CppPilot

Get started with CppPilot

Install the extension, choose the AI, and fix your first build error, in a few minutes.

Get CppPilot free

  1. Install CppPilot

    In Visual Studio 2022 or later, open Extensions > Manage Extensions, search for CppPilot, install it, and restart Visual Studio. You can also install it from the Visual Studio Marketplace. A separate CppPilot package exists for Visual Studio 2019. The MSVC C++ build tools are required, and Git for reviews.

  2. Choose the AI

    Open Extensions > CppPilot > AI CLI Settings... and pick one:

    • Codex CLI, with your ChatGPT account. When Codex is not signed in, CppPilot offers Sign In, which starts the official codex login in your browser.
    • Claude Code CLI, with your Claude account. If Claude reports that it is not signed in, run claude once in a terminal to sign in.
    • CppPilot Cloud, with no AI account: sign in with your email address and start with the free plan. CppPilot downloads the official Codex CLI, verifies it, and runs no installer.

    When neither Codex nor Claude is installed, Extensions > CppPilot > Home offers CppPilot Cloud or the official installation guides.

  3. Fix your first build error

    Build your solution. When it fails, choose Extensions > CppPilot > Check Last Build Errors, or right-click an error in the Error List and choose Fix with CppPilot. Pick an error and choose Fix, or Fix all errors: CppPilot explains the cause, corrects the code, rebuilds, and checks the result. Every command or file change the AI asks for appears for your approval.

  4. Go further

    • Review before you commit: Review with CppPilot in the Git Changes window.
    • Crashes: when the debugger breaks on an exception, CppPilot offers to explain it; Extensions > CppPilot > Analyze Crash Dump... opens a .dmp file.
    • Build settings: right-click the solution and choose CppPilot > Analyze Solution.
    • Questions about your code: right-click a selection and choose Explain with CppPilot, or open Extensions > CppPilot > AI Chat... with your own Codex or Claude account.

Stuck on a specific error? See the guides to common MSVC build errors.