AI-Powered Code Editing Tools | Generated by AI
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) with GitHub Copilot
VS Code, enhanced by GitHub Copilot (an AI extension), supports selecting code (like a function) and using AI to fix, edit, or refactor it. Key features include:
- Inline Chat: Select the code, press
Ctrl+I(Windows/Linux) orCmd+I(Mac), and enter a prompt like “fix this bug” or “refactor to use async/await.” Copilot suggests edits directly in the editor. - Fix Errors: For compiler errors (red squiggles), hover and select “Fix using Copilot” to get AI-generated fixes.
- Chat View: Open the Copilot Chat (
Ctrl+Alt+I), select code, and ask to explain, edit, or generate tests. It can handle multi-file edits in agent mode. - Actions Menu: Right-click selected code for AI actions like explaining, renaming, or reviewing.
Copilot is free with limits or paid for unlimited use.
Cursor AI Code Editor
Cursor is an AI-first code editor forked from VS Code, designed specifically for AI-assisted editing. It excels at selecting and modifying code with AI:
- Edit with Ctrl+K: Select a function or code block, press
Ctrl+K(orCmd+Kon Mac), and describe changes (e.g., “optimize this function for performance”). Cursor generates diffs you can preview and apply. - Composer Mode: For complex edits across files, use the Composer interface to prompt multi-file changes, review diffs, and iterate.
- Agent Mode: Press
Ctrl+I, instruct broader tasks (e.g., “fix bugs in this module”), and it autonomously plans, edits, and runs commands while keeping you in the loop. - Next Edit Suggestions: AI predicts and suggests follow-up edits based on your changes.
Cursor is free for basics, with a Pro plan for advanced models. It imports VS Code extensions seamlessly.
IntelliJ IDEA with JetBrains AI Assistant
IntelliJ IDEA (and other JetBrains IDEs) has a built-in AI Assistant plugin that allows selecting code and using AI for fixes or edits:
- AI Actions Menu: Select code, press
Alt+Enteror right-click, choose “AI Actions” > options like “Suggest Refactoring,” “Find Problems,” or “Fix with AI.” It analyzes context and suggests changes in a diff viewer. - Inline Prompt: Type a prompt directly in the editor (e.g., “refactor this function”), press
Tab, and AI generates/edits code inline. - Error Fixes: For highlighted errors, select “Fix with AI” to get context-aware suggestions.
- Code Generation/Refactoring: Invoke via menu for explaining code, adding type annotations, or regenerating sections.
AI Assistant requires a JetBrains AI license (free trial available) and is powered by models like Mellum for completions.
All these tools integrate AI deeply, but Cursor is the most AI-centric, VS Code/Copilot is flexible and widely used, and IntelliJ’s AI is tailored for enterprise/Java-heavy workflows. Choose based on your preferred ecosystem.
References:
GitHub Copilot in VS Code
Get started with GitHub Copilot in VS Code
Features | Cursor - The AI Code Editor
Cursor AI: A Guide With 10 Practical Examples
Use AI in editor | IntelliJ IDEA Documentation
AI Assistant in JetBrains IDEs | IntelliJ IDEA Documentation
Use AI prompts to explain and refactor your code | IntelliJ IDEA Documentation