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Installation & Initialization Guide

Time required: ~10 minutes

Prerequisites

Make sure the following are ready:

  • ✅ VS Code 1.102.0 or above+ Check via Help → About (macOS: Code → About Visual Studio Code). image-20251211-215721.png
  • ✅ Git installed
    Run git --version in a terminal. image-20251211-215721.png
  • ✅ GitHub Copilot subscription
    SRS Writer uses VS Code LM APIs provided by Copilot. Ensure the Copilot icon in the bottom-right is logged in and healthy. image-20251211-215721.png

SRS Writer is free; Copilot provides the AI.

Step 1: Install SRS Writer Via VS Code Marketplace

  1. Open VS Code
  2. Extensions view (Cmd+Shift+X / Ctrl+Shift+X)
  3. Search SRS Writer
  4. Install "SRS Writer" by Testany

Install from Marketplace

Copies templates, sets defaults, initializes Git (main + wip), and creates .session-log/ for session files.

  1. Command Palette Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P
  2. Run SRS Writer: Control Panel
  3. Pick Create Workspace & Initialize
  4. Choose a parent folder → enter workspace name (letters/numbers/-/_)
  5. VS Code will open the new workspace when finished image-20251211-215721.gif

You’ll get:

  • .templates/ (chapter and prototype templates)
  • .vscode/settings.json packaged with the extension
  • Git repo with main and working wip branch
  • .session-log/ session files for multi-project switching

Step 3: Verify & select a model

  1. Status bar shows SRS: ... when the extension is active
  2. Open Chat panel (Cmd+Shift+I / Ctrl+Shift+I) and type @srs-writer → icon should appear
  3. Choose an AI model from the chat header (Copilot-provided; premium model recommended for quality)

SRS Writer in Chat

Troubleshooting

❌ "No AI model available"

  1. Ensure Copilot is logged in (bottom-right icon)
  2. Run Developer: Reload Window
  3. Confirm subscription at github.com/settings/copilot ↗ and sign in again

❌ @srs-writer not found in chat

  1. Developer: Reload Window
  2. Check the extension is installed/enabled
  3. If still missing, uninstall then reinstall the extension

❌ Extension won’t install

  1. Verify VS Code ≥ 1.102.0
  2. Use VSIX offline install if Marketplace is blocked
  3. Remove old cache then reinstall: 
    Bash
    rm -rf ~/.vscode/extensions/testany.srs-writer-plugin-*

Next steps