The Curious AI Guy

Library / Developer tools

Continue

An open-source coding assistant for your editor.

Replaces
LicenseApache-2.0
GitHub stars36.2k
Last code update9 October 2026
SetupBeginner about 5 minOur estimate
Paid version costs aboutnot verified

New to this? What open source means and how to read this page.

What it is

An AI coding assistant for VS Code and JetBrains that works with the model of your choice, including local ones.

Good for

Developers who want AI help in the editor without being tied to one vendor.

The catch

Quality depends on the model you connect. The setup takes more effort than a paid plug-and-play assistant.

Continue versus

Continue
PriceFreePrice not verified
LicenseApache-2.0Commercial license
Source codePublic, you can read and check itNot public
SetupBeginner, about 5 minSign up and pay
Where it runsIn your editor. The model you connect decides what leaves your machineThe vendor's app or service, under their terms

The paid product's own plans and terms change. Check its site before you decide.

Install it with an AI assistant

Paste this into Claude, ChatGPT or another assistant that can work on your computer (Claude Code or Claude Desktop, for example). It is written from the project's official repository and tells the assistant to show you every command first. Setup time is our estimate: about 5 min.

I want to install and try Continue on my own computer.

Official repository: https://github.com/continuedev/continue
Official site: https://continue.dev
License: Apache-2.0

Before you do anything:
1. Read the README and install notes in the official repository above, and nothing else. Do not follow third-party tutorials or mirrors.
2. Tell me in plain words what will be installed, what it needs (operating system, memory, graphics card, disk space, accounts) and what it will cost me, if anything.
3. Check my computer against those needs and tell me honestly if it will not work well.

Install it as an extension in my code editor from the official listing linked in the README, then show me how to open it and how to connect a model or key myself.

Rules:
- Show me each command before you run it, and say what it does.
- Ask before anything that deletes files, changes system settings, opens a network port or needs an administrator password.
- Never put my passwords or keys on a command line, or in a file I did not choose.
- When it is installed, help me check it with one small test, and tell me how to start and stop it.
- If something goes wrong, explain it in plain words and do not guess your way around it.

Good to know before you start: Quality depends on the model you connect. The setup takes more effort than a paid plug-and-play assistant.

We have not run this prompt ourselves yet. Read what the assistant plans to do before you say yes.

Facts checked on 12 October 2026. We have not yet run a hands-on test of this tool. When we do, it gets a "Tested" mark here. Approximate US list prices for an individual plan, from third-party price trackers checked on 12 Oct 2026. Monthly billing where it exists. Regions, taxes and promotions change them. Confirm at the vendor before you decide.

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