Gemini Code Assist is a free AI-powered coding tool for developers launched by Google
Google has officially launched the public preview of Gemini Code Assist, an AI-powered coding assistant that is now available for free to individual developers worldwide. The tool supports all programming languages that are publicly accessible and aims to enhance the efficiency and productivity of coders across different expertise levels.
Ryan J. Salva, Senior Director of Product at Google, highlighted the increasing reliance on AI in software development, stating that over 75% of developers now incorporate AI tools into their daily workflow. Furthermore, at Google itself, more than 25% of newly written code is AI-generated before undergoing review and approval by engineers.
Gemini Code Assist offers AI-driven capabilities such as automated code completion, intelligent code generation, and contextual chat assistance. The tool is currently compatible with Visual Studio (VS) Code, JetBrains IDEs, Firebase, and Android Studio. Developers can benefit from up to 1,80,000 code completions per month, providing nearly limitless assistance for coding projects.
Additionally, Google has introduced Gemini Code Assist for GitHub, a specialized version designed to perform AI-powered code reviews for both public and private repositories. This feature can detect stylistic inconsistencies, highlight potential bugs, and automatically recommend improvements or fixes, streamlining the code optimization process.
With natural language support, developers can use simple prompts to generate, modify, and enhance code. For instance, users can enter a request like, “Create a basic HTML form with fields for name, email, and message, along with a submit button”, and Gemini Code Assist will generate the necessary code accordingly.
One of the standout features of the tool is its large context window, which supports up to 1,28,000 input tokens in chat. This allows developers to work with extensive codebases and large files more efficiently, improving workflow management.
Google has positioned Gemini Code Assist as a tool that will benefit students, hobbyists, freelancers, and startups, ensuring accessibility for those who may not have the budget for premium coding assistants. “With the global developer population expected to grow to 57.8 million by 2028, we believe that AI-driven coding tools should be available to everyone, regardless of their financial situation,” Salva emphasized.
The sign-up process for Gemini Code Assist requires only a personal Gmail account. As part of the public preview, Google is actively gathering user feedback through built-in forms in IDEs and GitHub. Developers who need enhanced productivity metrics, private repository integrations, or Google Cloud service support can explore the Gemini Code Assist Standard or Enterprise versions.
