feat: Add shortcut to force autocomplete (VSCode) #6028

ShamanicArts · 2025-06-07T04:21:30Z

Description

This pull request introduces a new command and keyboard shortcut (Cmd/Ctrl + Alt + Space) for VS Code that allows users to manually force an autocomplete suggestion. This directly addresses the problem of wanting to trigger a suggestion without waiting for the debouncer or after dismissing a previous one.

The implementation works by:

Adding a force parameter to the core CompletionProvider to bypass the debounce logic. This makes the core ready for other IDEs to implement this feature.
Registering a new VS Code-specific command, continue.forceAutocomplete, that hides any existing suggestion and then triggers a new one.

This resolves issue #6008.

Checklist

I've read the contributing guide
The relevant docs, if any, have been updated or created
The relevant tests, if any, have been updated or created

Tests

Manual Testing: The feature has been manually tested in VS Code. The shortcut successfully triggers an immediate suggestion, and it correctly forces a new generation even after a previous suggestion at the same position was rejected.
Automated Testing: An End-to-End test has been added in extensions/vscode/e2e/tests/Autocomplete.test.ts (Should force a completion using the command). This test programmatically executes the continue.forceAutocomplete command and asserts that a suggestion appears.

Note on Local E2E Tests: I encountered significant environmental issues with the local E2E test runner on my WSL/Windows setup. The CI/CD pipeline should be able to run the tests in a clean, consistent environment, and I am happy to address any failures that appear in the CI run.

- Introduced a new command `continue.forceAutocomplete` to trigger autocompletion manually. - Updated `CompletionProvider` to accept a `force` parameter for inline completion. - Enhanced `ContinueCompletionProvider` to handle manual autocompletion triggers.

Modified the `forceAutocomplete` command to first hide any existing inline suggestion before triggering a new one. This ensures VS Code's suggestion cache is cleared, forcing it to call the provider for a fresh suggestion.

- Adds `forceCompletion` method to `AutocompleteActions` to trigger autocomplete via command. - Includes new test case to verify forced autocomplete functionality. - Attempted to test these tests to the best of my ability`

Includes details on triggering autocomplete suggestions immediately using the `cmd/ctrl + alt + space` keyboard shortcut.

cubic-dev-ai · 2025-06-07T04:21:35Z

Your cubic subscription is currently inactive. Please reactivate your subscription to receive AI reviews and use cubic.

netlify · 2025-06-07T04:21:38Z

✅ Deploy Preview for continuedev ready!

Name	Link
🔨 Latest commit	`573478a`
🔍 Latest deploy log	https://app.netlify.com/projects/continuedev/deploys/684b3463b149780008c99c9b
😎 Deploy Preview	https://deploy-preview-6028--continuedev.netlify.app
📱 Preview on mobile	Toggle QR Code... Use your smartphone camera to open QR code link.

To edit notification comments on pull requests, go to your Netlify project configuration.

github-actions · 2025-06-07T04:21:43Z

All contributors have signed the CLA ✍️ ✅
_{Posted by the CLA Assistant Lite bot.}

ShamanicArts · 2025-06-07T04:22:10Z

I have read the CLA Document and I hereby sign the CLA

Patrick-Erichsen

This looks solid, really appreciate the e2e test update! Just had one comment around a point of confusion for me but I think this should be good to go 👍

Edit: I also think we should add this new shortcut to gui/src/pages/config/KeyboardShortcuts.tsx

Patrick-Erichsen · 2025-06-12T17:03:50Z

extensions/vscode/package.json

+      {
+        "command": "continue.forceAutocomplete",
+        "key": "ctrl+alt+space",
+        "when": "editorTextFocus && !editorHasSelection && !editorReadOnly && !inSnippetMode"
+      },
+      {
+        "command": "continue.forceAutocomplete",
+        "key": "cmd+alt+space",
+        "mac": "cmd+alt+space",
+        "when": "editorTextFocus && !editorHasSelection && !editorReadOnly && !inSnippetMode"
+      },


If there a reason there are two definitions of continue.forceAutocomplete here?

Believe this was a Geminism that slipped past my reviewing! corrected & tested & seems to be working fine. updated the keyboard shortcut at gui/src/pages/config/KeyboardShortcuts.tsx wasnt sure of correct syntax here. I defaulted to cmd alt space but other keyboard shortcuts are listed as alt cmd y let me know if I need to change this to conform

Patrick-Erichsen · 2025-06-12T17:14:15Z

docs/docs/autocomplete/how-to-use-it.md

@@ -23,3 +23,7 @@ Reject a full suggestion with <kbd>Esc</kbd>
 ### Partially accepting a suggestion

 For more granular control, use <kbd>cmd/ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>→</kbd> to accept parts of the suggestion word-by-word.
+
+### Forcing a suggestion


We should make it clear that this is only for VS Code

agreed. I updated the description to add (VS Code) to the title, let me know if that addresses the requirement or if theres some style guide or recommendation I should be following here

jpoly1219 · 2025-06-12T17:22:42Z

@ShamanicArts Thank you for the contribution! Could you check this docs page out and see if your PR improves on the functionality described in the docs? We really appreciate it.

- Update documentation to specify VS Code for forced suggestion - Remove duplicate VS Code shortcut binding in package.json - Add missing force autocomplete shortcut to GUI config

ShamanicArts · 2025-06-12T20:43:34Z

Thanks @jpoly1219, that's a great point.

The key difference is that this new shortcut works while automatic suggestions are still enabled, offering a "best of both worlds" experience.

It provides immediate value by allowing users to:

Manually force a request if one is missed due to a slow model or network.
Re-trigger a suggestion after accidentally dismissing it.

It also could potentially serve as a foundation for future PR, specifically allowing user to re-trigger autocompletes with slight variation in temperature or seed, essentially a "re-roll" workflow allowing the user to quickly cycle through different suggestions.

Patrick-Erichsen · 2025-06-13T00:12:12Z

Makes sense to me, thanks for the contribution @ShamanicArts ! 🚀

ShamanicArts added 6 commits June 7, 2025 02:19

bump dependencies and update package versions in package-lock files

45e39ed

Merge branch 'main' of https://github.com/ShamanicArts/continue

7ccbf86

fix(vscode): improve forceAutocomplete command reliability

cc50768

Modified the `forceAutocomplete` command to first hide any existing inline suggestion before triggering a new one. This ensures VS Code's suggestion cache is cleared, forcing it to call the provider for a fresh suggestion.

test: add force autocomplete test case

dcffd35

- Adds `forceCompletion` method to `AutocompleteActions` to trigger autocomplete via command. - Includes new test case to verify forced autocomplete functionality. - Attempted to test these tests to the best of my ability`

docs: add section on forcing autocomplete suggestions

4952c16

Includes details on triggering autocomplete suggestions immediately using the `cmd/ctrl + alt + space` keyboard shortcut.

ShamanicArts requested a review from a team as a code owner June 7, 2025 04:21

ShamanicArts requested review from Patrick-Erichsen and removed request for a team June 7, 2025 04:21

github-project-automation bot added this to Issues and PRs Jun 7, 2025

github-project-automation bot moved this to Todo in Issues and PRs Jun 7, 2025

dosubot bot added the size:M This PR changes 30-99 lines, ignoring generated files. label Jun 7, 2025

Patrick-Erichsen previously approved these changes Jun 12, 2025

View reviewed changes

dosubot bot added the lgtm This PR has been approved by a maintainer label Jun 12, 2025

github-project-automation bot moved this from Todo to In Progress in Issues and PRs Jun 12, 2025

Patrick-Erichsen reviewed Jun 12, 2025

View reviewed changes

docs: clarify VS Code-specific autocomplete shortcut

573478a

- Update documentation to specify VS Code for forced suggestion - Remove duplicate VS Code shortcut binding in package.json - Add missing force autocomplete shortcut to GUI config

ShamanicArts dismissed Patrick-Erichsen’s stale review via 573478a June 12, 2025 20:11

Patrick-Erichsen approved these changes Jun 13, 2025

View reviewed changes

Patrick-Erichsen merged commit 00911c6 into continuedev:main Jun 13, 2025
35 checks passed

github-project-automation bot moved this from In Progress to Done in Issues and PRs Jun 13, 2025

github-actions bot locked and limited conversation to collaborators Jun 13, 2025

Provide feedback

Saved searches

Use saved searches to filter your results more quickly

Uh oh!

feat: Add shortcut to force autocomplete (VSCode) #6028

feat: Add shortcut to force autocomplete (VSCode) #6028

Uh oh!

ShamanicArts commented Jun 7, 2025

Uh oh!

cubic-dev-ai bot commented Jun 7, 2025

Uh oh!

netlify bot commented Jun 7, 2025 •

edited

Loading

Uh oh!

github-actions bot commented Jun 7, 2025 •

edited

Loading

Uh oh!

ShamanicArts commented Jun 7, 2025

Uh oh!

Patrick-Erichsen left a comment •

edited

Loading

Uh oh!

Patrick-Erichsen Jun 12, 2025

Uh oh!

ShamanicArts Jun 12, 2025

Uh oh!

Patrick-Erichsen Jun 12, 2025

Uh oh!

ShamanicArts Jun 12, 2025

Uh oh!

jpoly1219 commented Jun 12, 2025

Uh oh!

ShamanicArts commented Jun 12, 2025

Uh oh!

Patrick-Erichsen commented Jun 13, 2025

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

feat: Add shortcut to force autocomplete (VSCode) #6028

feat: Add shortcut to force autocomplete (VSCode) #6028

Uh oh!

Conversation

ShamanicArts commented Jun 7, 2025

Description

Checklist

Tests

Uh oh!

cubic-dev-ai bot commented Jun 7, 2025

Uh oh!

netlify bot commented Jun 7, 2025 • edited Loading Uh oh! There was an error while loading. Please reload this page.

Uh oh!

✅ Deploy Preview for continuedev ready!

Uh oh!

github-actions bot commented Jun 7, 2025 • edited Loading Uh oh! There was an error while loading. Please reload this page.

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

ShamanicArts commented Jun 7, 2025

Uh oh!

Patrick-Erichsen left a comment • edited Loading Uh oh! There was an error while loading. Please reload this page.

Uh oh!

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

Uh oh!

Patrick-Erichsen Jun 12, 2025

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

Uh oh!

ShamanicArts Jun 12, 2025

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

Uh oh!

Patrick-Erichsen Jun 12, 2025

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

Uh oh!

ShamanicArts Jun 12, 2025

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

Uh oh!

jpoly1219 commented Jun 12, 2025

Uh oh!

ShamanicArts commented Jun 12, 2025

Uh oh!

Patrick-Erichsen commented Jun 13, 2025

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

netlify bot commented Jun 7, 2025 •

edited

Loading

github-actions bot commented Jun 7, 2025 •

edited

Loading

Patrick-Erichsen left a comment •

edited

Loading