Guide

Best local AI coding assistants

A practical guide to local AI coding assistants that run offline or self-hosted, including open-source tools, local models, and privacy-first workflows.

Quick framework

  1. Define the coding workflow you want to improve.
  2. Choose tools that can inspect the right context.
  3. Keep generated changes small enough to review.
  4. Verify with tests, typechecks, builds, or manual review.
  5. Turn reliable workflows into repeatable prompts and checklists.

Recommended starting points

NeedGood fit
Open-source IDE extensionContinue with local models via Ollama or llama.cpp
Terminal agent with local modelsAider with local providers, OpenCode
Self-hosted code search + AISourcegraph Cody with self-hosted instance
Full offline IDECursor or Windsurf with local model fallback
Browse all AI coding toolsCompare tool options
Independence note: Aoki is independent and not affiliated with any listed vendor. Product names are used descriptively. Confirm current pricing, availability, and setup details with official sources.