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

Save Money & Secure Your Code: Run AI Locally with Visual Studio

Tired of paying exorbitant fees for cloud-based AI coding assistants? Frustrated by the lack of control over your data and the constant subscription renewals? It’s time to take charge with a local solution that keeps your code secure and your wallet happy.

Why This Problem Happens

The rise of AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot has transformed how developers write code. However, these tools often come with hefty subscription fees and security concerns. Your code is sent to external servers, raising privacy issues, and the recurring costs can add up quickly. Plus, when you’re locked into a single provider, you miss out on the flexibility to choose different AI models that might better suit your needs.

Step-by-Step Solution: The AI Assistant for Visual Studio

Enter the AI Assistant for Visual Studio, a game-changer that puts you back in control. This tool runs entirely on your local machine, offering unparalleled security and flexibility. Here’s how it works:

1. Installation

First, download the AI Assistant from the official website. The installation process is straightforward and integrates seamlessly with Visual Studio 2022 Community, Professional, and Enterprise editions.

2. Configuration

After installation, you’ll need to configure your AI provider. Whether you prefer Ollama, OpenAI, Claude, or any other compatible service, the AI Assistant supports them all. Just plug in your API key, and you’re good to go.

3. Daily Use

Once configured, the AI Assistant lives right inside your IDE, ready to assist with every coding task:

• Chat Panel: Ask questions about your open file, selected method, or entire solution. Responses stream in real time.
• Right-Click Options: Select code and right-click for direct correction or summaries.
• Inline Completions: AI suggestions appear in the standard Visual Studio completion list. Accept with Tab, dismiss with Escape.
• Diff View: Review AI code suggestions side-by-side before applying them.
• Fix Build Errors: One click sends your error list to the AI, which finds relevant code and tells you what to change.
• Git Commit Messages: The AI reads your staged changes and writes a properly formatted commit message every time.

4. Advanced Features

The AI Assistant also offers advanced features that make it stand out from the competition:

• Test Generation: Select any method or file to get a complete test class with happy path, edge cases, null inputs, and exception tests.
• Refactoring Engine: The AI analyzes your file and produces specific improvement proposals, each with before/after code in a side-by-side diff.
• AI Code Review: CRITICAL bugs, WARNING leaks, SUGGESTION clarity, and POSITIVE notes on what is working well. Enable auto-review on every commit.
• Documentation Generation: XML doc comments for every public member with one click. Also generates a README for your entire solution.
• Team Shared Memory: Store shared project knowledge on a network share or in your git repo, so every developer shares the same AI understanding of the codebase.

Extra Tip: Data Chunker Pro Integration

For an even more powerful experience, consider integrating Data Chunker Pro. This tool organizes and converts entire codebases into usable knowledge that AIs can understand. It’s invaluable for getting AIs to diagnose and understand source code thoroughly.

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Secure Coding for Financial Institutions

Financial institutions handle sensitive data and need to ensure that their code remains secure. With the AI Assistant, developers can work on highly confidential projects without ever sending code to external servers.

Example 2: Cost-Effective Development for Startups

Startups often operate on tight budgets. By using the AI Assistant, they can eliminate recurring AI subscription costs, redirecting that budget towards other critical areas like marketing or product development.

Example 3: Flexible AI Models for Research Labs

Research labs experiment with various AI models to find the best fit for their projects. The AI Assistant’s ability to connect to any AI provider gives them the flexibility to switch models without reinstalling or reconfigured everything.

Conclusion

The AI Assistant for Visual Studio is a powerful tool that offers unparalleled security, flexibility, and cost savings. By running AI locally, you can secure your code, eliminate recurring costs, and choose the best AI models for your projects. With advanced features like test generation, refactoring analysis, and team shared memory, it’s a comprehensive solution for developers who mean business.

Ready to take control of your coding experience? Download the AI Assistant for Visual Studio today and start coding smarter, not harder.

Written By: Ada Codewell – AI Specialist & Software Engineer