Introduction

The introduction of AI coding helpers has reached a crucial turning point in the constantly changing world of software development. These assistants, which use artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, have revolutionized how engineers create and organize code. They now serve as vital resources for contemporary software development teams, offering astute assistance with various coding assignments. AI coding assistants are beneficial since developers always look for methods to improve productivity and optimize their coding processes. These assistants are extremely useful tools in the developer toolbox, helping with language learning, finding problems, and speeding up code creation.

In this article, we will explore AI coding assistants’ functionalities, features, popular options available in the market, and factors to consider when choosing the right assistant for specific development needs.

What are AI Coding Assistants?

AI Coding Assistants leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance developers’ coding experience. These assistants provide intelligent support across various coding tasks, making development more efficient and accurate.

Best AI Coding Assistants

There are many different AI coding assistants available, both free and paid. Some of the most popular options include:

GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant that helps developers write code more efficiently. It provides real-time code suggestions, allowing you to focus on problem-solving and collaboration.

Features:

• Code Autocompletion: Copilot suggests code completions as you type, including entire lines or blocks of code.
• Multi-Language Support: Copilot works with multiple programming languages, allowing developers to work in various environments.
• Context-Aware Suggestions: It understands your project context and provides relevant recommendations.
• Chat Interface: You can interact with Copilot via a chat interface within your IDE.
• Pull Request Summaries: It generates summaries for pull requests.
• Knowledge Bases: Copilot Enterprise offers tools to create and manage documentation collections.
• Responsible AI: GitHub Copilot includes filters to block offensive language in prompts and avoids synthesizing suggestions in sensitive contexts.
• Other Creative Uses: Copilot can be used for non-native English translation, dictionary creation, testing, pattern matching, and technical interviews.

Pricing:

• Individual: $10 per month or $100 per year.
• Business: $19 per month.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing.

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CodeWhisperer

CodeWhisperer, by Amazon, offers real-time code suggestions directly in your IDE. It comprehends project context and provides relevant recommendations.

Features:

• Real-Time Code Suggestions: CodeWhisperer understands natural language comments and generates code suggestions in real-time.
• Multi-Language Support: It covers Python, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, C#, Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby, Kotlin, and more.
• IDE Integration: Use it in JetBrains IDEs, Visual Studio Code, AWS Cloud9, and more.
• Command Line Support: Modernizes the command line with personalized code completions and inline documentation.
• Optimized for AWS Services: Provides code suggestions optimized for AWS APIs.
• Security Scans and Remediation: Identifies security vulnerabilities and suggests fixes.

Pricing:

• Individual: Free
• Professional: $19 per month

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Replit

Replit is an IDE with collaborative features. It’s suitable for beginners, solo developers, and teams.

Features:

• Collaborative by Default: Replit allows real-time collaboration, pair programming, and debugging as a team.
• Natural Language to Code: Use Replit AI in chat or inline to generate code, architect projects, or debug errors.
• Trusted AI Code Completion: Replit AI provides inline code suggestions based on best practices and your codebase.
• Instant Environments: Access a computer for every branch, idea, or feature.
• Cloud Services Integration: Manage cloud services, access third-party AI models, and integrate databases from your code editor.
• Cross-Platform: Code anywhere using Replit’s Desktop, Mobile, or Tablet apps.

Pricing:

• Starter: Free
• Core: $15 per month

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Also Read: Replit Launches AI Code Repair Tool

Codium

Codium is an AI-powered coding assistant that enhances software quality and developer productivity. It analyzes source code files automatically to generate meaningful unit tests. With Codium, you can validate functionality, uncover potential issues, and improve code quality.

Features:

• Test Generation: Suggests non-trivial test cases directly within your IDE or Git platform.
• Code Reviews: Provides feedback on code quality, security, and performance.
• Privacy: Your code and AI data remain private and are not used to train anyone else
• Supported Languages: Works with 15 programming languages in VS Code, IntelliJ/JetBrains, and Google Chrome.

Pricing:

• Developer: Free
• Team: $19 per month
• Enterprise: Custom Pricing

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Codiga

Codiga is a real-time static code analysis tool that offers customizable analysis rules, security checks, and automated code reviews. It helps developers maintain code quality, identify vulnerabilities, and improve software safety.

Features:

• Custom Analysis Rules: Create and use your own static code analysis rules.
• Security Analysis: Detect security issues and prioritize critical vulnerabilities.
• Code Snippets: Share and import brilliant code snippets within your IDE.
• Integration: Works with popular IDEs, CI/CD pipelines, and Git platforms.

Pricing:

• Basic: Free
• Team: $14 per month

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Tabnine

Tabnine is an AI-powered development partner that assists code creators across all languages. It provides code completions based on context and syntax, helping developers write code faster and better.

Features:

• AI Autocomplete: Generates code suggestions in your favorite IDE.
• Privacy & Compliance: Your code and AI data remain private, and Tabnine respects your intellectual property.
• Security Analysis: Helps developers address significant issues before manual code reviews.
• Supported Languages: Works with all programming languages and IDEs.

Pricing:

• Pro: $12 per month (Free for 90 days)
• Enterprise: Custom Pricing

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DataCamp Workspace AI

DataCamp Workspace is a modern data science notebook in the cloud that allows end-to-end data analytics. It provides an intuitive interface, essential data integrations, and no-code visualizations, making it accessible to users of all skill levels. Workspace AI Assistant, powered by GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer), brings coding assistance directly into the browser, helping users generate Python, R, and SQL code, understand findings, and optimize their coding workflows.

Features:

• Modern Data Science Notebook: End-to-end data analytics in the cloud.
• No-Code Visualizations: Intuitive interface for creating visualizations.
• AI Assistant:
  • For Learners:
    • Generates Python, R, and SQL code.
    • Helps understand findings.
    • Offers error fixes and optimization suggestions.
  • For Domain Experts:
    • Answer day-to-day data questions without relying solely on analytics teams.
    • Import and join data from multiple sources.
    • Prototype machine learning models.
    • Create compelling data stories.

Pricing:

• Individuals: Priced at $25/month (billed annually).
• Teams (2 and up): Priced at $25 per user/month (billed annually).
• Enterprise: Custom pricing.

AskCodi

AskCodi is an AI code assistant designed to enhance coding efficiency. It offers applications for code generation, unit test creation, documentation, and code conversions. AskCodi leverages OpenAI Codex, a large language model trained on billions of lines of open-source public code.

Features:

• Code Generation: AskCodi generates Python, R, and SQL code snippets based on natural language queries.
• Error Fixes: It helps identify and fix errors in your code.
• Optimization Suggestions: AskCodi provides recommendations on how to optimize your code.
• Understanding Explanations: It explains the generated code, enhancing your understanding.
• Privacy: Your code and data remain private.

Pricing:

• Basic Plan: Free, includes 50 credits/month.
• Premium Plan: Priced at $9.99/month, offers 500 credits/month.
• Ultimate Plan: Priced at $29.99/month, provides 3000 credits/month

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DeepCode

DeepCode is an AI coding assistant focusing on improving code quality and security. It can help developers find and fix bugs, security vulnerabilities, and potential code smells. DeepCode integrates with popular IDEs and CI/CD pipelines.

Features:

• Static Code Analysis: DeepCode uses static code analysis techniques to identify various issues in your codebase. This includes finding bugs, security vulnerabilities, code smells (indications of potential problems), and possible performance issues.
• Code Review Automation: DeepCode automates some aspects of code review by highlighting potential issues based on its analysis.
• Wide Programming Language Support: DeepCode supports many programming languages, making it a versatile tool for developers of different technologies.
• Integrations: DeepCode integrates with popular IDEs and CI/CD pipelines.
• Explanation of Findings: DeepCode doesn’t just report issues; it also explains why they are flagged as potential problems.

Pricing:

• Free Subscriptions: DeepCode offers completely free subscriptions.
• Paid Plans: Paid plans start from $19.99/month.

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Also Read: How to Make Money Using AI Tools? [14 Best Ways & Top Tools]

Ponicode

Ponicode is an AI-powered extension pack that generates unit tests for you. It helps you quickly and easily create, visualize, and run unit tests for your functions.

Features:

• Interactive unit test generation through a graphical user interface (GUI).
• AI-powered test scenario suggestions.
• Supports JavaScript, TypeScript, and Python.

Pricing:

• Community Plan: Free
• Personal Plan: Priced at $5 USD/month or $50/year.
• Professional Plan: Priced at $25/month or $250/year.
• Custom Pricing: Enterprise plans are available with custom pricing options

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Codota

Codota is an AI-powered code completion tool that provides intelligent code suggestions as you type.

Features:

• Context-aware code completions based on your existing codebase.
• Supports multiple programming languages.
• Helps improve code quality and productivity.

Pricing:

• Basic: Free
• Individual Plan: Priced at $5/month.
• Team Plan: Priced at $12/month per user.
• Enterprise Plan: Priced at $45/month per user, billed annually.

Visual Studio IntelliCode

Visual Studio IntelliCode is an AI assistant built into Visual Studio by Microsoft. It helps developers with code completion, refactoring, and other coding tasks. IntelliCode uses machine learning to analyze code patterns and suggest completions, refactorings, and other code changes that are likely correct and efficient.

Features:

• Context-Aware Code Completion: IntelliCode analyzes the context of your code (including variable names, functions, and the type of code you’re writing) to suggest relevant code creation.
• Code Refactoring: IntelliCode can suggest code refactorings to improve the readability and maintainability of your code.
• Code Generation: IntelliCode offers basic code generation capabilities. It can automate repetitive coding tasks, such as generating boilerplate code for constructors or essential functions.
• Learning from User Habits: IntelliCode learns from your coding style and the project you’re working on.

Pricing:

Visual Studio IntelliCode is free for all Visual Studio users.

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Learn More: 140+ Generative AI Tools That Can Make Your Work Easy

Factors to Consider

When choosing an AI coding assistant, it is crucial to consider your needs and preferences. Some factors to consider include:

• Features and Capabilities: Assess the tool’s features. Does it offer code solutions, bug identification, multi-language support, refactoring assistance, and natural language queries? Look for an assistant that aligns with your specific development needs. Consider whether the tool can help with code readability, generate docstrings, add comments, and format code. These features enhance code quality and maintainability.
• Privacy and Security: Understand the privacy policies of the AI coding assistant. Ensure that your code and data remain confidential and are not misused. Some tools operate locally, while others rely on cloud services. Choose based on your comfort level with data storage and transmission.
• Ease of Use: A seamless user experience is essential. Evaluate how well the tool integrates with your existing workflow. Does it work well with your preferred IDE or code editor?
• Cost and Budget: Consider your budget. Some tools are free, while others require payment. Paid tools often provide advanced functionalities, but free services can be sufficient for basic needs.
• Accuracy and Reliability: Accuracy matters. Look for an AI assistant that provides precise code suggestions and responses. It should help you write better code without compromising quality.

How do AI Coding Assistants Help Developers?

AI coding assistants are becoming increasingly popular among developers. They can help developers in several ways, including:

• Writing code: AI coding assistants may speed up developers’ writing process by offering code completions and snippets. For instance, GitHub Copilot might recommend function bodies or entire lines of code.
• Enhancing code quality: AI coding assistants can aid engineers in writing better code by making recommendations for more idiomatic or efficient code. For instance, Amazon’s CodeWhisperer may offer suggestions on how to make code more readable or efficient.
• Bug detection and correction: A few AI coding assistants can help programmers locate and resolve flaws in their code. Codium, for instance, may produce unit tests to help find issues.
• Learning new programming languages: AI coding assistants may support developers’ language learning efforts by offering advice and comments. For example, AskCodi can answer questions about programming concepts in natural language.

Features of AI Coding Assistants

AI coding assistants offer a variety of features to assist software developers. These features include:

• Code suggestions: AI coding assistants can suggest code completions or entire code snippets based on the code’s context.
• Autocompletion: AI coding assistants can automatically complete partially typed code.
• Documentation insights: AI coding assistants can provide documentation for code or suggest comments to be added to it.
• Error detection and code optimization: Some AI coding assistants can identify errors in code or suggest ways to optimize the code.
• Support for multiple programming languages: Many AI coding assistants support many programming languages.
• Integration with IDEs: Many AI coding assistants can integrate with popular IDEs.
• Natural language interaction: Some AI coding assistants allow users to interact with them using natural language.
• Code generation: Some AI coding assistants can generate complete lines of code or entire functions.
• Test case generation: Some AI coding assistants can help generate test cases for code.

Also Read: 12 AI Tools That Can Generate Code To Help Programmers

Conclusion

As explored in this article, AI coding assistants offer many benefits, from accelerating code writing to improving code quality, detecting bugs, and facilitating language learning. With diverse options, developers can access tools tailored to their specific needs and preferences, whether GitHub Copilot’s real-time code suggestions, CodeWhisperer’s comprehension of project context, or Replit’s collaborative features. These assistants, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, have become indispensable companions for developers worldwide.