Alex Sidebar
Cheatsheet
Alex Sidebar
Cheatsheet
A guide to Alex Sidebar’s features, shortcuts, and best practices
Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ⌘ + L | New Chat with code | Start a new AI chat with your selected code |
| ⌘ + N | New empty chat | Create a fresh chat without code context |
| ⌘ + ⇧ + L | Add to current chat | Append selected code to current chat |
| ⌘ + K | Inline completions | Get quick inline code suggestions |
| ⌘ + P | Advanced search | Open the advanced search panel |
| ⌘ + / | Switch AI models | Toggle between different AI models |
| ⌘ + ⌫ | Stop generation | Immediately stop the current AI response |
| ⌘ + T | New tab | Create a new chat tab |
| ⌘ + W | Close tab | Close the current chat tab |
| Ctrl + Tab | Switch tabs | Navigate between chat tabs |
| ⌘ + ⇧ + G | Git panel | Open the Git status panel |
| ⌘ + ⇧ + V | Voice mode | Toggle voice recording on/off |
| esc | Close panel | Universal close button for any open panel |
AI Models & Their Strengths
| Model | Best For |
|---|---|
| Claude Sonnet 3.5 | Large codebases and complex tasks |
| Grok Beta | Chat and coding tasks |
| Perplexity | Coding documentation and examples from internet |
| GPT-4o | General coding and chat tasks |
| o1 | Advanced reasoning in coding and mathematics |
These model recommendations are opinionated and based on general use cases. You should experiment with different models to find which ones work best for your specific needs and coding style. Each developer may have different preferences based on their workflow and the types of problems they are solving.
Search Features
- Advanced Search (⌘ + P)
- Search through codebase
- Filter by file type
- Jump to specific files
Best Practices
-
Code Context
- Select relevant code before starting chat
- Include imports and related types
- Provide clear and specific questions
-
Model Selection
- Switch models if not getting desired results
Common Use Cases & Workflows
Code Review
- Select code → ⌘ + L
- Ask for review
- Add context with ⌘ + ⇧ + L if needed
- Use ▶️ to apply suggestions
Quick Fixes
- Place cursor where you want to fix
- ⌘ + K for suggestions
- Use esc to dismiss if needed
Warnings and Errors
- Click error/warning indicator in Xcode’s editor near line number
- Review AI-suggested fixes
- Click ▶️ to implement changes, or use Quick Apply (⏩) for instant application
- For complex cases:
- Select problematic code and copy error/warning
- Use ⌘ + L for detailed help
- Add context as needed
Common fixes include:
- Build errors (imports, types)
- Deprecated API usage
Configuration Tips
- Customize shortcuts in Settings
- Set up system and custom prompts for repeated tasks
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not provide too little context
- Do not stick with one model if struggling
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