Keyboard Shortcuts

Sypha's keyboard shortcuts enable you to access AI assistance without removing your hands from the keyboard. Accelerate your workflow by utilizing hotkeys for common Sypha actions.

Default Keyboard Shortcuts

Sypha includes the following built-in keyboard shortcuts to streamline your workflow:

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS	Condition	Description
Add to Sypha	`Ctrl+'`	`Cmd+'`	When text is selected	Adds selected code to Sypha chat
Focus Chat Input	`Ctrl+'`	`Cmd+'`	When no text is selected	Focuses the Sypha chat input field
Generate Commit Message	(unset)	(unset)	When Git is the SCM provider	Available through the Source Control view

Available Commands for Custom Shortcuts

While Sypha has only a few default keyboard shortcuts, you can assign your own shortcuts to any of these commands:

Command ID	Description
`sypha.addToChat`	Adds selected code to Sypha chat
`sypha.addTerminalOutputToChat`	Adds terminal output to Sypha
`sypha.focusChatInput`	Focuses the Sypha chat input field
`sypha.generateGitCommitMessage`	Generates a commit message for staged changes
`sypha.explainCode`	Explains selected code
`sypha.improveCode`	Suggests improvements for selected code
`sypha.fixWithSypha`	Fixes code with errors
`claude-dev.SidebarProvider.focus`	Opens and focuses the Sypha sidebar

Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts

You can customize Sypha's keyboard shortcuts to match your preferences:

Open the Keyboard Shortcuts editor in VSCode:
- Press Ctrl+K Ctrl+S (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+K Cmd+S (macOS)
- Or navigate to File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts
Search for "Sypha" to display all available commands
Click on the pencil icon beside any command to modify its shortcut
Press the keys you wish to assign to that command
Press Enter to save the new shortcut

Suggested Custom Shortcuts

Here are some suggested shortcuts you might find beneficial:

Action	Suggested Shortcut	Command ID	Description
Open Sypha Sidebar	`Ctrl+Shift+C` / `Cmd+Shift+C`	`claude-dev.SidebarProvider.focus`	Opens the Sypha sidebar panel
New Task	`Alt+N`	`sypha.plusButtonClicked`	Starts a new Sypha task
Add Terminal to Sypha	`Alt+T`	`sypha.addTerminalOutputToChat`	Adds terminal output to Sypha
Clear Current Task	`Alt+C`	(Requires custom keybinding to UI action)	Clears the current task

Keyboard-Only Workflow

With the appropriate shortcuts, you can utilize Sypha without ever touching the mouse:

Select code with keyboard navigation (Shift+Arrow keys)
Send to Sypha with Ctrl+' / Cmd+'
Type your question and press Enter
Review the response and apply suggestions

Editor Integration Shortcuts

Sypha's keyboard shortcuts integrate seamlessly with VSCode's built-in shortcuts:

Utilize VSCode's selection shortcuts (Ctrl+L / Cmd+L to select line, etc.) before sending code to Sypha
Combine with VSCode's split editor shortcuts to view code and Sypha side by side
Utilize VSCode's terminal focus shortcut (Ctrl+` / Cmd+`) before capturing terminal output

Tips for Effective Use

Learn the default shortcut first: The Ctrl+' / Cmd+' shortcut is versatile - it adds selected code to chat when text is selected, or focuses the chat input when nothing is selected
Create muscle memory: Utilize keyboard shortcuts consistently to build habits
Customize for your workflow: Assign shortcuts to commands you use frequently
Consider ergonomics: Choose shortcuts that are comfortable for your keyboard layout

Keyboard shortcuts may seem like a small optimization, but they can significantly accelerate your workflow when using Sypha regularly. By keeping your hands on the keyboard, you maintain your coding flow while still obtaining AI assistance exactly when you need it.

How to Find All Available Commands

To display all Sypha commands that can be assigned shortcuts:

Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P)
Type "Sypha" to filter the list
Browse the available commands

This helps you discover features you might not have known about and assign shortcuts to the ones you utilize most frequently.

On this page