# Visual Studio Code (alpha)

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This feature is no longer maintained in GitBook and is subject to change. 
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The GitBook Visual Studio Code integration allows you to search and ask questions about your documentation and knowledge, directly in your code editor. With a dedicated side panel and a list of different commands, you can easily utilize your entire team’s knowledge directly in the tool you use every day.

### Installation & configuration

You can install the Visual Studio Code integration from the home screen in the GitBook app, or from the [Visual Studio Code extension marketplace](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=GitBook.gitbook-vscode).

After installing the integration to Visual Studio Code, you’ll need to log into your GitBook account in order to complete the configuration.

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The GitBook Extension for Visual Studio Code is only available for [Macs with Apple silicon](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT211814) and Windows PCs at this time.
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#### 1. Sign into GitBook with your developer token

In order for Visual Studio Code to access GitBook, you’ll need to grant your IDE access by adding a developer token. You can generate a new GitBook developer token in your [developer settings](https://app.gitbook.com/account/developer).

After you have your token, you can add it to Visual Studio Code via the Command Palette (⌘+⇧+P), under **GitBook: Sign into GitBook.**

#### 2. Select your GitBook organization

After saving your personal access token, you’ll need to choose the organization that you’d like to add your [snippets](/docs/snippets/snippets-beta.md) to.

In the Command Palette, you can choose an organization under the **GitBook: Switch Organization** option. If you’re only part of one organization, it’ll already be selected for you.

### Ask questions about your GitBook docs

Using the GitBook VS Code extension, you can ask contextual questions in the side panel to access your team’s knowledge. This section also contains a list of recent snippets by people on your team, so you can quickly see what others are saving to your team’s knowledge base from VS Code.

To summon information, simply open the GitBook panel and type your query into the search bar. You’ll get a summarized result based on information in your GitBook organization.

{% hint style="info" %}
This feature requires [GitBook AI Search (beta)](/docs/creating-content/searching-your-content/gitbook-ai.md) to be enabled for your organization.
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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://gitbook.com/docs/integrations/visual-studio-code.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.