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What it is: Open-source AI code assistant for VS Code. Bring your own model. GPT-4, Claude, or local LLMs.
What It Does Best
Model flexibility. Switch between GPT-4, Claude, Llama. Use different models for different tasks. Total control.
Open-source transparency. No vendor lock-in. Customize behavior. Self-host if needed. Privacy-friendly.
Context providers. Pull in docs, GitHub issues, terminal output. AI sees full picture of what you're building.
Pricing
Continue: Free and open-source
API costs: Pay for the models you use
Local models: Free (run Llama, CodeLlama locally)
When to Use It
✅ Want control over your AI stack
✅ Privacy concerns with proprietary tools
✅ Experiment with different models
✅ Need offline coding with local models
When NOT to Use It
❌ Want zero configuration (use Copilot instead)
❌ Don't want to manage API keys
❌ Prefer enterprise support
Bottom line: Copilot alternative for people who want control. Open-source, flexible, privacy-respecting. Requires more setup but worth it for customization.