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Top AI Coding Assistant Tools for VSCode

Top AI Coding Assistant Tools for VSCode

11/14/2024 • Nap
AI Code VSCode

Here are some of the best AI coding assistant extensions for Visual Studio Code, based on their popularity, features, and user feedback:

Top AI Coding Assistants for VSCode

  1. GitHub Copilot

    • Description: Developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI, Copilot acts as an AI pair programmer. It provides intelligent code completions, converts comments into code, and supports multiple languages.
    • Features:
      • Smart autocomplete suggestions.
      • Chat interface for troubleshooting and feature building.
      • Supports a wide range of programming languages.
    • Pricing: Paid service with a 30-day free trial available.
    • Popularity: Over 4 million installs and a strong reputation among developers[2][4][5].

  2. Tabnine

    • Description: An AI assistant that offers code completion across various languages. It uses machine learning models trained on open-source projects.
    • Features:
      • Whole-line and block code completions.
      • Ability to generate unit tests and documentation.
      • Supports a wide array of programming languages (JavaScript, Python, Java, etc.).
    • Pricing: Free version available; paid Pro version offers enhanced features with a 90-day trial option.
    • Popularity: Over 7 million downloads and used by over one million developers[2][3][5].

  3. AWS CodeWhisperer

    • Description: This tool is tailored for AWS users, providing code suggestions based on AWS SDKs and documentation.
    • Features:
      • Terminal autocomplete and command generation.
      • Chat-based assistant for documentation navigation.
    • Pricing: Free while in preview for AWS users[1].

  4. Cody

    • Description: An AI-powered coding assistant that helps write and understand code faster. It offers features similar to Codeium but may lack context awareness in some cases.
    • Features:
      • Code explanations, autocomplete, and command execution.
      • Available in both free and pro versions.
    • Popularity: Gaining traction among users looking for alternatives to GitHub Copilot[3][4].

  5. IntelliCode

    • Description: A Microsoft tool that enhances the IntelliSense experience by providing context-aware suggestions based on patterns from GitHub repositories.
    • Features:
      • Whole-line completions and repeated edits across files.
      • Works with multiple programming languages including C#, Python, and JavaScript.
    • Pricing: Free to use[2][4].

  6. CodeGPT

    • Description: Integrates various large language models to provide chat assistance, code explanations, and error-checking capabilities.
    • Features:
      • Supports auto-completion and can interface with OpenAI’s API for advanced functionalities.
    • Popularity: Increasingly popular due to its versatility[3].

  7. Codeium

    • Description: A newer entrant that focuses on providing fast autocomplete features tailored for developers looking for efficient coding assistance.
    • Features:
      • Offers chat capabilities similar to other AI assistants.
      • Aimed at improving coding speed and accuracy[1][3].

These tools vary in their capabilities, pricing structures, and specific use cases, so developers should consider their individual needs when selecting an AI coding assistant for Visual Studio Code.

Citations:

[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/vscode/comments/18qvxqc/which_free_ai_coding_assistant_do_you_suggest_on/

[2] https://visualstudiomagazine.com/articles/2023/03/08/vs-code-ai-tools.aspx

[3] https://www.kdnuggets.com/top-5-ai-coding-assistants-you-must-try

[4] https://www.thedroidsonroids.com/blog/best-ai-coding-assistant-tools

[5] https://dev.to/enodi/top-5-ai-powered-vscode-extensions-every-developer-needs-59cf

[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he0_W5iCv-I

[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNskJAl5dBw

[8] https://www.gitkraken.com/blog/vs-code-extensions-using-artificial-intelligence