VS Code Node

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name: vscode-node description: Operate on code through a VS Code/Cursor IDE connected as an OpenClaw Node. Provides 40+ commands for file operations, language intelligence, git, testing, debugging, and Cursor Agent CLI integration. Use when you need to read/write/edit code, navigate definitions/references, run tests, debug, or delegate coding tasks to Cursor Agent. metadata: {"openclaw": {"requires": {"tools": ["nodes"]}}}

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VS Code / Cursor Node Skill

Control a VS Code or Cursor IDE remotely through the OpenClaw Node protocol.

Related

OpenClaw Node for VS Code — The VS Code/Cursor extension you need to install (required)

cursor-ide-agent — Combined skill with both CLI and Node paths (install this instead if you also use Cursor CLI)

Source: github.com/xiaoyaner-home/openclaw-vscode

Prerequisites

Extension openclaw-node-vscode installed and connected (status bar 🟢)

Node visible in nodes status

Commands in Gateway's allowCommands whitelist

Invocation Pattern

nodes invoke --node "" --invokeCommand "" --invokeParamsJson '{"key":"val"}'

Both invokeTimeoutMs (Gateway internal) and timeoutMs (HTTP layer, must be larger) are required for long operations.

Timeout guide:

| Type | invokeTimeoutMs | timeoutMs | |------|----------------|-----------| | File/editor/lang | 15000 | 20000 | | Git | 30000 | 35000 | | Test | 60000 | 65000 | | Agent plan/ask | 180000 | 185000 | | Agent run | 300000 | 305000 |

Command Categories

| Category | Prefix | Key Commands | Reference | |----------|--------|-------------|-----------| | File | vscode.file.* | read, write, edit, delete | commands/file.md | | Directory | vscode.dir.* | list | commands/file.md | | Language | vscode.lang.* | definition, references, hover, symbols, rename, codeActions, format | commands/language.md | | Editor | vscode.editor.* | active, openFiles, selections | commands/editor.md | | Diagnostics | vscode.diagnostics.* | get | commands/editor.md | | Git | vscode.git.* | status, diff, log, blame, stage, commit, stash | commands/git.md | | Test | vscode.test.* | list, run, results | commands/test-debug.md | | Debug | vscode.debug.* | launch, stop, breakpoint, evaluate, stackTrace, variables | commands/test-debug.md | | Terminal | vscode.terminal.* | run (disabled by default) | commands/terminal.md | | Agent | vscode.agent.* | status, run, setup (Cursor only) | commands/agent.md | | Workspace | vscode.workspace.* | info | commands/editor.md |

Quick Examples

Read a file

nodes invoke --node "my-vscode" --invokeCommand "vscode.file.read" --invokeParamsJson '{"path":"src/main.ts"}'
→ { content, totalLines, language }

Find all references

nodes invoke --node "my-vscode" --invokeCommand "vscode.lang.references" --invokeParamsJson '{"path":"src/main.ts","line":10,"character":5}'
→ { locations: [{ path, line, character }] }

Git status + commit

nodes invoke --node "my-vscode" --invokeCommand "vscode.git.status"
→ { branch, staged, modified, untracked, ahead, behind }
nodes invoke --node "my-vscode" --invokeCommand "vscode.git.stage" --invokeParamsJson '{"paths":["src/main.ts"]}'
nodes invoke --node "my-vscode" --invokeCommand "vscode.git.commit" --invokeParamsJson '{"message":"fix: resolve type error"}'

Delegate to Cursor Agent

nodes invoke --node "my-vscode" --invokeCommand "vscode.agent.run" --invokeParamsJson '{"prompt":"Add error handling to all API endpoints","mode":"plan"}' --invokeTimeoutMs 180000 --timeoutMs 185000
→ { output, exitCode }

Common Workflows

See references/workflows.md for detailed step-by-step workflows:

Fix a type error

Safe cross-file refactor

Delegate complex task to Cursor Agent

Error Handling

| Error | Cause | Solution | |-------|-------|----------| | node command not allowed | Not in Gateway whitelist | Add to gateway.nodes.allowCommands | | node not found | Extension not connected | Check extension status bar | | timeout | Operation too long | Increase both timeout params | | path traversal blocked | Path outside workspace | Use relative paths only | | read-only mode | Extension in read-only | Disable openclaw.readOnly setting |

Security

All paths are relative to workspace root — absolute paths and ../ blocked

Writes respect readOnly and confirmWrites extension settings

Terminal disabled by default, whitelist-only when enabled

Each device has unique Ed25519 identity, must be approved by Gateway

Extension openclaw-node-vscode installed and connected (status bar 🟢)

Node visible in nodes status

Commands in Gateway's allowCommands whitelist