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Skip the Copy-Paste: Reference Any Code Instantly

Tired of manually typing file paths and copying code snippets when asking Forge for help? This VS Code extension lets you reference any code with a single keystroke.

What This Extension Does​

The problem: Describing code problems is slow and unclear

  • "That function around line 50 something..."
  • Copy-pasting code snippets manually
  • Typing out long file paths

The solution: Show Forge exactly what you mean

  • Select any code → Press Ctrl+U → Get a perfect reference
  • Works with single lines, code blocks, or entire files
Prerequisite: Forge CLI

This extension works with Forge CLI. Install that first if you haven't already.

See It in Action​

Forge VS Code Extension Demo

What you just saw: Select code → Press Ctrl+U → Reference copied and ready to use with Forge.

Installation​

What You Need​

  • VS Code: Version 1.102.0 or higher
  • Forge CLI: Install it first if you haven't already

Install the Extension​

Option 1: VS Code Marketplace (Easiest)

  1. Open VS Code
  2. Press Ctrl+Shift+X (Extensions panel)
  3. Search for "Forge Code"
  4. Click Install on the official ForgeCode extension

Option 2: Command Line

code --install-extension ForgeCode.forge-vscode

Test that it works: Open any code file, select some text, press Ctrl+U. If something gets copied to your clipboard, you're ready to go!

Official extension: VS Code Marketplace

Basic Usage​

The Core Workflow​

  1. Select code (or don't select anything for whole file)
  2. Press Ctrl+U
  3. Paste into Forge conversation

That's it. No typing, no manual copying.

What Gets Copied​

Format: @[<filepath>:<line start>:<line end>]

How selection works:

  • No selection: @[path/to/file.js] → References entire file
  • Single line: @[path/to/file.js:42:42] → References line 42 only
  • Multiple lines: @[path/to/file.js:15:28] → References lines 15-28

Power Move: Multi-File References​

Here's the real power move. Select code from different files and copy them all at once:

> Compare these approaches @[src/utils/oldMethod.js:15:45] @[src/utils/newMethod.js:20:50]
> Review this component and its styles @[components/Button.tsx] @[styles/button.css:12:34]

Now Forge can see exactly what code you're talking about, with full context and precise line numbers. No more "that function around line 50 something" conversations.

Alternative Ways to Copy​

  • Command Palette: Ctrl+Shift+P → type "Copy File Reference"
  • Right-click Menu: Select code → right-click → "Copy File Reference"

Real-World Examples​

Debugging Issues​

Scenario: Authentication fails in production but works locally.

> Help me debug this auth function @[src/auth/AuthService.ts:45:67] - works locally but fails in production

Forge sees the exact code and can suggest environment-specific issues to check.

Code Reviews​

Scenario: You spot a component that could be improved.

> Can you refactor this component to use hooks? @[components/UserProfile.tsx:12:89] Also suggest performance optimizations

Instead of generic advice, Forge sees your specific component and suggests targeted improvements.

Type Mismatches​

Scenario: API data doesn't match your TypeScript types.

> @[src/api/users.js:156:203] @[src/types/User.ts] have a type mismatch - API returns 'user_id' but type expects 'userId'

Forge compares both files simultaneously and suggests proper fixes.

Feature Implementation​

Scenario: Adding dark mode across multiple components.

> Add dark mode support to @[src/components/ThemeProvider.tsx:15:45] and update @[src/styles/theme.css:23:67]

Forge understands your theme system and suggests consistent changes across files.

When Things Don't Work​

Extension Completely Dead​

Quick fixes to try:

  1. Make sure Forge CLI is actually installed - run forge --version in terminal
  2. Check your VS Code version (Help → About) - need 1.102.0+
  3. Verify the extension is enabled in Extensions view
  4. Restart VS Code completely

Ctrl+U Does Nothing​

This usually means another extension grabbed that shortcut. Here's how to fix it:

  1. File → Preferences → Keyboard Shortcuts
  2. Search for "Forge"
  3. Click the pencil next to "Copy File Reference"
  4. Pick a new combo like Ctrl+Shift+U or Alt+U

Common culprits: Vim extensions, other developer tools that love Ctrl+U.

Nothing Gets Copied to Clipboard​

Try these workarounds:

  • Use Command Palette: Ctrl+Shift+P → "Copy File Reference"
  • Right-click menu → "Copy File Reference"
  • Check if you're in a text file (extension won't work on images/binaries)
  • Some systems have clipboard permission issues - restart VS Code usually fixes this

Weird File Paths​

Sometimes you'll see paths like /workspaces/project/src/file.js instead of normal ones.

This is actually fine. VS Code uses different path formats for remote development, containers, and workspace setups. Forge handles these correctly, so don't worry about how they look.

Pro Tips​

Start small: Reference one function, ask Forge about it, see how it responds. Then level up to multi-file references.

Be selective: Don't dump entire files unless you actually need context from the whole thing. Forge works better with focused references.

Combine with descriptions: @[component.tsx:45:67] this validation logic isn't working with empty strings gives Forge both code and context.

Next Steps​

You're ready to start using Ctrl+U everywhere. The goal isn't to reference every line of code - it's to give Forge just enough context to actually help with your specific situation.

Related Guides​

Still Need Help?​

If you're still stuck:

  • Extension logs: View → Output → Select "Forge" from dropdown
  • Report bugs: GitHub Issues
  • Community help: Join our Discord for quick answers

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