AI Coding Assistant with Open Source Models

In this video, the host from CoderOne introduces an open-source alternative to GitHub Copilot called Continue, which integrates with VS Code and JetBrains IDEs. Continue offers features like code autocompletion, code referencing, and chat-based interactions using local LLMs (Large Language Models) instead of paid services like ChatGPT. The tutorial begins by highlighting the cost and limitations of GitHub Copilot, emphasizing the benefits of using free, open-source tools. The host demonstrates how to install the Continue extension in VS Code and configure it to work with various LLMs, such as LLaMA 3, StarCoder, and DeepSeaCoder. The video covers the installation of tools like Olama and LLM Studio, which allow users to run LLMs locally on their machines. The host explains how to download and set up these models, ensuring they are optimized for tasks like code completion and chat-based assistance. Once the models are configured, the host shows how to use Continue to interact with a codebase, asking the assistant to change currency formats in a shopping cart component and add Tailwind CSS styles to a checkout page. The AI assistant provides detailed instructions and even modifies the code directly within the IDE. The host also demonstrates how to use the assistant to refactor code following the Single Responsibility Principle, splitting a large component into smaller, more manageable parts. Additionally, the video showcases the tab autocompletion feature, where the assistant suggests and completes code snippets based on comments and instructions. The tutorial concludes with a recommendation to experiment with different models to find the best fit for various coding tasks, highlighting the flexibility and power of using open-source AI tools for coding assistance.