In current times of software development, AI code assistants are becoming super helpful tools that boost our (programmers’) productivity and make our code better.
These assistants are part of the broader category of AI coding tools that enhance productivity and code quality.
These smart tools (which are backed by Artificial Intelligence) are there to make coding easier, suggest things, and even do boring tasks automatically.
In this blog, we’ll talk about what AI code assistants are, how they are helping developers at present, and also check out the top 3 popular choices of AI code assistants out there on the web.
Some FAQs
What Are AI Code Assistants?
AI code assistants are tools that use artificial intelligence, like machine learning and natural language processing, to understand, predict, and generate code.
AI code assistants often include features like AI code completion, which provides code suggestions and automates repetitive tasks.
They work smoothly within development setups, giving us suggestions and fixes instantly as a human developer would.
How Do AI Code Assistants Work?
They learn from huge collections of public code. This helps them understand coding styles, understand context, and create code snippets that match what users want.
As developers start typing, the assistant guesses what they might need next and offers ideas or finishes lines of code.
These tools can also assist with code generation, providing intelligent code snippets and suggestions to improve the coding process.
Why you must give it a try once?
AI coding assistants have revolutionized the way developers approach coding tasks.
These tools offer real-time code suggestions, automate repetitive tasks, and provide insightful explanations and modifications.
Increases Productivity
These tools will surely speed up your development by handling repetitive tasks and offering code suggestions. This means you can spend more time on important tasks and less on basic coding.
Enhances Code Quality
AI code assistants recommend improved and error-free code most of the time, which can boost the quality of the software under development. They also assist in keeping the code consistent throughout.
Useful for newcomers
They are great learning tools for new developers as they offer instant feedback and tips which makes it easier for beginner programmers to understand better methods and code more efficiently.
Best AI Code Assistants
After covering some key points, let’s check out the top 3 AI coding Assistants:
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is more than just a code autocomplete toolᅳit’s designed to act as your coding mate.
Developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI, Copilot leverages a vast corpus of open-source code to offer real-time suggestions for whole lines or blocks of code.
It integrates directly into Visual Studio Code and aims to help developers write code faster and learn new APIs and languages along the way.
Pros:
- Offers context-aware code suggestions.
- Supports a wide range of programming languages.
- Continuously learns from the user’s coding style.
Cons:
- Sometimes generates irrelevant code.
- Requires a good internet connection to function properly.
- Privacy concerns since it learns from user input.
Cost:
GitHub Copilot is subscription-based, costing $10 per month or $100 annually for solo developers.
Ratings:
Generally receives positive reviews for its innovative approach and efficiency, with ratings around 4 out of 5 on various developer forums.
Getting Started:
Step 1 –> Sign up for GitHub by simply going to their site if you haven’t already.
Step 2 –> Subscribe to any plan on GitHub Copilot as per your need. I recommend going with the individual one if you are solo developer or coder.
Step 3 –> Install the Copilot extension in your code editor, like VSCode.
Step 4 –> Start coding and Copilot will begin suggesting code snippets.
Tabnine
Tabnine is an AI-powered code completion tool that improves developer productivity by offering accurate and context-aware AI code completions.
It Supports a wide range of programming languages and IDEs, Tabnine uses machine learning models trained on millions of lines of code to predict and insert the code you might need next, drastically reducing the need for manual typing.
Pros:
- Works across multiple IDEs and editors.
- Highly effective at code completion.
- Easy to install and use.
Cons:
- Can be resource-intensive, slowing down the IDE.
- The free version has limited functionalities.
Cost:
Tabnine offers a FREE basic plan, with pro versions starting at $12 per month.
Ratings:
Tabnine scores highly for its broad compatibility and efficiency, often rated around 4.5 out of 5.
Getting Started:
Step 1 –> Head on to Tabnine’s official site, then click on plan and pricing and scroll down to BASIC plan if you want to use the FREE version. Finally, hit the Install button.
Step 2 –> Configure it within your preferred IDE. Here, I am opening it with VS code by installing the Tabnine extension.
Step 3 –> Start typing, and Tabnine will provide code completions without any delay.
Codeium
Codeium is a new player in the market, built to match a developer’s coding style while offering helpful code suggestions and improvements.
It works with many popular programming languages and easily fits into popular Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), aiming to make coding smoother and boost productivity with machine learning.
Pros:
- Adapts to users personal coding style.
- Provides code refactoring suggestions.
- Supports several popular programming languages.
Cons:
- Still new, with fewer reviews and usage cases.
- Limited integration options compared to more established tools.
Cost:
Currently offered for FREE as it is newer in the market.
Ratings:
Due to its newer status, detailed ratings are not as widespread, but early adopters have praised its adaptability.
Getting Started:
Step 1 –> Visit Codeium’s website to use the software in your suited IDE or try it within your browser.
Step 2 –> Install it as an extension in your IDE or hit the “Get Extension” button to install it from your browser itself.
Step 3 –> Start coding, and Codeium will assist with code suggestions and refactoring.
How to pick the right AI coding assistant?
Choosing an AI coding assistant relies on what you need:
Compatibility: Make sure the tool works smoothly with your development environment.
Language Support: See if it covers the programming languages you use.
It is important to check if the AI coding assistant supports major programming languages to cater to diverse development needs.
Customization: Some tools let you tweak them to match how you code, which can be a big plus.
Challenges it brings with legacy code
Although these tools bring many benefits, they also come with challenges.
While AI code assistants can suggest code snippets and generated code, it is important to scrutinize and rigorously test the suggested code to ensure it fits the project needs.
Relying too much on them can make it harder for developers to code on their own.
Additionally, concerns about data privacy and security come up, especially when the tool learns from your private code.
Conclusion
AI coding assistants are changing how software development works at present, making it faster and more innovative.
As these tools get better, they will become the key players in the software development lifecycle, streamlining various stages from conceptual design to deployment.
So, whether you’re an expert developer or just a beginner, using an AI code assistant in your work can really boost how efficiently and effectively you code.
This short beginner’s guide aims to explain AI coding assistants and show you how they can make a big difference in your programming journey.
Keeping up with these advancements will help you stay ahead in software development.