Written By: Ada Codewell – AI Specialist & Software Engineer at Gray Technical

Save Big on AI Coding Assistants: Run Your Own Private AI in Visual Studio

Tired of paying exorbitant prices for AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot? Looking to keep your code private and secure? In this article, we’ll explore how you can run your own private AI assistant directly inside Visual Studio using the Ollama AI Assistant. This tool lets you use any AI model, work fully offline, and save hundreds of dollars each year.

Why Pay for Expensive AI Subscriptions?

The cost of AI coding assistants can add up quickly. GitHub Copilot alone costs $100 per year, and additional API usage fees can range from $20 to $200 per month. These expenses can be a significant drain on your resources, especially if you’re a freelancer or working for a small company.

Moreover, using cloud-based AI services means sending your code to external servers. This raises serious privacy and security concerns, as your intellectual property could be exposed to potential breaches.

Real-World Examples of High AI Costs

Example 1: Freelance Developer

John is a freelance developer who works on multiple projects simultaneously. He relies heavily on GitHub Copilot to speed up his coding process. However, with the annual subscription fee and additional API costs, he ends up paying around $200 per month. This significantly cuts into his profits.

Example 2: Small Software Company

A small software company employs a team of five developers. Each developer uses GitHub Copilot, resulting in an annual cost of $500 for the team. Additionally, they incur extra costs for API usage. The company is looking for ways to reduce these expenses without compromising on productivity.

Example 3: Security-Conscious Enterprise

An enterprise that deals with sensitive data wants to use AI coding assistants but is concerned about sending proprietary code to the cloud. They need a solution that allows them to keep their code private and secure.

Step-by-Step Solution: Run Your Own Private AI Assistant

The Ollama AI Assistant for Visual Studio offers a cost-effective and secure alternative to cloud-based AI coding assistants. Here’s how you can set it up and start saving money:

Step 1: Download and Install

First, download the Ollama AI Assistant from the Gray Technical website. The tool supports Visual Studio Community 2022 and Visual Studio Pro.

Step 2: Configure Your AI Provider

Once installed, open the settings window to configure your preferred AI provider. You can connect to Ollama, OpenAI, Claude, or any compatible provider using an API key. For complete privacy, you can run Ollama free on your own machine.

Step 3: Start Coding with AI Assistance

The Ollama AI Assistant integrates seamlessly into your Visual Studio environment. You can use the chat panel to ask questions about your code, select text and right-click for direct corrections, and receive inline completions in the standard Visual Studio completion list.

Step 4: Review AI Suggestions

Every AI code suggestion opens in a side-by-side diff view. This allows you to review the changes before they are applied to your files, giving you full control over the process.

Step 5: Generate Tests and Documentation

The Ollama AI Assistant also offers advanced features like test generation, refactoring analysis, and documentation generation. These features help you maintain high code quality and reduce manual effort.

Extra Tip: Use Data Chunker Pro for Large Codebases

If you have a large codebase, consider integrating Data Chunker Pro with the Ollama AI Assistant. Data Chunker Pro organizes and converts entire codebases into usable knowledge that AIs can understand, making it easier to diagnose and refactor your source code.

Conclusion

The Ollama AI Assistant for Visual Studio offers a powerful and cost-effective solution for developers looking to reduce their reliance on expensive cloud-based AI coding assistants. By running your own private AI assistant, you can save hundreds of dollars each year while keeping your code secure and private.

Start using the Ollama AI Assistant today and experience the benefits for yourself.

Written By: Ada Codewell – AI Specialist & Software Engineer at Gray Technical