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IDL and ENVI Agent FAQ

What are the IDL and ENVI Agents?

What can IDL or ENVI Agent help me do?

What do I need to get started with IDL or ENVI Agents?

VSCode and AnchorIDL for VSCode

GitHub Copilot

LLMs

Custom ENVI Tools

How to guide the IDL or ENVI Agent

Tips and ​Troubleshooting

 

What are IDL and ENVI Agents?

IDL for VSCode integrates seamlessly with GitHub Copilot, giving you AI-powered assistants for IDL programming and ENVI workflows. This integration is completely optional for you to use and designed to enhance your productivity and help understand IDL and ENVI, not replace users.

What You Get:

IDL Agent and ENVI Agent which are powered by:

  • Native GitHub Copilot support through Model Context Protocol (MCP)
  • Smart IDL code generation with context-aware suggestions
  • Automated ENVI workflows that mirror expert problem-solving approaches

 

​What can IDL or ENVI Agent help me do?

  • Run any ENVI tool, including custom tools from the Analytics Repository, IDL's search path, or ENVI's custom code folder.
  • Learn about rasters, vectors, machine learning models, deep learning models, and more.
  • View rasters, vectors, and raster series datasets directly in ENVI.
  • Generate IDL routines and IDL Notebooks for repeatable workflows.

IDL and ENVI Agent have access to all the out-of-the-box tools that IDL and ENVI include.

If you can do it with IDL and ENVI today, without needing custom tools or AI models, then the Agent can help.

 

What do I need to get started with IDL or ENVI Agents?

You will need to have the following items installed and setup:

  1. Install IDL 9.2 or ENVI 6.2 or newer
  2. Install Visual Studio Code or update to the latest version
  3. Install IDL for VSCode (version 6.0 or newer)
  4. A paid GitHub Copilot subscription
  5. Internet access

Licensing

You need a licensed copy of IDL 9.2 or ENVI+IDL 6.2, plus

  • ENVI Agent license feature, an additional cost module subscription. 
  • IDL Agent is Included with an IDL maintenance subscription. 

*ENVI Pro 6.2 licenses now include ENVI Agent at no additional cost

If you would like to purchase an ENVI Agent license, please contact Technical Support or your local sales representative.

 

How can I update my license to include IDL or ENVI Agent license features?

  • IDL users only need to install VSCode+IDL for VSCode to have access to IDL Agent.
  • ENVI+IDL and new ENVI Pro license users will need to activate using the license code to enable ENVI Agent.
  • Existing ENVI Pro users can use the Upgrade License in the ENVI-IDL License Administrator to enable ENVI Agent:

Note: ENVI Agent requires an additional cost ENVI Agent license

 

What ENVI tools and modules can ENVI Agent run?

ENVI Agent includes tools/tasks and documentation for ENVI and IDL. Additionally, ENVI Agent has access to the following ENVI Tasks from modules:

  • Atmospheric Correction
  • Crop Science
  • Machine Learning
  • Deep Learning
  • Photogrammetry Module

Note: Modules are purchased separately. SAR modules are currently not supported. 

 

VSCode and AnchorIDL for VSCode

VSCode and IDL for VS Code 6.0+ is required to use IDL or ENVI Agent.

What is VSCode?

Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, lightweight, and powerful source code editor designed for developers. VS Code is open-source and supports a wide range of programming languages and development workflows through its extensive ecosystem of extensions.

What is IDL for VSCode?

An open-source extension which brings IDL (Interactive Data Language) to Visual Studio Code. This extension does not include IDL, but you can download it from our website here.

This extension includes:

  • A full-featured IDL code editor, with variable type detection, auto complete, chromacoding, problem reporting, and code formatting
  • Does not require IDL to be installed to write/edit code. IDL is only required when debugging/running code or using IDL Notebooks.
  • An integrated debugger with breakpoints, or run command-line IDL within the VS Code terminal
  • Native support IDL Notebooks with embedded graphics and save to PDF (this is from VSCode, does not require Python)
  • Hover help contains the complete documentation for ENVI and IDL, including examples that you can open in IDL Notebooks.
  • Create routine-definition documentation for routines within SAVE files or DLMs
  • Support for internationalization

Check out our official docs site to learn more about these features and what else is included in the extension.

 

AnchorGitHub Copilot

What is Github Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding assistant integrated into Visual Studio Code, designed to enhance productivity and streamline development. It provides context-aware code suggestions, automates repetitive tasks, and assists with debugging, testing, and learning new technologies.

 

If you are encountering a problem with your account please contact the GitHub Copilot support.

 

Can I use GitHub Copilot in disconnected environments?

No. ENVI Agent requires a paid GitHub Copilot subscription and an internet connection.

What LLMs do GitHub Copilot support?

Model availability depends on your Copilot subscription tier.​

 

AnchorLLMs

Large language models (LLMs) are a type of machine learning model designed to process and generate natural language. GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered coding assistant, leverages OpenAI's large language models (LLMs) to provide code suggestions and assist developers in writing code more efficiently.

What LLM should I use?

We tested and recommend Claude Sonnet for IDL and ENVI Agent,  however, you can try any of the available models!


 

AnchorCustom ENVI Tools

Where does ENVI Agent find custom tools?

There are many locations we look for custom ENVI Tools. ENVI Agent searches:

  • Open folders/workspaces in VSCode
  • IDL’s search path
  • ENVI’s formal and user extensions
  • IDL package folders
  • Startup logs list all available tool locations.

 

 

How to guide the IDL or ENVI Agent

LLMs need context, iteration, and clarification. This mirrors human technical collaboration and your results improve over iteration cycles.

Guide the LLM to use "ENVI" or "IDL" to your requests. For example,

  • Using ENVI can you do [remote sensing workflow]
  • Can you [run this task] with ENVI/IDL?

If the Agent is not going in the right direction or through too many iterations, you can:

  • Click the floating Stop button
  • Restate your request more clearly
  • Provide step‑based instructions

Rather than “Extract water bodies in this image that are more than 1 km²,

try:

  • Map water in the image
  • Convert results to vector
  • Filter vector to remove small water bodies

This gives the LLM clear, direct steps and leads to results faster.

 

Tips and Troubleshooting

Why is GitHub Copilot not being smart/intelligent?

If performance is poor, it might be that you are using:

  • Free Copilot models (low accuracy, high hallucination)
  • A restricted network environment
  • An unlinked GitHub account

Be sure to guide the LLM to use ENVI/IDL, make sure to add "ENVI" or "IDL" to your requests. Here's some examples:

  • Using ENVI can you do [awesome remote sensing workflow]
  • Can you [insert request] with ENVI/IDL?

 

Why is IDL/ENVI Agent is unable to start/talk to IDL

VSCode needs the path to IDL’s bin directory, for example:

  • C:\Program Files\NV5\ENVI62\IDL92\bin\bin.x86_64

If ENVI Agent cannot detect it automatically, it will prompt you, or you can set it manually using Specify IDL Directory, as shown:

 

Why can’t the LLM run tool “X” that I have installed on my system?

Each ENVI Tool must include:

  • A task file with a description
  • Descriptions for each input/output parameter

If any are missing, the LLM cannot use the tool and Logs will show missing descriptions.

 

I just updated my code, but my tools are not performing differently, why?

You may need to manually refresh the tool list using the MCP tool icon (wrench and screwdriver).

 

I made code changes to a tool, but ENVI Agent isn’t using my changes.

Live updates occur only for:

  • Files actively edited
  • Files in the open workspace

Files outside these (in search paths or packages) require restarting VSCode.

Pro tip: After editing a tool, you may need a new chat or to request parameter reloads.

 

I installed analytic X from the Analytics Repository, why can’t ENVI Agent run it?

For any analytics that are not being edited in your VSCode workspace, you’ll need to restart VS Code to pick it up.

 

How can I view an error log in IDL for VSCode?

Almost every error should point users to the logs in a dialog, but if you need to manually access it, use the IDL sidebar:

 

Can I make the chat window bigger?

Making the chat window larger and detached can be helpful when working with Agents and your IDL for VSCode environment.  You can adjust the size and location of the chat window by creating a New Chat Window in the VSCode environment.

Here’s where you find this in the right-sidebar of VSCode:

 

Why do spectral tools take so long to run?

Spectral tools require large payloads, Include more metadata, and need additional context for the LLM

These factors make spectral workflows slower when executed via ENVI Agent.

2026-03-17 - created by MM

 

What are the differences between ENVI Deep Learning 4.0 (Complete) and ENVI Deep Learning 4.0 (Runtime)?
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