Code Editors

What tool do I need?

The development ecosystem in 2026 has two components you need to understand:

1. The editor → where you write code (VS Code, Neovim, etc.)
2. The AI → that helps you write better and faster

You can combine them in different ways. This guide helps you choose.

Quick Decision: What should I use?

                    What are you looking for?
                              │
              ┌───────────────┼───────────────┐
              ▼               ▼               ▼
         Simplicity     Maximum power    Totally free
              │               │               │
              ▼               ▼               ▼
     ┌─────────────┐  ┌─────────────┐  ┌─────────────┐
     │   CURSOR    │  │  VS Code +  │  │  VS Code +  │
     │  (all in    │  │ Claude Code │  │  Continue + │
     │    one)     │  │   (CLI)     │  │   Ollama    │
     │             │  │             │  │             │
     │  $20/mo     │  │  ~$20/mo    │  │    $0       │
     └─────────────┘  └─────────────┘  └─────────────┘

Are you a beginner? Start with VS Code + GitHub Copilot ($10/mo or free for students).

Part 1: Base Editors

The editor is where you live. Pick one and learn it well.

Quick Installation

# macOS
brew install --cask visual-studio-code  # VS Code
brew install --cask cursor              # Cursor
brew install neovim                     # Neovim

# Windows
winget install Microsoft.VisualStudioCode
winget install Cursor.Cursor

Part 2: The 3 Ways to Add AI

Once you have your editor, you can add AI in 3 different ways:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      WAYS TO ADD AI                              │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                  │
│  1. EXTENSIONS          2. AI EDITOR         3. AGENTIC CLI     │
│     (install them)         (built-in)           (terminal)      │
│                                                                  │
│  ┌─────────────┐        ┌─────────────┐       ┌─────────────┐   │
│  │ • Copilot   │        │ • Cursor    │       │ • Claude    │   │
│  │ • Cody      │        │ • Windsurf  │       │   Code      │   │
│  │ • Continue  │        │ • Antigrav. │       │ • Aider     │   │
│  │ • Gemini    │        │ • IDX       │       │ • Codex CLI │   │
│  └─────────────┘        └─────────────┘       └─────────────┘   │
│                                                                  │
│  Autocomplete ✓          All integrated ✓     Runs commands ✓   │
│  Use your editor ✓       Change editor ✗      Multi-file ✓      │
│  Basic chat ✓            Deep AI ✓            Agent mode ✓      │
│                                                                  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Option 1: AI Extensions

Install on your existing editor. Ideal if you already use VS Code or JetBrains.

Setup: VS Code + Copilot (5 min)

# 1. Install extension
code --install-extension GitHub.copilot

# 2. Login to GitHub when prompted

# 3. Done - write code and you'll see suggestions

Option 2: Editors with Native AI

The editor ALREADY includes AI. Nothing to configure.

Setup: Cursor (2 min)

# macOS
brew install --cask cursor

# Open and login - done

Option 3: Agentic CLI (Terminal)

Tools that live in your terminal and can execute commands, edit multiple files, and solve complex tasks autonomously.

Setup: Claude Code (3 min)

# 1. Install
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

# 2. Set API key
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...

# 3. Use in any project
cd my-project
claude

Part 3: Recommended Combinations by Profile

🎓 Beginner ($10/mo)

VS Code + GitHub Copilot
└── Autocomplete teaches you patterns as you type
└── Copilot Chat for basic questions

💼 Professional Developer ($20-40/mo)

Cursor (main editor)
   └── Composer for multi-file refactors
   └── Cmd+K for quick inline edits

+ Claude Code (terminal)
   └── Complex tasks: "implement complete auth"
   └── Deep debugging with project context

🆓 Zero Budget ($0)

VS Code + Continue (open source extension)
   └── Connect to Ollama for local models
   └── Free autocomplete with llama3

+ Aider (terminal)
   └── Use Ollama or APIs with free credits

🏢 Enterprise

VS Code + Cody (massive context)
   └── Understands millions of lines of code
   └── Integration with Sourcegraph

+ Gemini Code Assist (if you use Google Cloud)

Part 4: Capabilities Comparison (January 2026)

Legend: ✅✅ Excellent | ✅ Good | ❌ Not available

Part 5: Essential VS Code Setup

If you use VS Code (alone or with AI extensions), these are the essential settings:

Must-have extensions

code --install-extension dbaeumer.vscode-eslint
code --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode
code --install-extension eamodio.gitlens
code --install-extension usernamehw.errorlens

Recommended settings.json

{
  "editor.formatOnSave": true,
  "editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
  "editor.tabSize": 2,
  "editor.fontSize": 14,
  "editor.minimap.enabled": false,
  "editor.wordWrap": "on",
  "editor.bracketPairColorization.enabled": true,
  "files.autoSave": "onFocusChange"
}

Shortcuts you must memorize

Summary: My 2026 Recommendation

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                                            │
│   If you're starting:    VS Code + Copilot ($10/mo)       │
│                                                            │
│   If you want max productivity:                           │
│                          Cursor + Claude Code (~$40/mo)    │
│                                                            │
│   If you want $0:        VS Code + Continue + Ollama      │
│                                                            │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

AI tools complement each other. You don't have to choose just one.

Practice

→ Introduction to Claude Code — Install and use Claude Code

Useful Links

Editors:

• ⌨️ VS Code - Microsoft (Free)
• ⚡ Cursor - Editor with native AI
• 🚀 Zed - Ultrafast editor

AI Extensions:

• 🐙 GitHub Copilot - Microsoft
• 🔍 Cody - Sourcegraph
• 🔓 Continue - Open Source

Agentic CLIs:

• 🤖 Claude Code - Anthropic
• 🔧 Aider - Open Source
• ⚡ Codex CLI - OpenAI

AI Editors:

• 🌊 Windsurf - Codeium
• 🚀 Google Antigravity - Google
• 🌐 Google IDX - Cloud IDE