Advantages of Using Local AI in VS Code

AI models have significantly simplified coding tasks, particularly for beginners. In the past, mastering a programming language could take days or even weeks, but now a fully functional app is just a prompt away.

Most online coding assistants require subscriptions, with free usage limits quickly exhausted. While there are free AI tools available, none match the efficiency of a local AI coding assistant. Local AI offers cost-free access and often provides higher quality models compared to online options.

Local AI is also superior in terms of privacy. Online AI tools use user code for model training, whereas local AI runs directly on the user's device, ensuring code is not sent to a server. Setting up is relatively straightforward, though model quality may vary based on hardware capabilities.

To run a local AI model, applications like LM Studio can be used to download open-source AI models from HuggingFace. LM Studio provides a graphical interface for searching, downloading models, and supports file upload for chatting with the model.

Integrating the AI model into VS Code allows interaction with the AI in various modes. Performance depends on the chosen AI model and the PC's hardware, with local AI offering better privacy and accuracy compared to online tools.