Reclaiming Deep Work: I Built a VS Code Extension to Stop AI Dependency

How "AI-Detox" breaks the dopamine loop of instant code generation. Introduction: The Invisible Constraint We’ve all been there. You are working on a complex feature, and a prompt box pops up offering to finish your function, write your unit tests, or explain the error message. It’s convenient. It’s fast. But is it making us better engineers? In my previous article, "The IDE Dopamine Loop," I explored how constant reliance on AI agents fragments our focus and turns us into reviewers rather than creators. Knowing the problem is one thing, but changing habits is another. That’s why I decided to stop talking about it and build a solution. Introducing AI-Detox I am thrilled to announce AI-Detox, a new open-source extension for VS Code and Cursor designed to help you consciously manage your AI usage. AI-Detox isn't about being anti-AI; it's about being pro-focus. It’s about ensuring that AI serves you, rather than you serving the dopamine hit of the auto-complete suggestion. How it Works AI