In 2024, super smart computer programs called Large Language Models (LLMs) are now really good at helping us with work. One of the coolest things they do is help coders write better code faster.
They catch mistakes and suggest ways to make the code work better, which saves a lot of time and effort. There are a bunch of these tools out there, so it can be hard to know which one to pick.
In this blog, we’ll check out the best AI coding assistants in 2024. We’ll talk about what makes each one special, what they can do, and how good they are at answering questions from developers.
What can the AI coding assistant do?
An AI coding assistant is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to help you write code more efficiently and accurately. It’s like having a super-smart code reviewer, autocomplete, and integrated chat tool all in one.
The new code assistant, powered by the latest large language models, can assist you with:
- Code suggestion: As you type, an AI coding assistant can suggest code snippets and functions that are relevant to the context of what you’re working on.
- Fix bugs: It can help you identify bugs and errors in your code before actually running it. It analyzes your code and provides suggestions to fix any errors.
- Multi-language support: You don’t need to learn a new programming language. You can generate and run code in any language.
- Refactoring: An AI coding assistant can help you clean up your code and make it more readable. It can generate docstrings, add comments, format the code, generate unit tests, and more.
- Natural language queries: You can chat with your AI assistant using natural language, much like with a human. This can assist with generating complex code or understanding code functionality.
- Security guard: An AI coding assistant can look for security vulnerabilities in your code and provide suggestions for how to fix them.
- Fix errors: If you encounter an error when running your code, an AI assistant can help you diagnose and fix the issue quickly.
Best AI Coding Assistants in 2024
Here are some of the best AI coding assistants in 2024:
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is famous for being an AI coding assistant that helps with writing code snippets, solving problems, and coming up with project ideas. It’s quick, dependable, and best of all, it’s free for everyone.
The most effective way to use ChatGPT is to give it some context about your code or project before asking questions.
When you provide context, ChatGPT can give you more accurate and helpful responses, making it easier for you to write and test your code.
Finally, ChatGPT is designed to help users with their questions and tasks, which makes it an awesome tool for both developers and learners.
Blackbox AI
Blackbox AI is a coding assistant that uses artificial intelligence to help developers write better code. It gives real-time suggestions for completing code, writing documentation, and debugging.
Additionally, It also works smoothly with many developer tools, fitting seamlessly into your current workflow.
Moreover, Blackbox AI offers several features, including autocomplete, AI chat, AI commit, AI code suggestion and generation, and file difference comparison.
Github Copilot
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant that made a big splash when it came out. It was the first of its kind to use the advanced GPT-3.5 model.
When it first launched, it was praised for being fast and accurate, outperforming many other tools available. Since then, GitHub Copilot has only gotten better, offering an even more impressive experience for developers.
The latest version of GitHub Copilot includes features like an AI chatbot, inline chatbox, code generation, autocomplete, CLI autocomplete, and other GitHub-based features to help with code search and understanding.
Tabby
Tabby is an AI coding assistant that can run on your local machine using Docker, providing a self-hosted and open-source alternative to GitHub Copilot.
One of its key features is its self-contained nature, eliminating the need for managing databases or relying on cloud services.
Furthermore, Tabby’s OpenAPI interface allows for easy integration with existing infrastructure, including cloud IDEs. It also supports consumer-grade GPUs for enhanced performance.
Tabby offers a large language model server service that you can host yourself. It also provides extensions for VSCode, Vim/NVim, and the IntelliJ Platform.
Getting started is straightforward: follow a simple guide to set up the server, then install the extension into your VSCode and connect it to the server using an API.
Codeium
Codeium is the most popular and free solution for enhancing your development experience with intelligent autocomplete, AI chatbot, context-aware code generation, and more developer features.
It is secure and provides a faster response similar to GitHub copilot. It also provides a paid option that allows access to the advanced GPT-4 model and other administrator tools.
Overall, this is a good AI coding assistant if you are starting out and want fast and accurate code generation.
Replit AI
Replit AI is a cloud-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that uses artificial intelligence to enhance the development process.
While some AI features are free, access to the full range of features requires a subscription to Replit Core. With Replit Core, users get unlimited AI chat responses, access to advanced AI models, additional workspace features, and the ability to create unlimited private projects.
You can interact with AI-powered assistants like ChatGPT or use In-line AI for code editing and generation. This makes Replit AI an excellent platform for kids and beginners who want to learn and create new things without having to spend a lot of money on cloud services.
Cody
Cody is a robust open-source AI coding assistant that’s built to help developers write and debug code more effectively. You can get started with Cody by installing its extensions in VSCode and JetBrains IDEs.
Powered by advanced AI models like Claude 2 and GPT-4, Cody offers autocomplete and can answer various coding questions related to your project. It enhances your code writing process by pulling relevant context from your entire codebase.
With Cody’s inline chat feature, you can ask it to fix or refactor code from anywhere in a file. Additionally, you can use commands such as “Document code,” “Explain code,” or “Generate Unit Tests” to further enhance your coding experience.
Our Conclusion: Best AI Coding Assistants in 2024
When choosing an AI coding assistant, there are several important factors to consider. These include features, capabilities, privacy, ease of use, and cost.
Paid tools often provide more advanced functionalities using state-of-the-art models, while free services generally offer more basic features. Open-source assistants prioritize transparency, security, and local hosting.
AI coding assistants provide intelligent support across various coding tasks, such as autocomplete, error checking, code generation, and chat assistance. They help reduce repetitive work, save time, and allow developers to focus on solving complex problems.
With continuous improvements in AI models, these assistants are expected to become even smarter and more beneficial over time.
If you’re new to AI and want to learn about how coding assistants work and generate code, then take the AI bootcamp to become job ready in 2024. You’ll gain actionable knowledge on popular AI topics like ChatGPT, large language models, generative AI, and more.