AI Coding Tools
Pick the tool that matches how you work: IDE agent, terminal CLI, inline autocomplete, or cloud-native assistant.
These guides cover how each tool behaves in practice: modes, shortcuts, rules integration, and when to switch tools mid-task. They assume you already know models can hallucinate. See Common Mistakes if you have not read that yet.
How the Pages Relate
| Page | Best for |
|---|---|
| Choosing a Tool | First decision: compare all major options |
| Cursor | Daily IDE workflow: Agent, Plan, Ask, @-mentions, rules |
| Claude Code | Terminal-first Anthropic agent, hooks, SDK automation |
| OpenAI Codex | OpenAI agent (CLI, IDE extension, cloud, CI embed) |
| GitHub Copilot | Inline completions and chat in VS Code / JetBrains |
| Gemini Code Assist | Google/GCP/Android/JetBrains shops |
| Windsurf / Devin Desktop | Multi-agent command center (formerly Windsurf) |
| Amazon Q Developer | AWS-native development and Bedrock stack |
| Cline | Open-source VS Code autonomous agent |
| Aider | Terminal git-centric pair programmer |
| Continue.dev | Open-source assistant for VS Code + JetBrains |
| Sourcegraph Cody | Codebase search–grounded chat |
Most developers use one primary agent plus Copilot inline for line-level speed. Choosing a Tool explains when that stack makes sense.
Learning Paths
Solo developer: Day 1
- Choosing a Tool
- Your chosen tool guide (see table above)
- Prompting for Code
- Cursor Shortcuts or Model Picker
Team lead: Tool rollout
- Choosing a Tool for procurement and security questions
- Team AI Policy for approved tools and data handling
- Project Rules for shared conventions per tool
- Responsible Use for licensing and accountability
Start Here If…
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| Never used an AI coding agent | Choosing a Tool |
| Using Cursor daily | Cursor + Cursor cheat sheet |
| OpenAI / ChatGPT shop | OpenAI Codex + OpenAI API |
| Prefer terminal / CI agents | Claude Code or Codex |
| Want inline completions only | GitHub Copilot |
| Google Cloud / Android Studio | Gemini Code Assist |
| AWS-heavy infrastructure | Amazon Q Developer |
| Multi-agent orchestration | Devin Desktop |
| Evaluating vendors for the org | Choosing a Tool (For teams section) |
| Open-source VS Code agent | Cline |
| Terminal + git workflow | Aider |
| Large monorepo search context | Sourcegraph Cody |
Guides
Cursor
AI-native IDE with Agent, Plan, and Ask modes.
Claude Code
Terminal-first agent with skills, hooks, and SDK automation.
OpenAI Codex
CLI, IDE extension, cloud agent, and CI automation.
GitHub Copilot
Inline completions and Copilot Chat in VS Code and JetBrains.
Gemini Code Assist
Google AI in VS Code, JetBrains, and Android Studio.
Devin Desktop
Agent command center, formerly Windsurf.
Amazon Q Developer
AWS-aware completions, agents, and security scanning.
Choosing a Tool
Decision matrix for IDE agents vs CLI vs autocomplete.