Intro
I want to add an AI code assistant to my VSCode and accelerate my work, but I have no money...🫠
Also, I want to use the AI safely and protect privacy.
Well, what should I do?
I googled carefully and found that Continue + VSCode + Ollama might be the answer.
What is Continue?
Continue is a super AI code assistant.
https://www.continue.dev/
It has functions such as Chat, Autocomplete, Edit and Codebase.
The feature of Continue is as follows.
1️⃣ First of all, yes, it's free!🤑
2️⃣ You can use it in a local environment.
By using the LLM in a local environment, you can protect the privacy of your data.
It is enabled by Ollama which can use LLM (Large Language Model) like DeepSeek-R1, Llama 3, locally.
3️⃣ You can use with VSCode.
You don't have to go back and forth to the browser and the code editor.
All you have to do is it to install Continue in your VSCode to use it.
How to use Continue?
1️⃣ Install Continue in your VSCode.
"Extensions" > input "Continue" > "Install"
2️⃣ If you are aware of data privacy, follow the setting below.
“File” > “Preferences” > “Settings” > Search "continue" > Uncheck ”Telemetry Enabled”
https://docs.continue.dev/telemetry
3️⃣ Download Ollama
https://ollama.com/
4️⃣ Pull LLM
Choose the LLM you like form this page.
For example, DeepSeek-R1, Llama 3.
https://ollama.com/search
Pull the LLM (Large Language Model) you want to use.
Ollama pull LLMname
5️⃣ Set Ollama and LLM to Continue
① "gear" icon in Continue header > "Open configuration file" button > add the "LLMname" at the "models" section
② Push the "LLMname" select box at the left down of the chat input box > "+ add chat model" > Provider "Ollama" > Model "LLMname" (or select "Autodetect" first and then "LLMname")
Now you are ready to use Continue.
Chat
https://docs.continue.dev/chat/how-to-use-it
You can ask questions to LLM using chat.
LLM will answer you with text/code.
If you want to add the code to chat, press cmd/ctrl + L.
Autocomplete
https://docs.continue.dev/autocomplete/how-to-use-it
Autocomplete will suggest a code as you write.
Press the Tab to accept all the suggestion, and press cmd/ctrl + → to accept part of the suggestion.
Edit
https://docs.continue.dev/edit/how-to-use-it
You can ask questions to LLM in the code using edit.
LLM will answer you with text/code.
If you want to use LLM in the code, press cmd/ctrl + i.
When the prompt is short and concise use edit, and when the prompt is long and complex use chat.
Codebase
https://docs.continue.dev/customize/deep-dives/codebase
By adding a @codebase to the input box, the LLM will answer after considering all the workspace.
When adding a @folder to the input box, the LLM will answer after considering the specific folder.
Negative point of Continue and workaround
Well, my PC is just a normal office PC (CPU: Core i7, Memory: 16GB) and doesn't have NVIDIA GPU.
The response is sooooo slow compare of ChatGPT on the web.🐢
You can lower the parameter number of LLM to speed up, but if you do so, the answer quality gets worse.
So, if you are not using a high spec PC, you might need to switch AI.
For example,
When you need privacy: Use Continue locally slowly.🦥
When you don't need privacy: Use ChatGPT on the web fast.
Or, another way, you can set the LLM part to another PC for load balancing and access it.
Outro
Using AI for coding like Continue, our productivity will definitely become higher.💪
There seems to be a lot of other convenient coding assistant AI such as Cursor, Cline, Codeium, etc.
I might try them another time.
Thank you for reading.
Happy coding!
Update (2025/02/15): Wrote about Codeium
🧠🤖AI code assistant 2 (free and fast (Codeium + VSCode))
https://dev.to/webdeveloperhyper/ai-code-assistant-2-free-and-fast-codeium-vscode-c7p
Update (2025/02/22): Wrote about Cursor
🧠🤖AI code assistant 3 (fast and safe (Cursor))
https://dev.to/webdeveloperhyper/ai-code-assistant-3-fast-and-safe-cursor-38gm
Update (2025/02/28): Wrote about Gemini Code Assist
🧠🤖AI code assistant 4 (free and fast and safe (Gemini Code Assist))
https://dev.to/webdeveloperhyper/ai-code-assistant-4-free-and-fast-and-safe-gemini-code-assist-phd
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