What is the best AI coding assistant for VS Code?
Short answerThere is no single best choice for everyone. Popular options include GitHub Copilot and other extensions from the VS Code marketplace, and the right pick depends on your budget, model choice and how much you want the assistant to do on its own.
Common options in VS Code
VS Code supports AI assistants through extensions that you install from the marketplace. GitHub Copilot is a widely used option, and other extensions offer chat, autocomplete or agent features with different model choices.
Each one has its own free tier and paid plans.
- GitHub Copilot
- Extensions that let you bring your own model key
- Agent-style extensions that edit many files
- Chat and autocomplete from the marketplace
How to choose
Start with the features you will use most, such as autocomplete, chat or multi-file edits. Check whether the tool works well with the language and framework you use.
Try the free tier first and see whether it saves you time on real tasks.
Keep the setup simple
Installing several assistants at once can cause clashing suggestions and slow the editor. Pick one main assistant for autocomplete and disable others for the same job.
Revisit the choice every few months, because the tools change quickly.
Common mistakes
- Installing several assistants that all offer autocomplete, which leads to duplicate or clashing suggestions.
- Choosing only by price without testing on your own project.
- Assuming a popular name is the best fit for your language or workflow.
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