Set up private, local alternatives to GitHub Copilot. Configure Continue.dev with Ollama, explore CodeLlama and StarCoder for secure code completion.

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A step-by-step guide to setting up a fully local, private alternative to GitHub Copilot using Ollama, Continue.dev, CodeLlama 7B, and StarCoder2 3B in VS Code. Covers installation on macOS, Linux, and Windows; configuring Continue.dev's config file to route chat to CodeLlama and tab autocomplete to StarCoder2; hardware requirements (VRAM, RAM, GPU drivers); performance tuning via custom Modelfiles; and a direct comparison with GitHub Copilot on accuracy, cost, privacy, and offline use. Local models are free and keep all code on-device but trail Copilot on multi-file reasoning and niche library support.

Local Code Assistants: Replacing GitHub Copilot

How to Set Up a Local Code Assistant as a Copilot Alternative

Installing Ollama and Pulling a Code Model

Using Your Local Code Assistant Day to Day

CodeLlama vs. StarCoder: Choosing the Right Model