refresh-json-data

Refresh JSON Data Skill

This skill helps you update the token estimation ratios and model pricing data in the Copilot Token Tracker extension.

Overview

The extension uses two JSON data files that need periodic updates:

1. tokenEstimators.json - Character-to-token ratio estimators for AI models
2. modelPricing.json - Pricing information per million tokens for various AI models

These files are located in src/ directory and are bundled into the extension at build time.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

• Add support for new AI models
• Update token estimation ratios based on new benchmarks
• Refresh pricing information from provider APIs
• Keep model data current with latest releases

Prerequisites

Before updating these files, ensure you have:

• Access to official pricing documentation from AI providers
• Token estimation benchmarks or documentation
• The repository cloned locally
• Node.js and npm installed

Step 1: Update tokenEstimators.json

Location

src/tokenEstimators.json

Structure

{
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#",
  "description": "Character-to-token ratio estimators for different AI models.",
  "estimators": {
    "model-name": 0.25
  }
}

Update Process

1. Research token ratios for new or updated models:

   • Typical ratios range from 0.24-0.25 (roughly 4 characters per token)
   • GPT models typically use 0.25
   • Claude models typically use 0.24
   • Check model documentation or use tokenizer tools to verify

2. Add or update entries in the estimators object:

   "new-model-name": 0.25
   

3. Common model families and their ratios:

   • GPT-4, GPT-5, GPT-O models: 0.25
   • Claude models: 0.24
   • Gemini models: 0.25
   • Other models: verify with provider documentation

4. Validation:

   • Ensure JSON syntax is valid
   • Keep ratio values between 0.20 and 0.30
   • Use consistent formatting

Step 2: Update modelPricing.json

Location

src/modelPricing.json

Structure

{
  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#",
  "description": "Model pricing data - costs per million tokens",
  "metadata": {
    "lastUpdated": "YYYY-MM-DD",
    "sources": [
      {
        "name": "Provider Name",
        "url": "https://pricing-url",
        "retrievedDate": "YYYY-MM-DD"
      }
    ],
    "disclaimer": "..."
  },
  "pricing": {
    "model-name": {
      "inputCostPerMillion": 1.25,
      "outputCostPerMillion": 10.0,
      "category": "Model category"
    }
  }
}

Update Process

1. Check official pricing pages:

   • OpenAI: https://openai.com/api/pricing/
   • Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/pricing
   • Google Gemini: https://ai.google.dev/pricing
   • GitHub Copilot Models: https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/ai-models/supported-models

2. Update pricing entries in the pricing object:

   "model-name": {
     "inputCostPerMillion": 1.25,
     "outputCostPerMillion": 10.0,
     "category": "Provider models"
   }
   

3. Update metadata:

   • Set metadata.lastUpdated to current date (YYYY-MM-DD format)
   • Add or update source URLs and retrieval dates
   • Keep the disclaimer intact

4. Pricing guidelines:

   • Costs are per million tokens
   • Input costs are typically lower than output costs
   • Group models by category (e.g., "GPT-4 models", "Claude models")
   • Verify pricing is in USD

5. Validation:

   • Ensure JSON syntax is valid
   • Verify pricing values are positive numbers
   • Check that all required fields are present

Step 3: Build and Test

After updating the JSON files:

1. Validate JSON syntax:

   # Check JSON is valid
   node -e "require('./src/tokenEstimators.json')"
   node -e "require('./src/modelPricing.json')"
   

2. Rebuild the extension:

   npm run compile
   

3. Test in VS Code:

   • Press F5 to launch Extension Development Host
   • Check that the extension loads without errors
   • Verify token tracking still works correctly
   • Review the details panel to confirm pricing calculations

4. Review changes:

   git diff src/tokenEstimators.json
   git diff src/modelPricing.json
   

Step 4: Commit Changes

1. Stage the files:

   git add src/tokenEstimators.json src/modelPricing.json
   

2. Commit with descriptive message:

   git commit -m "Update model pricing and token estimators
   
   - Updated pricing for [model names]
   - Added support for [new models]
   - Refreshed data from provider APIs as of [date]"
   

3. Push and create PR:

   git push origin your-branch-name
   

Important Notes

• Bundled at build time: These JSON files are bundled into the extension during compilation via esbuild.js
• Rebuild required: Always run npm run compile after changes
• Pricing disclaimer: GitHub Copilot pricing may differ from direct API usage
• Estimation nature: Token counts are estimates based on character ratios
• Documentation: See src/README.md for additional details

Reference Resources

• VS Code extension development: https://code.visualstudio.com/api
• Token estimation methodology: Character-to-token ratios based on model tokenizers
• Cost calculation: Uses 50/50 split between input and output tokens for estimates

Troubleshooting

JSON validation errors:

• Use a JSON validator or VS Code's built-in JSON validation
• Check for missing commas, quotes, or brackets

Build failures after update:

• Verify JSON syntax is correct
• Ensure all required fields are present
• Check that numeric values are not strings

Extension not loading updated data:

• Confirm you ran npm run compile
• Reload the Extension Development Host (Cmd/Ctrl+R)
• Check the output console for errors

Example Update Workflow

# 1. Update the JSON files with new data
code src/tokenEstimators.json
code src/modelPricing.json

# 2. Validate JSON syntax
node -e "require('./src/tokenEstimators.json')" && echo "tokenEstimators.json: OK"
node -e "require('./src/modelPricing.json')" && echo "modelPricing.json: OK"

# 3. Rebuild the extension
npm run compile

# 4. Test in VS Code
# Press F5 to launch Extension Development Host

# 5. Commit changes
git add src/tokenEstimators.json src/modelPricing.json
git commit -m "Update model pricing data for 2026-01"
git push origin update-model-data

Additional Context

The extension reads these files at compile time via:

import tokenEstimatorsData from './tokenEstimators.json';
import modelPricingData from './modelPricing.json';

The data is then used in the CopilotTokenTracker class:

• tokenEstimators - Used for token estimation from character counts
• modelPricing - Used for cost calculations in the details panel

Both files must maintain their structure to ensure the extension compiles and runs correctly.