Continue
Continue integrates into VS Code and JetBrains to offer autocompletion, contextual chat and agents able to run multi-file tasks, with an open choice of models rather than a single imposed provider. The project has, however, announced on its own README the end of active maintenance after a final 2.0.0 release.
Key advantages
- Open source, deeply customizable
- Choice of underlying model, no provider lock-in
- Native VS Code and JetBrains integration
Who it's for, and why
Developers who want an AI agent built into their usual IDE rather than a separate tool, with the choice of underlying model.
- Contextual code autocompletion inside the IDE
- Chatting with the source code to understand an existing codebase
- Running multi-file tasks directly inside the editor
Getting started
- 1VS Code: install the "Continue" extension from the VS Code Marketplace or Open VSX.
- 2CLI: `npm install -g @continuedev/cli`.
- 3JetBrains: the project's team now recommends using the CLI rather than the legacy JetBrains plugin.
Things to watch out for
- Important: the `continuedev/continue` repository is no longer actively maintained and was made read-only by its team after a "final release" 2.0.0 (as stated on the official README). Existing extensions remain installable, but with no guarantee of future fixes.
- Before adopting this tool today, check the project's current status on its repository: it's no longer a durable choice for long-term professional use.
Frequently asked questions
Is Continue still actively developed?
No. The project's official README explicitly states the repository is no longer actively maintained and was made read-only after a final 2.0.0 release. Weigh this before adopting it.
Can it still be installed?
Yes, the VS Code extension, the npm CLI and the JetBrains plugin remain published and installable, but with no guarantee of future updates or security fixes.
What's an actively maintained alternative?
Aider or Cursor, both in this same Agent Library, are actively developed alternatives as of today.
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