AI coding tools can make code appear faster, but generated code still has to be checked. Shikhar Thakur calls the extra effort of inspecting code he did not write the “Cognitive Verification Tax.” His response is Glow Comments, a visual heads-up display for VS Code, Cursor, and Windsurf that makes selected review comments and editor diagnostics stand out. It offers visual cues, not proof that code is correct or an automatic security review.
What does “Cognitive Verification Tax” mean?
It is Thakur’s label for a shift he describes in AI-assisted programming: less time may go into writing syntax, while more attention is needed to understand and verify unfamiliar generated code. The phrase is his framing, not an established scientific measure. The creator-authored article provides no study quantifying the burden or showing how much time it adds.
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The practical concern is straightforward. Code can look polished while containing a mock implementation, a silent failure, an unchecked assumption, or missing boundary validation. These are illustrative possibilities, not a reported incident rate. A visual review aid may help direct attention, but it cannot establish that code is safe or semantically correct.
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How Glow Comments is intended to help
Thakur describes Glow Comments v0.2.3 as a free, MIT-licensed extension for VS Code, Cursor, and Windsurf. Its central idea is to reduce visual noise during a focused review: instead of treating every line as equally prominent, the extension can emphasize selected comment tags and diagnostics.
Audit Lens
The article describes an Audit Lens command that dims code not marked for attention while leaving selected comments and diagnostics prominent. Tags listed include // !, // FIXME:, // TODO:, and // HACK:. The author gives Cmd + K, Cmd + G for macOS and Ctrl + Alt + G for Windows and Linux as shortcuts. Exact behavior and shortcuts may depend on the installed version and editor configuration; the article’s description is not independent verification of current compatibility.
Thakur says unflagged code is dimmed to 22% opacity and gives an “8-second” audit of a 500-line example. The article does not disclose a measurement method or test results for either figure, so they should be read as creator claims, not expected results for typical reviews.
Diagnostic emphasis
The extension is also described as highlighting diagnostics supplied by the VS Code diagnostic provider, including compiler or linter feedback. The article characterizes errors as crimson and warnings as amber. This is a way to make existing diagnostics easier to notice; the source does not say Glow Comments independently discovers semantic flaws, vulnerabilities, or unreported defects.
Theme and agent-rule setup
The author describes separate color choices for dark and light themes and a command to initialize AI-agent instruction rules in project files such as .cursorrules, CLAUDE.md, or AGENTS.md. The article claims the light-theme palette reaches at least a 4.5:1 contrast ratio, but offers no measurement protocol or independent accessibility audit. Treat that number as an unverified creator claim, not as established WCAG compliance; check the colors in your own theme and setup.
Rank #3
What the extension can—and cannot—tell you
Glow Comments’ described workflow is useful to understand as an attention aid. It can make human-selected markers and editor-reported diagnostics more visible. Its usefulness depends on someone marking the relevant code and on the editor or tooling producing diagnostics in the first place.
- It can surface: tagged comments and diagnostics that the configured editor reports, according to the creator’s description.
- It does not establish: that unmarked code is safe, that all defects have been found, or that generated code meets its requirements.
- It is not described as: a semantic security scanner, a correctness proof, or an independently validated way to reduce review time.
That distinction matters in practice. A dimmed line is not necessarily harmless, and a highlighted line is not necessarily defective. Use the visual layer to guide inspection, then verify behavior, assumptions, edge cases, and boundaries with the checks appropriate to the project.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about availability and evidence
The article identifies the project as version 0.2.3 and names VS Code, Cursor, and Windsurf, with Marketplace and Open VSX distribution routes. Those details are creator-reported. Current registry listings, release status, editor-version compatibility, and installation behavior have not been independently established here, so confirm the current listing and its requirements before relying on the extension.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe same caution applies to the author’s claim of 80 ms debouncing and the stated contrast ratio: no test method, results, or independent review are supplied. The available account is a creator-authored DEV Community article dated September 23, 2026, suitable for describing the author’s intent and feature claims, but not for concluding that the extension improves accuracy, accessibility, or review speed.
Best Value
When this visual workflow may fit
Glow Comments’ approach may suit a developer who already uses comments to flag code requiring scrutiny and wants those markers, plus existing diagnostics, to remain visible in a less cluttered review view. It is less useful as a substitute for deciding what deserves scrutiny: generated code without markers or diagnostics can still require careful reading.
Before adopting it, check that the extension is currently available for your editor, try the cues with your actual theme, and decide whether the comment tags match your team’s conventions. Treat the tool as a way to organize attention—not as evidence that an audit is complete.
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