The teaching layer for any AI coding agent.
Cursor, Copilot, Claude Code, Codex, Cline, Kilo Code, Aider, Continue, Windsurf, Antigravity — Contral explains every line they write, while you write. One install. One click. Every editor.
Install
One extension. Every editor.
Same contral.contral binary, one click. Works wherever you already write code.
VS Code
Microsoft's editor — direct install via Marketplace.
Cursor
AI-first fork — Cursor's composer learns alongside you.
Windsurf
Codeium's IDE — Cascade's edits get explained.
Antigravity
Google's coding agent — Gemini edits, Contral teaches.
Kilo Code
Open-source agent fork — Cline / Roo Code lineage.
VSCodium
Telemetry-free VS Code — Open VSX is your registry.
Pair with terminal agents (Claude Code, Codex CLI) using npx @contral/claude-code-hook install
What's inside
Everything that ships
Twelve features. One extension binary. Same UX across every editor.
Auto-teach on every AI edit
Cursor's agent, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Codex CLI, Cline, Kilo Code, Aider, Continue, OpenCode, Windsurf, or Antigravity edits a file — within seconds, a streaming card explains the why behind each change. Multi-file bursts walk you through every file in order.
Recursive coding agent
Contral's own Build Agent ships with Plan / Fast / Deep / Recursive modes. Recursive mode runs a Generator → Critic → Revisor loop that re-edits its own output until it passes self-review. Slower; higher quality on hard problems.
Plan mode for greenfield work
First turn is read-only. Contral proposes a plan with files and step sequence; you Approve or Reject. Then it executes. Every file write asks Apply / Skip first; commands need approval before they run.
Java curriculum, 49+ topics
Hint economy, prerequisite-locked progression, project-graded checkpoints, deep-dive explanations on demand, reward hints for completion. Basics + Intermediate are free; Advanced and Data Structures unlock with Pro.
Codebase tours
Point Contral at any repo — it scans, understands, and produces a guided learning path tailored to that codebase. Free-form Q&A on top, with citations to the actual files.
Selection / file teaching
Right-click any code → Teach me this selection. Streaming explanation card with line-by-line highlights and Ask Tutor follow-ups inside the card. Click a line, see the explanation jump to it.
Slash commands
/login, /status, /web, /search, /plan, /fast, /deep, /list mcp, /list skills, /help and more. Type / in the chat to discover them all with descriptions.
MCP servers + skills
Install Model Context Protocol servers and reusable skills from a curated registry. Scoped to your account, configurable per workspace.
Auto-update
The extension keeps itself current. Mandatory updates ship with one-click install. You'll never be stuck on a stale version.
BYOK on every plan
Plug your own Anthropic, OpenAI, Groq, OpenRouter, Together, DeepInfra, Mistral, Fireworks key (or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint). Quotas relax to a generous abuse-prevention cap. Keys live in your OS keychain.
Privacy-first
Telemetry is opt-in. Default events carry no file contents, no prompts, no model responses. Your code is never used to train models. Strict CSP on every webview.
Account dashboard
Live usage, plan limits, BYOK token totals, payment history at contral.ai/overview. The same numbers your in-editor chip shows — read directly from your account.
Or get the full thing
Want the standalone IDE?
Contral ships as a complete IDE too — same teaching engine, deeper integration, no extension conflicts. Native builds for macOS, Linux, and Windows.
Download Contral IDEFree download · works offline with BYOK
FAQ