5 Free AI Coding Copilots to Help You Fly Out of the Dev Blackhole
Tags: coding, ai, productivity, tooling
Published: 2024-06-19 06:53:43

Coding requires creativity. Anyone who says otherwise, is probably from the product team.:stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

This means it can sometimes feel like a maze with no end in sight, especially when inspiration doesn't strike at the right moment.

Now, what if you were Din Djarin from Mandalorian and you had Grogu by your side in the time of need?

With me?

These coding copilots might not be your new best friend but tools like these can help you code faster, debug smarter, and keep your projects on track.

Well, why a list of Copilots? 

Copilots improve developer productivity, and as an [OpenSource tool](https://github.com/middlewarehq/middleware) which improves dev productivity and team's efficiency ourselves we thought why not bring more awareness to some real badass Copilots out there!

{% embed https://github.com/middlewarehq/middleware %}

Alright, moving on.

I've got 5 good ones for you so you don't have to waste your time roaming around.

![grogu](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/qqvl1p2sleqjla6csxyh.gif)

## 1. Cursor & Copilot++

First up, we have [Cursor](https://cursor.sh).

This little helper is always there with the right tool at the right time.

Cursor integrates with your IDE, offering smart code completions and suggestions.

The Copilot++ by Cursor is quite a handy autocomplete feature, is quick and definitely brings useful completions to the mix.

Need to navigate your codebase? :earth_asia: It helps you with that too.

It’s perfect for those moments when you’re deep into the flow and need a gentle nudge in the right direction.
{% embed https://github.com/getcursor/cursor/ %}
### Key Features:
- **Smart Code Navigation**: Helps you find your way through complex codebases easily.
- **Contextual Suggestions**: Offers suggestions that make sense based on your current code context.

## 2. Tabnine

Next, meet [Tabnine](https://tabnine.com).

Tabnine has been around for a while and has evolved with the times, integrating GPT-4o, Tabnine+Mistral, Codestral & Claude 3 for quite powerful code suggestions.

{% embed https://github.com/codota/TabNine %}

### Key Features:
- **Security-Conscious**: SOC2 compliance + strong privacy policy against training models on customer's code
- **Supports Multiple Languages**: Fluent in over 25 programming languages.

## 3. Cody by SourceGraph

Wise and powerful(like Yoda I guess), [SourceGraph](https://sourcegraph.com) is all about searching and analyzing your codebase, helping you build deeper insights and understanding.

Cody is just like GitHub Copilot. That's it.

{% embed https://github.com/sourcegraph/sourcegraph %}

With SourceGraph, you can search across massive codebases with quite a bit of precision.

![coding copilot precision](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/dgz22wjgx0yypbzngowk.gif)

### Key Features:
- **Comprehensive Code Search**: Searches through your entire codebase to find exactly what you need.
- **Code Intelligence**: Understands code semantics, making it easier to navigate and refactor your code.

## 4. GitHub Copilot

Okay, this one isn't technically free but worth mentioning. 

It's 2024 and no AI copilot list would be complete without [GitHub Copilot](https://github.com/features/copilot).

If you haven't checked out the GitHub Copilot Workspace then you definitely should try it at least once.

The ability to just formulate a plan and then verify it with natural language does feel like magic at times if you ask me.

Of course you will need to verify things, don't close your eyes and code!

GitHub Copilot might not be perfect but its really good especially because it's been trained on a huge amount of Open Source code.

It can help you not waste time on repetitive tasks by writing lines or even blocks of code.

### Key Features:
- **Code Suggestions**: From a single line to entire functions, you've got it.
- **Integration**: Works seamlessly with Visual Studio Code. What? You use Vim in Arch Linux? Yes yes, you can still integrate it within Vim.:wink:

## 5. Aider.Chat

Finally, we have [Aider.Chat](https://aider.chat).

Small, fast, and incredibly resourceful, Aider.Chat is all about code assistance and helps you debug like a pro. 

It’s perfect for those quick fixes and debugging sessions that need speed with reliability.

{% embed https://github.com/paul-gauthier/aider %}

### Key Features:
- **Real-Time Assistance**: Offers help as you code, making debugging and coding faster and easier. Think auto-complete on steroids. Oh yes, I did just say that.

![surprised ai tool](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/l96ziz9gi3zcd0snac17.gif)

- **Good UI**: Simple and intuitive.


## Wrapping Up

There you have it folks, AI coding copilots to help you conquer the world.

Also, make sure to check out our Open Source repo and leave a star if you're all about developer productivity as well.

And don't forget to drop a comment below—I'd love to hear about your experiences with these AI copilots!

{% embed https://github.com/middlewarehq/middleware %}