Gemini Code Assist: Github Copilot KILLER! The FREE AND BEST Alternative to Github Copilot.

AICodeKing
10 Apr 202404:35

TLDRGemini Code Assist, a new AI coding assistant by Google, is challenging GitHub Copilot's dominance. It offers a 1 million context window, surpassing GitHub Copilot's gp4 model's 128k context window. Gemini Code Assist seamlessly integrates with popular IDEs like VS Code and supports over 20 programming languages. It provides code completion, natural language chat for coding queries, and the ability to perform large-scale code base changes from a single prompt. The tool is free for one user per project until July 11th, after which it will adopt a pricing model similar to GitHub Copilot. The video transcript suggests that Gemini Code Assist is a strong contender and is expected to improve further.

Takeaways

  • 📣 GitHub Copilot faced initial concerns about job security, but it has since improved with updates like GP4.
  • 🤖 GitHub Copilot's smooth integration with IDEs is due to Microsoft's ownership of GitHub and VS Code.
  • 🚀 Google's language model, Gemini 1.5 Pro, offers a 1 million context window, surpassing GP4's 128k context window.
  • 💡 Gemini Code Assist was announced by Google, directly competing with GitHub Copilot by offering similar functionalities.
  • 🆓 Gemini Code Assist is free for one user per project until July 11th, after which it will adopt a pricing model similar to GitHub Copilot.
  • ✅ It assists in code completion, generating code blocks or functions, and is available in many popular IDEs like VS Code and JetBrains.
  • 🔍 Supports over 20 programming languages including Java, JavaScript, Python, C, C++, Go, PHP, and SQL.
  • 💬 Includes a natural language chat feature for coding questions and best practices guidance, available in all supported IDEs.
  • 🛠️ Allows for large-scale code base changes from a single prompt, adding features, updating dependencies, and comprehensive code reviews.
  • 📚 Gemini Code Assist's capabilities are powered by Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro model with its large context window.
  • 📘 Users can install the extension and utilize features like auto-completion and request specific code changes through a chat interface.

Q & A

  • What was the initial reaction to GitHub Copilot when it was unveiled?

    -When GitHub Copilot was unveiled, many people feared it would replace their jobs and considered switching to other professions like plumbing.

  • What are some of the limitations of GitHub Copilot?

    -GitHub Copilot had limitations such as lower context windows, copying copyrighted code, and other issues, which were later improved with an upgrade to gp4.

  • How did GitHub Copilot achieve smooth integration with IDEs?

    -GitHub Copilot achieved smooth integration with IDEs due to Microsoft's ownership of GitHub, OpenAI's main investor being Microsoft, and the popularity of Visual Studio Code, which is also owned by Microsoft.

  • What is Google's response to GitHub Copilot?

    -Google responded with their language model Gemini 1.5 Pro, which supports a 1 million context window, surpassing the 128k context window of gp4 used by GitHub Copilot.

  • What is Gemini Code Assist?

    -Gemini Code Assist is Google's AI coding assistant tool that is similar to GitHub Copilot, offering code completion, generating code blocks or functions on demand, and chat support for coding questions.

  • How does Gemini Code Assist handle large-scale code changes?

    -Gemini Code Assist can perform large-scale changes to the entire code base from a single prompt, including adding new features, updating cross-file dependencies, helping with version upgrades, and comprehensive code reviews.

  • What are the supported programming languages for Gemini Code Assist?

    -Gemini Code Assist currently supports over 20 programming languages, including Java, JavaScript, Python, C, C++, Go, PHP, and SQL.

  • What is the pricing model for Gemini Code Assist after July 11th?

    -After July 11th, Gemini Code Assist will switch to a pricing model that is almost similar to GitHub Copilot's pricing model.

  • What is the user interface like for Gemini Code Assist?

    -The user interface of Gemini Code Assist features a chat window on the left for interacting with the AI and a code window on the right where users can write and modify their code.

  • How does Gemini Code Assist compare to GitHub Copilot?

    -Gemini Code Assist is a strong competitor to GitHub Copilot, offering similar functionalities with the added advantage of a larger context window provided by Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro model.

  • How can users install Gemini Code Assist?

    -Users can install Gemini Code Assist by following the steps provided on the official website.

  • What are the future prospects for Gemini Code Assist?

    -The future prospects for Gemini Code Assist are promising, as it is expected to improve and become an even stronger contender against GitHub Copilot.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Introduction to GitHub Co-pilot and Gemini Code Assist

The video begins by discussing the initial skepticism around GitHub Co-pilot, which was feared to replace human coders. Despite concerns, Co-pilot improved with the upgrade to GP4, offering better functionality but still had limitations such as lower context windows. The seamless integration with IDEs like VS Code was a major selling point, facilitated by Microsoft's ownership of both GitHub and VS Code. Other companies attempted to create their own AI coding assistants but couldn't compete due to GitHub's extensive code repositories for model training. However, Google's introduction of Gemini 1.5 Pro, with a 1 million context window, posed a significant challenge. Google later announced Gemini Code Assist, a direct competitor to GitHub Co-pilot, offering similar features including code completion, natural language chat for coding queries, and the ability to perform large-scale code base changes. The video concludes by suggesting Gemini Code Assist as a strong contender and encourages viewers to try it out.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code assistant developed by GitHub and OpenAI. It was initially perceived as a potential job threat to computer scientists, but it has since become a valuable tool for developers. It offers code completion and helps write entire code blocks or functions on demand. The script discusses how GitHub Copilot's integration with IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) like VS Code, which is also owned by Microsoft, has been a significant advantage for its adoption.

💡Gemini 1.5 Pro

Gemini 1.5 Pro is a language model developed by Google that supports a 1 million context window, which is a significant improvement over the 128k context window of GP4, the model used by GitHub Copilot. This larger context window allows for more comprehensive and accurate code generation and understanding, positioning Gemini as a strong competitor to GitHub Copilot.

💡Gemini Code Assist

Gemini Code Assist is a new AI assistance tool announced by Google, which is similar to GitHub Copilot. It provides code completion and can generate entire code blocks or functions as requested by the user. It is free for one user per project until July 11th, after which it will adopt a pricing model similar to GitHub Copilot. The tool is designed to integrate smoothly with various IDEs and supports over 20 programming languages.

💡IDEs (Integrated Development Environments)

IDEs are software applications that provide a comprehensive set of tools for programmers to develop software. They typically include features like code editors, build automation tools, and debuggers. The script highlights the importance of smooth integration with IDEs for code assistance tools like GitHub Copilot and Gemini Code Assist, as this integration enhances the user experience and adoption of these tools.

💡Natural Language Chat

Natural Language Chat refers to the ability of an AI system to communicate with users using human-like language. Gemini Code Assist features a chat function that allows users to ask coding questions or receive guidance on best practices through natural language interactions. This capability makes the tool more accessible and user-friendly.

💡Large Scale Code Changes

Large scale code changes involve making significant modifications to an entire code base. Gemini Code Assist can perform such changes from a single prompt, including adding new features, updating dependencies, assisting with version upgrades, and conducting comprehensive code reviews. This is a powerful feature that can greatly improve the efficiency of software development.

💡Auto Completion

Auto completion is a feature in code editors that suggests or automatically inserts the rest of a line of code as the developer types. This feature saves time and reduces errors. Gemini Code Assist offers auto completion, enhancing the productivity of developers by providing suggestions for code continuation based on the context.

💡Microsoft

Microsoft is a technology company that owns both GitHub and VS Code. The script mentions Microsoft's role in providing a smooth integration for GitHub Copilot with IDEs, which is a significant factor in its success. Microsoft's influence in the development tools ecosystem is a key point in the discussion about the competitive landscape for code assistance tools.

💡Google

Google is a technology company that has developed the Gemini 1.5 Pro language model and announced Gemini Code Assist. The script discusses how Google's entry into the code assistance market with these products challenges GitHub Copilot's dominance and offers developers an alternative with advanced features.

💡Code Reviews

Code reviews are a process where developers examine and discuss code changes made by others before they are merged into the main code base. Gemini Code Assist can perform comprehensive code reviews, which is a critical aspect of software development that helps maintain code quality and consistency.

💡Programming Languages

Programming languages are formal languages that specify sets of instructions that can be used to produce various kinds of output. The script mentions that Gemini Code Assist supports over 20 programming languages, including popular ones like Java, JavaScript, Python, C, C++, Go, PHP, and SQL, making it versatile and useful for a wide range of developers.

Highlights

Gemini Code Assist is a new AI coding assistant that poses a significant challenge to GitHub Copilot.

GitHub Copilot was initially perceived as a job threat to computer scientists, but it did not live up to all expectations.

GitHub Copilot had issues with lower context windows and copying copyrighted code, but improved with the upgrade to GP4.

GitHub Copilot's smooth integration with IDEs was facilitated by Microsoft's ownership of GitHub and VS Code.

Google's language model Gemini 1.5 Pro supports a 1 million context window, surpassing GP4's 128k context window.

Google has announced Gemini Code Assist, which is similar to GitHub Copilot and offers free use until July 11th.

After July 11th, Gemini Code Assist will adopt a pricing model similar to GitHub Copilot.

Gemini Code Assist completes code as you write and can generate entire code blocks or functions on demand.

The assistant is available in popular IDEs such as VS Code and JetBrains.

Gemini Code Assist supports over 20 programming languages including Java, JavaScript, Python, C, C++, Go, PHP, and SQL.

It features natural language chat for coding questions and guidance on best practices.

Large scale changes to the entire code base can be performed from a single prompt with Gemini Code Assist.

This includes adding new features, updating dependencies, version upgrades, and comprehensive code reviews.

Gemini Code Assist's capabilities are powered by Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro model.

The user interface allows for easy interaction with Gemini, including chat windows and code editing.

Users can ask Gemini to make specific changes and utilize features like auto-completion.

Gemini Code Assist is a strong contender against GitHub Copilot and is expected to improve further.

Installation instructions for Gemini Code Assist are available on their website.