The drive to augment development with AI assistance while ensuring privacy and performance has never been more relevant. Crafting a local AI coding assistant not only secures your codebase but also elevates your productivity without incurring ongoing costs or exposing your proprietary data. Below, we outline the key steps to build a local AI coding assistant.
1. Initiate the Setup: Install AMA
Begin by installing AMA, an essential tool that equips your machine with the capability to run AI models locally. Make sure AMA is compatible with your operating system, and you have the necessary administrative rights for the installation.2. Integrate the Local Environment: Continue Extension
Proceed by incorporating the ‘Continue’ extension into your Visual Studio Code. This vital addition to your setup marries your IDE with the AI models functioning on your device, personalizing the technology to match your coding style.3. Select a Preferred AI Provider: Open Word UI
Choose an AI provider, such as OpenAI GPT or Google API, using Open Word UI’s intuitive interface. This pivotal selection ensures the assistant is attuned to your particular workflow needs.4. Establish a Local AI Service: Docker Compose Setup
Configure a Docker Compose YAML file to erect a local API that hosts your chosen AI model. This infrastructure provides essential on-demand accessibility, ensuring continuous development without the need for external network resources.5. Evaluate AI Model Options
Investigate various AI models to determine which one aligns best with your coding practices. A thorough evaluation at this stage is essential for realizing future productivity gains.6. Connect to Your Coding Tool
Integrate your preferred AI model with VS Code via extension, enabling AI assistance directly in your coding environment. This fusion is critical for maximizing productivity through real-time coding analyses and suggestions.7. Personalize the AI Training
Train your AI model with your coding data to refine its assistance to your distinctive coding habits and project complexities. Regular customization ensures the AI evolves alongside your development style.8. Employ Open-Source Assistance: Continue
Harness the potent capabilities of Continue, an AI tool for IDEs like VS Code and JetBrains, to optimize your coding processes. Personalize and evolve your assistant to create a bespoke and cost-effective solution for your software development needs.
