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Autocomplete

Kilo Code's autocomplete feature provides intelligent code suggestions and completions while you're typing, helping you write code faster and more efficiently. It offers both automatic and manual triggering options.

How Autocomplete Works​

Autocomplete analyzes your code context and provides:

  • Inline completions as you type
  • Quick fixes for common code patterns
  • Contextual suggestions based on your surrounding code
  • Multi-line completions for complex code structures

The feature uses your selected AI provider to generate intelligent suggestions that match your coding style and project context.

Triggering Options​

Pause to Complete​

When enabled, Kilo Code automatically triggers autocomplete when you pause typing. This provides a seamless coding experience where suggestions appear naturally as you work.

  • Auto Trigger Delay: Configure the delay (in seconds) before autocomplete triggers after you stop typing
  • Default is 3 seconds, but this can be adjusted up or down
  • Shorter delays mean quicker suggestions but may be more resource-intensive

Quick Task (Cmd+I)​

Need to make a quick change? The Quick Task feature allows you to:

  1. Select code in your editor (or place your cursor where you want changes)
  2. Press Cmd+I (Mac) or Ctrl+I (Windows/Linux)
  3. Describe your goal in plain English
  4. Receive a code suggestion without going to the chat

Examples:

  • "create a React component with these props"
  • "add error handling to this function"
  • "convert this to TypeScript"
  • "optimize this loop for performance"

You can customize the keyboard shortcut in VS Code's keyboard shortcuts settings.

Manual Autocomplete (Cmd+L)​

For more control over when suggestions appear:

  1. Position your cursor where you need assistance
  2. Press Cmd+L (Mac) or Ctrl+L (Windows/Linux)
  3. Kilo Code analyzes the surrounding context
  4. Receive immediate improvements or completions

This is ideal for:

  • Quick fixes
  • Code completions
  • Refactoring suggestions
  • Keeping you in the flow without interruptions

You can customize this keyboard shortcut as well in your VS Code settings.

Advanced Settings​

Provider Configuration​

By default, autocomplete uses your main Kilo Code/OpenRouter/Mistral credentials with the Codestral model. This model is recommended as it strikes an optimal balance between performance speed and capability. However, you can:

  • Use custom provider: Toggle this option to use a different AI provider specifically for autocomplete
  • Select different models: Choose models optimized for speed vs. quality based on your needs

Best Practices​

  1. Balance speed and quality: Faster models provide quicker suggestions but may be less accurate
  2. Adjust trigger delay: Find the sweet spot between responsiveness and avoiding too many API calls
  3. Use Quick Task for complex changes: It's designed for more substantial code modifications
  4. Use Manual Autocomplete for precision: When you need suggestions at specific moments
  5. Configure providers wisely: Consider using faster, cheaper models for autocomplete while keeping more powerful models for chat

Tips​

  • Autocomplete works best with clear, well-structured code
  • Comments above functions help autocomplete understand intent
  • Variable and function names matter - descriptive names lead to better suggestions
  • Code Actions - Context menu options for common coding tasks
Is this documentation incorrect or incomplete? Report an issue on GitHub