Flexpilot

If you’ve spent any time coding in VS Code and found yourself wishing your AI assistant felt more like a teammate and less like a pop-up window, Flexpilot might be worth a look. It’s an open-source extension that brings AI directly into your workspace without the usual distractions. No clunky webviews, no awkward sidebars – just clean, native integration that fits into your flow. It’s built for developers who want control over their tools, not just suggestions from a black box.

I tried Flexpilot while working on a small web app that had gotten messy. I needed help refactoring some components, writing cleaner commit messages, and occasionally just figuring out why something wasn’t working. Installing the extension was straightforward, and once I plugged in my API key, it felt like the assistant was sitting quietly in the background, ready to jump in when I needed it. The inline completions were fast and surprisingly relevant. I’d start typing a function, and it would finish my thought without veering off into something generic.

One of the features I ended up using more than expected was the inline chat. You highlight a chunk of code, ask a question, and get a response right there in the editor. No switching tabs, no breaking your rhythm. I used it to get explanations for some legacy code I inherited, and it helped me understand what was going on without having to dig through old documentation. It’s like having a second pair of eyes that doesn’t get tired.

Flexpilot also has a quick chat feature that’s triggered by a shortcut. I used it when I needed fast answers – like “What’s the syntax for optional chaining in TypeScript?” or “How do I debounce a function in React?” It’s not trying to be a search engine. It’s more like a quiet assistant who’s good at filling in gaps when your brain stalls.

There’s voice chat too, which I didn’t expect to use but ended up liking. I was working late one night and didn’t feel like typing, so I asked a question out loud. The assistant responded with a suggestion and even offered a code snippet. It’s not something I’d use all the time, but it’s nice to have when your hands are full or you’re just thinking out loud.

Another thing I appreciated was the token usage tracker. It shows you how many tokens you’re using in real time, which helps if you’re working with limited credits or just want to keep an eye on things. It’s a small detail, but it makes the whole experience feel more transparent.

Flexpilot supports a bunch of AI providers – OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Groq, and even local models like llama-cpp-python. You can mix and match depending on what you’re working on. I tried switching between models for different tasks, and it was easy to configure. You’re not locked into one provider, which is great if you’re experimenting or trying to optimize costs.

The extension itself isn’t being actively developed anymore, but there’s a newer version called Flexpilot IDE that builds on the same ideas. It’s a fork of VS Code with the assistant baked in, plus support for multi-file edits and a web-based version you can try instantly. If you’re curious, you can check out the original extension on Visual Studio Marketplace. It’s a quiet, flexible tool that fits into your workflow without getting in the way.