhancements:

Area Description Enhanced in Kilocode
Chat input Type tasks, drag-and-drop files and images Smart file suggestions as you type
Diff view Review proposed code changes Enhanced syntax highlighting, inline annotations
Cost display Running cost of current task Per-model breakdown, budget progress bar
Model selector Choose the AI model Auto-routing option, model recommendations
Task history View and resume previous tasks Search, filter, and cost summary per task
Settings Configure providers and behavior Cost dashboard, routing rules, budget alerts

Permission System

Like Cline, Kilocode asks for approval before taking actions. The permission categories are:

  • Read files - Reading workspace files for context
  • Write/Edit files - Creating or modifying files
  • Run commands - Executing terminal commands
  • Use browser - Launching and controlling a browser
  • Use MCP tools - Calling external MCP server tools

Each can be set to "Ask each time" or "Auto-approve." Kilocode adds the ability to set auto-approve limits per action type and per model.

Security First: Start with all permissions set to "Ask each time." As you build trust with the tool, selectively enable auto-approve for low-risk actions like file reads. Always keep command execution on manual approval.

Quick Start Guide

Here's a 5-minute getting-started checklist:

  1. Install Kilocode from the VS Code marketplace
  2. Open Kilocode settings and add your API key
  3. Open a project folder in VS Code
  4. Click the Kilocode icon in the sidebar
  5. Type: "What does this project do?"
  6. Approve the file read requests
  7. Try a simple edit: "Add a comment to the main entry file explaining what it does"
  8. Review the diff and approve if it looks good

Kilocode Installed?

With Kilocode set up, explore its enhanced features in the next lesson - including smart diff views, model routing, and the cost dashboard.

Next: Features →
← Introduction Features →

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