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Getting Started

Prerequisites

Before installing CoClaw, make sure you have:

  • VS Code 1.93 or newer
  • GitHub Copilot Chat extension installed and active (github.copilot-chat)
  • An active GitHub Copilot subscription

Installation

From the VS Code Marketplace

  1. Open VS Code.
  2. Go to the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X).
  3. Search for CoClaw.
  4. Click Install.
  5. Reload VS Code if prompted.

From VSIX

  1. Download the .vsix file from the GitHub Releases page.
  2. In VS Code, open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P).
  3. Run Extensions: Install from VSIX… and select the downloaded file.

First Steps

Once installed, CoClaw is ready to use immediately:

  1. Open Copilot Chat — Click the Copilot Chat icon in the sidebar or press Ctrl+Shift+I.
  2. Mention CoClaw — Type @CoClaw followed by your message.
  3. Check the status bar — The bottom status bar shows the active model and memory count.

CoClaw will automatically start remembering facts, preferences, and decisions from your conversations.

Verify It Works

Send a test message in Copilot Chat:

@CoClaw What is this project about?

CoClaw will respond using the active Copilot model with memory-augmented context. After the response, it automatically extracts and stores relevant facts.

What Happens on First Run

When CoClaw activates for the first time, it:

  1. Creates its storage directory for memory files.
  2. Generates default SOUL.json (assistant identity) and USER.json (your preferences).
  3. Registers all commands and tools.
  4. Starts background timers for auto-distillation and memory pruning.

Next Steps