Extensions

Extensions allow you to extend and customize AiderDesk's functionality. They can add new tools, commands, modes, agent profiles, and react to various events in the application lifecycle.

What Extensions Can Do

Register New Capabilities

• Tools - Add custom tools that the AI can use (e.g., run linters, execute scripts, query databases)
• Commands - Create slash commands like /generate-tests or /deploy
• Modes - Define custom chat modes with specific behaviors
• Agent Profiles - Create specialized agents with custom instructions and settings
• UI Components - Render custom React components in various locations throughout the interface

Hook into Events

Extensions can listen to and modify events throughout AiderDesk:

• Task Events - Task creation, initialization, updates, and closure
• Agent Events - Agent execution start, finish, and step completion
• Tool Events - Tool approval, execution, and completion
• File Events - Files added to or dropped from context
• Prompt Events - Prompt submission and processing
• Prompt Template Events - Customize prompt templates before rendering
• Response Events - Response chunks and completion
• And more...

Modify Behavior

Many events allow extensions to modify data before it's processed:

• Block dangerous operations (e.g., prevent rm -rf commands)
• Transform prompts before sending to the AI
• Filter files being added to context
• Auto-answer approval requests
• Modify AI responses

Extension Locations

Extensions can be installed at two levels:

Level	Path	Scope
Global	~/.aider-desk/extensions/	Available to all projects
Project	./.aider-desk/extensions/	Only for the current project

Project-level extensions can override global extensions with the same name.

Hot Reload

Extensions are automatically reloaded when changes are detected. There's no need to restart AiderDesk when developing or modifying extensions. Just save your file and the changes take effect within seconds.

Getting Started

1. Create an Extension - Learn how to build your first extension
2. Installation Guide - Install extensions via CLI or manually
3. API Reference - Complete API documentation
4. Events Reference - All available events and their properties
5. Extension Gallery - Browse example extensions for inspiration and check out production-ready extensions

Quick Install

The fastest way to install extensions is using the CLI:

# Interactive installation
npx @aiderdesk/extensions install

# Install specific extension
npx @aiderdesk/extensions install sound-notification --global