Side Chat (Workspace)

The Side Chat (Workspace) allows you to interact with powerful LLMs (Large Language Models) directly within your development environment. Whether you're debugging, optimizing, or "Vibe Coding" from scratch, Side Chat provides real-time assistance and deep project awareness.

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Getting Started

• Access: Open Side Chat() from the Sidebar in your Workspace.

• Model Selection: Select your preferred LLM from the dropdown menu before starting a conversation.

  • You can check the credit consumption for each model in the [Supported Models] guide.

• Session Context: Side Chat maintains context within a single session, ensuring a seamless flow of interaction.

• Mode Selection: Switch between Ask and Agent modes using the toggle in the input box.

  • Ask Mode: A read-only conversational assistant for questions, code reviews, and explanations. Code blocks are displayed for reference and can be copied, but cannot be applied directly.

  • Agent Mode: An autonomous AI agent that can explore your codebase, modify files, and execute terminal commands on your behalf.

Adding Context: Precision Responses

To get the most accurate answers, provide the AI with visibility into your actual work.

Project Files

Click the [Add context] button to reference specific code without manual copy-pasting.

• Recent Files: Instantly access your 5 most recently opened files.

• Search: Find any file by name or path within the project.

Visual Context (Images)

Click the [Upload Images] button or drag and drop images directly into Side Chat to provide visual context. The LLM analyzes the content to enhance its response—perfect for UI debugging or mockup analysis.

Feature	Details
Capacity	Up to 5 images per message
Size Limit	Max 20MB per image (Auto-compressed)
Formats	JPG, PNG, SVG, and more

Uploaded images are saved within your project folder, and you can freely upload images within the container's storage capacity.

Applying Code Suggestions

When Side Chat provides a code block, you can integrate it directly into your editor:

• Apply: Click to apply the suggested changes directly to the target file.

• Insert: Paste the code at your current cursor position.

• Copy: Copy the code to your clipboard.

• Preview: Hover over the [Apply] or [Insert] button to see exactly where the code will be placed.

Reviewing Changes

Once code is applied, you can review it in the editor's diff view:

1. Compare the "Before" and "After" code.

2. Click [Accept] or [Discard] for individual changes.

3. Use the editor toolbar's [Accept All] / [Discard All] buttons to manage multiple changes at once.

Managing Chat History

Never lose a valuable solution by utilizing the history features.

• Recently Used List: Quickly load recent conversations from the "Recently used chat" list.

• Persistent History: Click the [History icon] (top left) to view all past sessions.

• Deleting History: Open the History list, hover over a session, and click the Trash can icon to remove it.

Message Queue

You can continue sending messages while the AI is still generating a response. Side Chat supports a message queue that lets you type and send follow-up messages while the AI is still responding.

• Queue messages: Send up to 5 messages while the AI is responding. Messages appear in order and are sent automatically once the current response completes.

• Model Switching: If you change the selected model while messages are queued, the remaining messages will be sent using the newly selected model.

• Queue Persistence: Queued messages are saved when you close or refresh the browser tab. When you return to the same conversation, click [Resume Sending] to continue where you left off, or [Discard All] to clear the queue.

• Interruptions: If you stop a response or an error occurs, the queue pauses. You can click [Continue Sending] to resume, [Skip & Continue] to skip the failed message and proceed with the rest, or [Discard All] to clear the queue.

Tips for Efficient Use

Maximize your productivity by using the right prompts and context.

• Be Specific: Clear instructions yield higher-quality results.

  • "What’s wrong with this function? [Code snippet]"

  • "Can you optimize this SQL query?"

  • "Explain this Python error: [Error message]"

• Vibe Coding: Describe high-level requirements (e.g., "Build a simple auth middleware"), and let Side Chat generate the necessary logic or file structures for you.

• Keep Context Relevant: Use [Add Context] to focus the AI's "attention" on specific files to avoid hallucinations.

• Review First: Always use the Diff View to ensure AI suggestions align with your project logic before accepting.

• Manage History: Use the History icon (top left) to view past sessions or delete unnecessary history.

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🤖 Moving to Autonomous Workflows?

If you need the AI to independently explore your codebase and run commands, check out our [Agent mode] guide.

With Side Chat in Arkain, you have the power of LLMs right at your fingertips. Solve problems faster, learn better, and keep track of all your conversations with ease!