Commands

Commands are reusable slash commands that you can type in the DevoxxGenie input field to trigger predefined prompts. They provide a fast way to perform common tasks like explaining code, generating tests, or reviewing changes.

Renamed from "Custom Prompts" / "Skills"

This feature was previously called Custom Prompts, and briefly Skills. It is now called Commands.

The new Skills feature is a separate capability — Skills are LLM-activated SKILL.md files loaded from disk, not user-typed slash commands.

How Commands Work

1. Type a slash command in the input field (e.g., /explain)
2. Optionally add arguments after the command
3. Press Enter — the command's prompt template is sent to the LLM

Commands support a $ARGUMENT placeholder that gets replaced with whatever text you type after the command. For example:

/test write unit tests for the UserService class

If the command's prompt template is:

$ARGUMENT

Then $ARGUMENT gets replaced with write unit tests for the UserService class.

Commands are a pre-LLM text substitution macro — DevoxxGenie expands the template locally before sending the resulting text to the model. This is fundamentally different from Skills, which are activated by the LLM mid-conversation via a tool call.

Built-in Commands

DevoxxGenie ships with several built-in commands:

Command	Description
/test	Generate unit tests for the selected code
/explain	Explain the selected code
/review	Review the selected code and suggest improvements
/find	Search for code in your project using RAG
/help	Show available commands
/init	Generate a DEVOXXGENIE.md project description file

Using /find with RAG

The /find command requires RAG to be enabled and activated. When you type /find authentication flow, DevoxxGenie performs a semantic search across your indexed codebase and returns the most relevant code snippets.

If RAG is not configured, you'll see a notification explaining how to set it up.

Using /help

The /help command displays a summary of all available commands directly in the output panel without sending anything to the LLM.

Managing Commands

You can add, edit, and remove commands from the settings.

Accessing Commands Settings

1. Open IntelliJ IDEA settings
2. Navigate to Tools > DevoxxGenie > Commands

Adding a Command

1. Click the + (Add) button
2. Enter a command name (without the / prefix)
3. Enter the prompt template — use $ARGUMENT where you want user input inserted
4. Click OK

Example: Create a /docstring command:

• Command: docstring
• Prompt: Write comprehensive JavaDoc for the following code: $ARGUMENT

Usage: /docstring with code selected in the editor.

Editing a Command

Double-click an existing command in the table to edit its command name or prompt template.

Removing a Command

Select a command in the table and click the - (Remove) button.

Restoring Defaults

Click the Restore button to reset the command list back to the built-in defaults. This removes any custom commands you've added.

Commands vs. System Prompt

Commands and the system prompt serve different purposes:

• System prompt: Sets the overall context and behavior for the LLM across all conversations. Configured in Settings > Prompts.
• Commands: Individual slash commands that trigger specific prompt templates for one-off tasks. Configured in Settings > Commands.

Commands vs. Skills

	Commands	Skills
Invoked by	User types /name args	LLM calls activate_skill(name)
Timing	Pre-LLM, before the request is sent	Mid-conversation, LLM-driven
Requires Agent mode	No	Yes
Storage	IDE Settings (XML)	SKILL.md files on disk
Best for	Quick repeatable prompt templates	Reusable agent capabilities and workflows

See the Skills page for the new SKILL.md-based feature.

Tips

• Keep command prompts focused on a single task for best results
• Use $ARGUMENT to make commands flexible — the same command can handle different inputs
• Create project-specific commands for patterns you use frequently (e.g., /service to generate a service class following your project's conventions)
• Combine commands with file context — select code in the editor before running a command to include it in the prompt

Related Features

• Skills — LLM-activated capabilities loaded from SKILL.md files
• Agent Mode — let the LLM use tools and skills autonomously
• MCP Support — extend capabilities with external tool servers
• Chat Interface — use commands directly in the chat panel