DecodeSpeak

DecodeSpeak is a VS Code extension prototype that explains diff hunks in plain English.

It keeps lightweight actions in the diff editor and uses a dedicated sidebar for a richer review flow.

Status

This project is early-stage and open for contributions.

What works today:

• active diff detection on the modified side of a text diff
• per-hunk CodeLens actions: Explain, Accept, Revert
• a DecodeSpeak sidebar in the Activity Bar
• local explanation calls through codex exec
• explanation caching per hunk
• a native inline review composer for the current diff flow

What is still rough:

• Revert is still a placeholder
• the richer review UX is moving toward the sidebar
• there is no packaged marketplace release yet

Screenshots

Sidebar surface

Diff review flow

How it works

1. Open a diff editor in VS Code
2. Put the cursor on a changed hunk
3. Trigger Explain from CodeLens or use the DecodeSpeak sidebar
4. DecodeSpeak gathers the current hunk context and calls the local codex CLI

Requirements

• VS Code ^1.96.0
• Node.js and npm
• local codex CLI available on your path, or configured through decodespeak.codexCliPath

Commands

• DecodeSpeak: Explain Active Diff Hunk
• DecodeSpeak: Accept Active Diff Hunk
• DecodeSpeak: Revert Active Diff Hunk
• DecodeSpeak: Focus Sidebar

Development

Install dependencies and run the checks:

npm install
npm run build
npm run test

Launch a dedicated Extension Development Host:

code --new-window \
  --extensionDevelopmentPath="$PWD" \
  "$PWD"

Open the sample diff quickly:

code --new-window \
  --extensionDevelopmentPath="$PWD" \
  --diff "$PWD/test-before.js" "$PWD/test-after.js"

Configuration

• decodespeak.codexCliPath: path to the codex executable
• decodespeak.codexModel: optional model override
• decodespeak.requestTimeoutMs: CLI timeout in milliseconds
• decodespeak.contextLines: modified-side context lines around the hunk

Roadmap

• move the richer review workflow into the sidebar
• make Revert a real per-hunk action
• improve sidebar-to-diff synchronization
• add stronger integration and end-to-end test coverage
• publish a marketplace-ready release

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md.

License

MIT. See LICENSE.