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POST
/
tools
/
get_code_actions
Get Code Actions
curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.example.com/tools/get_code_actions
{
  "actions": [
    {
      "title": "<string>",
      "kind": "<string>",
      "edit": {
        "changes": {}
      },
      "isPreferred": true
    }
  ]
}

​
Overview

Get actionable suggestions to fix errors, apply quick fixes, or refactor code. This provides the same “lightbulb” suggestions you see in your IDE.

​
Request

​
uri
string
required
File URI (e.g., file:///workspace/main.py)
​
range
object
required
Text range to get actions for
​
context
object
Context for determining actions

​
Response

​
actions
array
Array of available code actions

​
Example Request

curl -X POST https://api.pylancemcp.dev/v1/tools/call \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "get_code_actions",
    "arguments": {
      "uri": "file:///workspace/app/views.py",
      "range": {
        "start": {"line": 15, "character": 0},
        "end": {"line": 15, "character": 30}
      }
    }
  }'

​
Example Response

{
  "actions": [
    {
      "title": "Import 'List' from typing",
      "kind": "quickfix",
      "edit": {
        "changes": {
          "file:///workspace/app/views.py": [
            {
              "range": {
                "start": { "line": 0, "character": 0 },
                "end": { "line": 0, "character": 0 }
              },
              "newText": "from typing import List\n"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "isPreferred": true
    },
    {
      "title": "Add type annotation",
      "kind": "refactor",
      "edit": {
        "changes": {
          "file:///workspace/app/views.py": [
            {
              "range": {
                "start": { "line": 15, "character": 15 },
                "end": { "line": 15, "character": 15 }
              },
              "newText": ": List[Item]"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "isPreferred": false
    }
  ]
}

​
Action Types

​
Quick Fixes

Fix errors and warnings automatically:
ActionFixes
Add import"List" is not defined → Add from typing import List
Remove unusedImport "os" is not accessed → Remove import os
Add type hintMissing type annotation → Add : int
Fix indentationIndentation error → Correct spacing

​
Refactorings

Transform code structure:
ActionTransform
Extract methodSelection → New function
Extract variableExpression → Named variable
Inline variableVariable → Direct value
Convert to f-string"Hello " + name → f"Hello {name}"

​
Source Actions

Organize code:
ActionEffect
Organize importsSort and group imports
Remove unused importsDelete unreferenced imports
Add all missing importsImport all undefined names
Sort importsAlphabetically sort imports

​
Use Cases

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Auto-Fix Errors

# Code with error:
items = []  # List not imported

# Get code actions at error location
actions = client.get_code_actions(uri=file_uri, range=error_range)

# Find and apply the "Add import" quickfix
for action in actions.actions:
    if action.kind == "quickfix" and "import" in action.title.lower():
        apply_workspace_edit(action.edit)
        print(f"✅ Applied: {action.title}")
        break

​
Extract Function

# Select code to extract:
# Lines 15-20 contain repeated calculation logic

actions = client.get_code_actions(
    uri=file_uri,
    range={"start": {"line": 15, "character": 0}, 
           "end": {"line": 20, "character": 50}}
)

# Find "Extract method" action
for action in actions.actions:
    if "extract" in action.kind.lower():
        # Preview the change
        print(f"Will create new function: {action.title}")
        # Apply if desired
        apply_workspace_edit(action.edit)

​
Organize Imports

# Organize all imports in a file
actions = client.get_code_actions(
    uri=file_uri,
    range={"start": {"line": 0, "character": 0},
           "end": {"line": 0, "character": 0}},
    context={"only": ["source.organizeImports"]}
)

if actions.actions:
    organize_action = actions.actions[0]
    apply_workspace_edit(organize_action.edit)
    print("✨ Imports organized")

​
Convert String Formatting

# Convert old-style formatting to f-strings
# Before: message = "Hello " + name + "!"

actions = client.get_code_actions(uri=file_uri, range=selection_range)

for action in actions.actions:
    if "f-string" in action.title.lower():
        apply_workspace_edit(action.edit)
        # After: message = f"Hello {name}!"
        break

​
Filtering Actions

Request only specific action types: 
actions = client.get_code_actions(
    uri=file_uri,
    range=range,
    context={"only": ["quickfix"]}
)

​
Action Kinds

Full list of action kinds:
KindCategoryExamples
quickfixError fixesAdd import, fix syntax
refactorCode transformationExtract, inline, rename
refactor.extractExtract operationsExtract method/variable
refactor.inlineInline operationsInline variable/function
refactor.rewriteRewrite patternsConvert to f-string
sourceSource-levelOrganize/sort code
source.organizeImportsImport managementSort and group imports

​
Preferred Actions

When multiple actions are available, isPreferred: true indicates the recommended one: 
# Get actions
actions = client.get_code_actions(...)

# Apply preferred action automatically
preferred = next((a for a in actions.actions if a.is_preferred), None)
if preferred:
    apply_workspace_edit(preferred.edit)

​
Performance Tips

Request on Demand: Only fetch actions when user explicitly asks (lightbulb icon clicked)
Use Filters: Request specific action kinds to reduce response size
Cache by Range: Actions for same range don’t change unless code changes

​
Error Responses

CodeReasonSolution
FILE_NOT_FOUNDFile doesn’t existVerify file path
INVALID_RANGERange out of boundsCheck start/end positions
NO_ACTIONS_AVAILABLENo actions for this rangeTry different selection
PARSE_ERRORCannot parse fileFix syntax errors first

​
Rate Limits

TierRequests/HourRequests/Day
Free20100
Hobby5005,000
Pro5,00050,000
EnterpriseUnlimitedUnlimited

Get Diagnostics

Find errors that need fixing

Apply Workspace Edit

Apply the action’s edits

Rename Symbol

Specialized rename refactoring

Format Document

Auto-format code style