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Prerequisites

Before installing HAI Build, ensure you have:
1

Visual Studio Code

Download and install VS Code version 1.84.0 or higher
2

API Keys (Optional)

Obtain API keys for your preferred LLM provider:
3

Git (Recommended)

Install Git for version control integration features
You can start using HAI Build without API keys by configuring them later. The extension will prompt you when needed.

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Install from VS Code Marketplace

The easiest way to install HAI Build is directly from the VS Code Extensions marketplace:
1

Open VS Code Extensions

Press Ctrl+Shift+X (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+X (macOS) to open the Extensions view
2

Search for HAI Build

Type “HAI Build” in the search bar
3

Install the Extension

Click the Install button next to “HAI Build Code Generator” by Presidio
4

Verify Installation

Look for the HAI icon in the VS Code activity bar (left sidebar)
HAI Build Installation

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Alternative Installation Methods

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Install via Command Palette

# 1. Open Command Palette
Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux)
Cmd+Shift+P (macOS)

# 2. Type: Extensions: Install Extensions
# 3. Search for "HAI Build"
# 4. Click Install

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Install from VSIX File

For offline installation or testing pre-release versions:
1

Download VSIX

Download the .vsix file from GitHub Releases
2

Install from VSIX

Open Command Palette and run: Extensions: Install from VSIX...
3

Select File

Browse to your downloaded .vsix file and select it
4

Reload VS Code

Reload VS Code when prompted to activate the extension
When installing from VSIX files, you won’t receive automatic updates. Check GitHub releases manually for new versions.

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Post-Installation Setup

After installing HAI Build, complete these configuration steps:

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1. Open HAI Build Interface

Click the HAI icon in the activity bar or press Ctrl+' (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+' (macOS)
HAI Home Interface

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2. Configure Your LLM Provider

1

Open Settings

Click the settings gear icon in the HAI sidebar or use the Settings button
2

Select Provider

Choose your preferred LLM provider from the dropdown:
  • Anthropic (Claude Sonnet, Opus, Haiku)
  • OpenAI (GPT-4, GPT-3.5)
  • Google (Gemini Pro, Ultra)
  • OpenRouter (Access to multiple providers)
  • Ollama (Local models)
  • AWS Bedrock, Azure, Vertex AI
3

Enter API Key

Paste your API key in the configuration field
4

Select Model

Choose the specific model you want to use (e.g., claude-sonnet-4.5)
Start with Claude Sonnet 3.5 or GPT-4 for the best balance of capability and cost. You can switch models anytime.

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3. Configure Optional Features

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Telemetry Settings

For teams wanting to track AI usage and metrics: 
# Langfuse Configuration
langfuse.apiUrl=https://your-langfuse-instance.com
langfuse.apiKey=your-api-key
langfuse.publicKey=your-public-key

# PostHog Configuration
posthog.url=https://app.posthog.com
posthog.apiKey=your-posthog-key
Place this .hai.config file at your workspace root.
The .hai.config file is not git-excluded by default. Avoid committing sensitive API keys to version control.

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MCP Servers

Extend HAI with Model Context Protocol servers:
1

Click MCP Icon

Click the server icon in the HAI sidebar navigation
2

Browse Marketplace

Explore available MCP servers for databases, APIs, and tools
3

Install Servers

Click install on servers you want to use with HAI
4

Configure

Provide any required configuration (connection strings, API keys, etc.)

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4. Complete the Walkthrough

HAI Build includes an interactive walkthrough to help you learn key features: 
# Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P)
# Type: HAI: Open Walkthrough
# Follow the 5-step guided tour
The walkthrough covers:
  1. Goal-oriented prompting - How to communicate effectively with HAI
  2. Codebase learning - Letting HAI understand your project structure
  3. Model selection - Choosing the right AI models for your needs
  4. MCP tools - Extending capabilities with external integrations
  5. Control & approval - Reviewing and managing AI-generated changes

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Verify Your Installation

Confirm everything is working correctly:
1

Open a Project

Open a workspace or folder in VS Code
2

Start a New Task

Click the + (New Task) button in the HAI sidebar
3

Test Simple Query

Ask HAI a simple question about your code: “Explain the structure of this project”
4

Review Response

Verify that HAI analyzes your codebase and provides a thoughtful response
If HAI doesn’t respond, check that:
  • Your API key is correctly configured
  • You have internet connectivity
  • Your selected model is available (check provider status pages)

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Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

Memoize these shortcuts for efficient workflow: 
# Focus HAI chat input
Ctrl+'

# Add selected code to HAI
Ctrl+' (with text selected)

# Open Extensions
Ctrl+Shift+X

# Open Command Palette
Ctrl+Shift+P

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Troubleshooting

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Extension Not Appearing

1

Reload VS Code

Press Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P and run: Developer: Reload Window
2

Check Installation

Go to Extensions view and verify HAI Build is installed and enabled
3

Check VS Code Version

Ensure you’re running VS Code 1.84.0 or higher

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API Key Issues

1

Verify Key Format

Ensure your API key has no extra spaces or line breaks
2

Check Provider Status

Visit your LLM provider’s status page to verify service availability
3

Test Key

Use the provider’s playground or API to verify the key works
4

Review Quotas

Check that you haven’t exceeded API rate limits or quotas

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Performance Issues on Linux

Linux users may need additional system libraries: 
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y \
  dbus \
  libasound2 \
  libatk-bridge2.0-0 \
  libatk1.0-0 \
  libdrm2 \
  libgbm1 \
  libgtk-3-0 \
  libnss3 \
  libx11-xcb1 \
  libxcomposite1 \
  libxdamage1 \
  libxfixes3 \
  libxkbfile1 \
  libxrandr2 \
  xvfb

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Next Steps

Now that HAI Build is installed and configured:

Quick Start Guide

Learn how to use HAI Build for your first task

GitHub Repository

Explore source code and contribute

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Need Help?

Report an Issue

Found a bug? Let us know on GitHub

Request a Feature

Have an idea? Share it in Discussions

Email Support

Get help from the HAI team

Documentation

Browse comprehensive guides

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