Rahul Singh

Posted on Apr 5 • Originally published at aicodereview.cc

How to Set Up Qodo AI in VS Code: Installation Guide

#webdev #programming #ai #codereview

Why set up Qodo in VS Code

Getting AI-powered code review and test generation directly in your editor eliminates context switching and catches issues before code ever reaches a pull request. Most developers spend their day inside VS Code, and adding Qodo to that workflow means you can generate unit tests, get code suggestions, and review your own code without opening a browser or waiting for a CI pipeline to run.

Qodo - formerly known as CodiumAI - is an AI code quality platform that combines test generation with code review. While many teams know Qodo for its PR review capabilities, the VS Code extension brings those same AI capabilities into your local development environment. You can generate comprehensive unit tests for any function with a single command, get real-time code suggestions, and chat with an AI assistant that understands your codebase context.

The VS Code extension is the fastest way to start using Qodo. Installation takes under five minutes, the free Developer plan gives you 250 credits per month at no cost, and you do not need to configure any CI/CD pipelines or Git integrations to start generating tests and reviewing code locally.

This guide walks through every step - from installing the extension to generating your first tests to configuring advanced settings for your workflow.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, confirm you have the following ready:

Visual Studio Code version 1.80 or later installed on your machine (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
An active internet connection for the initial installation and for AI-powered features that rely on cloud-hosted models
A GitHub, Google, or email account for signing in to Qodo (no enterprise subscription required)
A project with source code open in VS Code to test Qodo's features after installation

No API keys, Docker installations, or terminal commands are needed. The entire setup happens within VS Code's graphical interface. If you have used the older CodiumAI extension before, the rebrand to Qodo means you should update to the latest Qodo-branded extension for continued support and new features.

Step 1 - Install the Qodo extension

The Qodo extension is available directly from the VS Code Marketplace. Here is how to find and install it:

Open VS Code
Press Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows/Linux or Cmd+Shift+X on macOS to open the Extensions view
Type "Qodo" in the search bar at the top of the Extensions panel
Locate the extension published by Qodo (you may also see it listed with the subtitle "formerly CodiumAI")
Click the Install button

The installation is typically complete within 10 to 20 seconds depending on your connection speed. After installation, you will see the Qodo icon appear in the Activity Bar on the left side of VS Code. This icon opens the Qodo panel where you interact with all of the extension's features.

If you previously had the CodiumAI extension installed, VS Code may have already migrated it to the Qodo-branded version through an automatic update. Check your installed extensions list to verify you are running the latest version. If you see both a CodiumAI and a Qodo extension, uninstall the CodiumAI one and keep the Qodo extension.

You can also install the extension from the command line:

code --install-extension Qodo.qodo-vscode

Step 2 - Sign in to your Qodo account

After installation, you need to sign in to activate the extension. Qodo requires authentication to manage your credits and connect your activity to your account.

Click the Qodo icon in the Activity Bar on the left side of VS Code
The Qodo panel opens with a sign-in prompt
Click Sign In and choose your preferred authentication method:
- GitHub - recommended if you plan to use Qodo's PR review features later
- Google - quick sign-in with your Google account
- Email - create a standalone Qodo account with any email address
A browser window opens for authentication - complete the sign-in process
Return to VS Code where the Qodo panel now shows your account information and remaining credits

The free Developer plan activates automatically when you create an account. You get 250 credits per calendar month for IDE and CLI interactions, plus 30 PR reviews per month if you later connect Qodo to your Git repositories. No credit card is required.

After signing in, the Qodo panel displays your current credit balance, the AI model in use, and quick access to the extension's main features: test generation, code chat, and code review.

Step 3 - Generate your first tests

Test generation is Qodo's signature feature and the best way to verify that the extension is working correctly. Here is how to generate your first batch of unit tests:

Open any source file in your project that contains at least one function or method
Place your cursor inside a function you want to test, or select the entire function
Open the Qodo chat panel and type /test, or right-click in the editor and select the Qodo test generation option from the context menu
Qodo analyzes the function's behavior, input types, conditional branches, and error paths
Within a few seconds, Qodo generates a complete set of unit tests

The generated tests include coverage for multiple scenarios:

Happy path - the function works as expected with valid inputs
Edge cases - null values, empty strings, boundary numbers, and empty arrays
Error scenarios - invalid inputs, missing parameters, and exception handling
Type variations - different input types that the function might receive

Qodo detects your project's existing testing framework and generates tests accordingly. If your project uses pytest, you get pytest-style tests. If it uses Jest, you get Jest tests. Supported frameworks include pytest, unittest, Jest, Vitest, Mocha, JUnit 4, JUnit 5, Go's testing package, NUnit, xUnit, and RSpec.

Here is an example of what Qodo might generate for a simple utility function:

# Your source code
def calculate_discount(price, percentage):
    if price < 0:
        raise ValueError("Price cannot be negative")
    if percentage < 0 or percentage > 100:
        raise ValueError("Percentage must be between 0 and 100")
    return price * (1 - percentage / 100)

# Qodo-generated tests

from your_module import calculate_discount

def test_calculate_discount_standard():
    assert calculate_discount(100, 10) == 90.0

def test_calculate_discount_zero_percentage():
    assert calculate_discount(100, 0) == 100.0

def test_calculate_discount_full_percentage():
    assert calculate_discount(100, 100) == 0.0

def test_calculate_discount_negative_price():
    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Price cannot be negative"):
        calculate_discount(-10, 10)

def test_calculate_discount_percentage_over_100():
    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Percentage must be between 0 and 100"):
        calculate_discount(100, 110)

def test_calculate_discount_negative_percentage():
    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Percentage must be between 0 and 100"):
        calculate_discount(100, -5)

Each test generation request consumes 1 credit from your monthly balance. With 250 free credits per month, you can generate tests for roughly 250 functions before needing a paid plan. For more details on how Qodo approaches test generation across different languages and frameworks, see our deep dive on Qodo test generation.

Step 4 - Explore code suggestions

Beyond test generation, Qodo provides an interactive chat interface for code review, explanation, and refactoring. The chat panel in the Qodo sidebar lets you ask questions about your code and get AI-powered responses.

Here are the key commands you can use in the Qodo chat panel:

/test - generate unit tests for the selected function
/review - get a code review of the selected code with suggestions for improvements
/explain - get a detailed explanation of what the selected code does
/improve - get refactoring suggestions for the selected code
/docstring - generate documentation for the selected function

To use any command, select the code you want to analyze in the editor and then type the command in the Qodo chat panel. You can also ask free-form questions about your code by typing natural language queries directly into the chat.

The /review command is particularly useful for self-review before opening a pull request. It analyzes your code for potential bugs, security issues, performance anti-patterns, and readability improvements - similar to what Qodo's PR review does on pull requests, but available locally before you push your code.

Each chat interaction consumes credits based on the AI model you are using. Standard models consume 1 credit per request, while premium models like Claude Opus consume 5 credits per request.

Step 5 - Configure settings

Customizing Qodo's settings lets you tailor the extension to your workflow and preferences. Open VS Code Settings with Ctrl+, (or Cmd+, on macOS) and search for "Qodo" to see all available configuration options.

Key settings to configure

Default AI model - Choose the AI model that powers Qodo's responses. Options include GPT-4o (balanced speed and quality), Claude 3.5 Sonnet (strong reasoning), and DeepSeek-R1. Premium models provide higher-quality output but consume more credits per request. Start with the default model and switch to a premium model only when you need deeper analysis.

Test generation preferences - Configure how Qodo generates tests, including the target testing framework, test file naming conventions, and whether to include docstrings in generated tests. If Qodo is not detecting your testing framework correctly, you can set it explicitly in the settings.

Local LLM support - If your organization requires that code never leaves your machine, enable Local LLM mode through Ollama. This routes all AI processing through a locally hosted model instead of Qodo's cloud API. Set this up by installing Ollama on your machine, downloading a supported model, and pointing Qodo to your local Ollama endpoint in the extension settings.

Telemetry - Control whether the extension sends usage data to Qodo. You can disable telemetry entirely from the settings panel if your organization's policies require it.

Keyboard shortcuts

Set up keyboard shortcuts for the commands you use most frequently. Open the Keyboard Shortcuts editor with Ctrl+K Ctrl+S (or Cmd+K Cmd+S on macOS) and search for "Qodo" to see all available commands. Common shortcuts to configure:

Generate tests for the selected function
Open the Qodo chat panel
Run a code review on the current file

Tips for getting the most out of Qodo in VS Code

Follow these practices to maximize the quality of Qodo's output.

Write clear function signatures. Qodo produces better tests and suggestions when it can understand your function's input types and return values. Use type hints in Python, TypeScript annotations, or JSDoc comments in JavaScript. A function with def process_order(order: Order, discount: float) -> Receipt gives Qodo far more context than def process_order(order, discount).

Keep functions focused. Functions that do one thing well receive higher-quality test generation than monolithic functions with multiple responsibilities. If Qodo's generated tests seem shallow or miss important scenarios, consider breaking the function into smaller, more testable units.

Review generated tests before committing. Qodo's tests are a strong starting point, but they are not a substitute for human judgment. Review each generated test for correctness, especially around mocking complex dependencies, domain-specific assertions, and integration with external services. Treat generated tests as a draft that saves you 20 to 30 minutes of setup work per function.

Use the /review command before opening PRs. Running a local code review catches issues that you can fix immediately, reducing the back-and-forth in pull request reviews. This is especially valuable for catching security issues, missing error handling, and logic errors before they reach your team's review queue.

Switch models based on the task. Use the standard model for quick test generation and simple questions. Switch to a premium model when you need deeper analysis of complex business logic or want more thorough code review feedback.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with the Qodo extension, work through these common problems.

Extension not appearing after installation. Restart VS Code after installing the extension. If the Qodo icon still does not appear in the Activity Bar, check that the extension is enabled in the Extensions view. Some organizations use VS Code policies that restrict extension installations - check with your IT team if the extension appears grayed out or disabled.

Sign-in failing or timing out. Ensure your browser is not blocking popups from Qodo's authentication service. Try signing in with a different authentication method (GitHub instead of Google, or vice versa). If you are behind a corporate proxy or VPN, the proxy may be blocking requests to Qodo's API endpoints - check with your network administrator.

No credits remaining. The free Developer plan provides 250 credits per month, and credits reset every 30 days from the first message you sent, not on a calendar schedule. Check your remaining balance in the Qodo panel. If you consistently run out of credits, the Teams plan at $30/user/month provides 2,500 credits per user per month. See our full Qodo pricing breakdown for a detailed comparison of all plan tiers and what each includes.

Test generation producing low-quality output. Ensure you are selecting a complete function rather than a partial code block. Add type annotations and docstrings to give Qodo more context. Try a premium AI model for more thorough test generation. For complex functions with deep dependency chains, you may need to refine the generated tests manually.

Extension consuming too many resources. If VS Code feels sluggish after installing Qodo, check the extension's memory usage in the VS Code Process Explorer (Help then Process Explorer). Disable features you do not use, such as inline suggestions, to reduce resource consumption. Updating to the latest extension version often resolves performance issues.

Conflict with other extensions. Qodo generally works well alongside other AI extensions including GitHub Copilot. If you experience conflicts, try disabling other AI extensions temporarily to isolate the issue. Qodo and Copilot serve different purposes and should not conflict - Copilot handles inline completions while Qodo handles test generation and code review.

Alternatives to Qodo for VS Code

If Qodo does not fit your workflow, several alternatives provide AI-powered capabilities in VS Code.

CodeAnt AI ($24-40/user/month) combines AI code review with SAST security scanning, secret detection, and DORA metrics in a single platform. It supports 30+ languages and all four major Git platforms. CodeAnt AI focuses on code health at the organizational level rather than individual IDE interactions, making it a strong choice for teams that want PR review, security scanning, and engineering metrics bundled together. See our full Qodo alternatives comparison for a broader landscape.

GitHub Copilot ($10-39/user/month) is the most widely adopted AI coding assistant. It excels at inline code completions and has a chat interface for code explanations and generation. Copilot's test generation is less specialized than Qodo's but covers a wider range of coding tasks. Many developers use both Copilot and Qodo side by side.

Tabnine ($9/user/month and up) offers AI code completions with a strong focus on privacy and self-hosted deployment. It is a good alternative for teams that need code completion without sending code to external servers but does not offer Qodo's depth of test generation.

Sourcery ($10/user/month and up) specializes in Python code quality with automated refactoring suggestions. It is more limited in language support than Qodo but provides highly targeted feedback for Python teams.

For a comprehensive comparison of all available options, see our full guide to Qodo alternatives.

Conclusion

Setting up Qodo in VS Code takes less than five minutes and immediately gives you access to AI-powered test generation and code review inside your editor. The free Developer plan with 250 monthly credits is enough for most individual developers to evaluate whether Qodo's approach to test generation fits their workflow.

The key steps are straightforward: install the extension from the marketplace, sign in with GitHub, Google, or email, and start generating tests with the /test command. From there, explore the /review and /improve commands for code quality feedback, configure your preferred AI model, and set up keyboard shortcuts for the commands you use most.

For teams that want to extend Qodo beyond the IDE into pull request workflows, the natural next step is connecting Qodo to your Git repositories for automated PR review. Our guides on Qodo PR review and Qodo test generation cover those workflows in detail. If you are curious about how Qodo's pricing compares to other tools in the market, our Qodo alternatives breakdown provides current pricing and feature comparisons across ten competing platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install Qodo AI in VS Code?

Open VS Code and press Ctrl+Shift+X (or Cmd+Shift+X on macOS) to open the Extensions view. Search for 'Qodo' in the marketplace search bar. Click Install on the Qodo extension published by Qodo (formerly CodiumAI). After installation, the Qodo icon appears in the Activity Bar on the left side of VS Code. Click it to open the Qodo panel and sign in to start using AI-powered code review and test generation.

Is the Qodo VS Code extension free?

Yes. The Qodo VS Code extension is free to install. Qodo offers a free Developer plan that includes 250 credits per calendar month for IDE interactions and 30 PR reviews per month. Most standard operations consume 1 credit each. The free tier is sufficient for individual developers to evaluate test generation and code suggestions. The paid Teams plan at $30/user/month increases credits to 2,500 per user per month.

What is the difference between Qodo and CodiumAI in the VS Code marketplace?

Qodo is the new name for CodiumAI. The company rebranded from CodiumAI to Qodo in 2024. The VS Code extension was updated to reflect the new branding. If you search for CodiumAI in the marketplace, you will find the Qodo extension since the old listing redirects to the new one. There is no separate CodiumAI extension anymore. For more details on the rebrand, see our article on the CodiumAI to Qodo transition.

Does Qodo work with VS Code on macOS, Windows, and Linux?

Yes. The Qodo VS Code extension works on all platforms where VS Code runs, including macOS, Windows, and Linux. The extension itself runs within VS Code and communicates with Qodo's cloud API, so there are no platform-specific dependencies or installation requirements. The experience is identical across all operating systems.

Can I use Qodo in VS Code without an internet connection?

Limited functionality is available offline. The Qodo extension requires an internet connection for AI-powered features like test generation and code suggestions, since these rely on cloud-hosted large language models. However, Qodo supports Local LLM mode through Ollama, which allows you to run models entirely on your machine without sending code to external servers. This is useful for air-gapped environments and teams with strict data privacy requirements.

How do I generate tests with Qodo in VS Code?

Select a function in your editor, then use the /test command in the Qodo chat panel or right-click and choose the Qodo test generation option from the context menu. Qodo analyzes the function's behavior, input types, and conditional branches, then generates complete unit tests covering the happy path, edge cases, and error scenarios. Tests are generated in your project's existing testing framework such as pytest, Jest, JUnit, or Vitest.

What AI models does Qodo support in VS Code?

Qodo supports multiple AI models in its VS Code extension including GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and DeepSeek-R1. Premium models like Claude Opus consume more credits per request (5 credits) compared to standard models (1 credit). You can switch between models in the Qodo settings panel within VS Code. Local LLM support through Ollama is also available for teams that need to keep all code processing on their own machines.

Why is Qodo not showing suggestions in VS Code?

Check these common causes: you may not be signed in to the Qodo extension, your monthly credit balance may be exhausted, the extension may need an update, or your internet connection may be interrupted. Open the Qodo panel in VS Code and verify your sign-in status and remaining credits. Also check the VS Code Output panel (View then Output then select Qodo from the dropdown) for error messages. Restarting VS Code often resolves temporary connection issues.

Can I use Qodo alongside GitHub Copilot in VS Code?

Yes. Qodo and GitHub Copilot serve different purposes and can coexist in VS Code without conflicts. Copilot provides inline code completions while you type, while Qodo focuses on test generation, code review, and chat-based assistance. Many developers use both extensions simultaneously - Copilot for writing code and Qodo for generating tests and reviewing code quality. There are no known extension conflicts between the two.

How do I update the Qodo extension in VS Code?

VS Code updates extensions automatically by default. To manually check for updates, open the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X or Cmd+Shift+X), click the three-dot menu at the top of the Extensions panel, and select Check for Extension Updates. If an update is available for Qodo, click the Update button. It is recommended to keep the extension updated to access the latest AI models, bug fixes, and feature improvements.

Does Qodo in VS Code support all programming languages?

Qodo supports all major programming languages in VS Code including JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, Go, C++, C#, Ruby, PHP, Kotlin, and Rust. The AI engine uses large language models for semantic understanding, so it can handle virtually any language. Test generation quality is strongest for languages with mature testing ecosystems like Python (pytest), JavaScript (Jest), Java (JUnit), and TypeScript (Vitest).

How do I configure Qodo settings in VS Code?

Open VS Code Settings (Ctrl+Comma or Cmd+Comma on macOS) and search for 'Qodo' to see all available configuration options. You can also access settings through the Qodo panel in the Activity Bar. Key settings include the default AI model, test generation preferences, inline suggestion behavior, and telemetry options. Changes take effect immediately without restarting VS Code.

Originally published at aicodereview.cc

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