Once you have configured a provider, codriver is the context-aware AI assistant for RStudio that is literally at your fingertips. Codriver is by your side to work in-place on the code you are editing.
If you haven’t configured yet, read the article Getting started with codriver.
Codriver works directly in the RStudio source editor. At
configuration time, it binds to the shortcut key
Ctrl+/ (default; you can pass another
combination with the shortcut parameter). Pressing this
shortcut — or invoking from the Addins menu — launches
codriver. Codriver inspects the editor context, chooses and executes one
of five modes, and presents the result.
Codriver works directly in the RStudio source editor. During
configuration, codriver offers to register the default keyboard shortcut
Ctrl+/. Shortcut registration is strongly
recommended, but can be skipped or changed later via Tools >
Modify Keyboard Shortcuts in RStudio.
Pressing the keyboard shortcut - or invoking from the Addins menu - launches codriver. Codriver inspects the editor context, chooses and executes one of five modes, and presents the result.
This article explains the codriver modes and how results are presented.
Codriver modes
Codriver determines the mode from your cursor position and any selection. At a high level:
At end of code → complete
Codriver will complete the line of code at the cursor position.On a comment line → generate
Codriver will use the comment as a natural language instruction to generate new code.In whitespace → continue
Codriver will generate a new line or block of code without instruction, from context only.
Note: whitespace directly after a comment line will trigger generate mode instead.In code → edit
Codriver will suggest improvements or fixes to existing code.In an inline comment → comment
Codriver will suggest a short inline comment (or improvement) for the code on the same line.
Result presentation
Depending on the context and selected mode, results are presented as ghost text or an edit suggestion.
Ghost text - shown gray and italic in the editor -
is used when codriver suggests new content at the cursor position with
nothing to replace. Accept with TAB. Moving the cursor,
clicking with the mouse, or typing anything other than the suggested
characters dismisses the suggestion.
Edit suggestions with green and red highlighting are
used when codriver proposes changes to existing code. Green for added
text, red for removed text. If the suggestion contains only additions,
only removals, or a single addition paired with a single removal on the
same line, the changes are shown inline in the existing code, with a
marker in the gutter. Accept with TAB or by clicking the
gutter marker. Escape dismisses the suggestion.
For more complex changes, a small panel appears just below the
affected code instead. Accept with TAB or by clicking
Apply. Escape or clicking
Discard dismisses the suggestion.
When codriver has no meaningful suggestion, it shows ghost text “# no suggestion” or an edit suggestion panel with no changes highlighted.