Installation

From VS Code Marketplace

1. Open VS Code (or a compatible fork)
2. Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
3. Search for Cortex Agent
4. Install cortex-labs.cortex-agent

code --install-extension cortex-labs.cortex-agent

From Open VSX

For VSCodium, Cursor, Windsurf, and other Open VSX clients: open-vsx.org

ovsx install cortex-labs.cortex-agent

From VSIX

Download the .vsix from GitHub Releases, then:

code --install-extension cortex-agent-<version>.vsix

First Run

1. Create or use an OpenCode account at opencode.ai — that is your AI billing. Cortex has no separate signup.
2. Install the OpenCode CLI and ensure it is on your PATH (or set cortex.opencodeBinary). On Windows, Cortex looks for opencode.exe.
3. Install Cortex, then open chat (status bar or Ctrl/Cmd+Alt+C) — it opens as a right editor panel. A project folder is optional; without one, Cortex uses your home directory for general questions.
4. Complete the onboarding checklist (or open Providers): connect Zen or any OpenCode provider (API key / OAuth). Cortex writes OpenCode’s local auth.json even if the local server is not up yet. Stronger models are under Models.
5. Pick a model (or leave Auto) and start chatting

Requirements

• VS Code 1.100+ (or a compatible fork)
• An OpenCode account / subscription (the only AI account — no Cortex signup)
• OpenCode CLI ≥ 1.18.0 on PATH (or cortex.opencodeBinary)
• Final build v1.0.0 expires ~6 months after its release date (183 days; cortex.beta.expirationDate). After that, install a newer VSIX from GitHub Releases, or set cortex.beta.enabled to false.